The New Mexico Film Incentive Rejects Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Application

Financial Loss for Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' as State rejects film incentive amid ongoing legal issue.

Transcript

00:00In a significant setback for the production of Alec Baldwin's film Rust,

00:05the New Mexico tax authorities have denied the film's application for incentives worth $1.6

00:12million for the state's film incentive program. The decision comes amid ongoing legal and public

00:19scrutiny following the tragic on-set shooting incident that claimed the life of cinematographer

00:25Helena Hutchins. The New Mexico Film Office announced that the application for Rust

00:31did not meet the necessary criteria to qualify for the incentive program,

00:36which offers substantial financial rebates to productions that film within the state.

00:42The denial of the application means that Rust will not receive the potential

00:4625-40% rebate on eligible in-state expenditures, a blow to the production's financial planning.

00:55Rust is an upcoming western film starring Alec Baldwin in the lead,

00:59who also produces and writes the story of the film with writer-director Joel Souza.

01:04Production companies representing attorney Melina Spadone said that the production tax

01:10incentive amount would be used to settle the legal dispute between Hutchins' son and her

01:16widower. The denial of the tax credit has disrupted those financial arrangements,

01:22she said in a statement sped on in senior counsel at Pillsbury, Winthrop Shaw,

01:27Pittman Base in New York and Los Angeles, as reported by the Associated Press.

01:33As Rust navigates its path forward without the financial backing of New Mexico's

01:38film incentive program, the production faces increased pressure to address safety and legal

01:44issues while also managing the logistical and financial challenges of the continuing project.

01:51The decision by the New Mexico film underscores the broader implications of the incident on the

01:57film industry, emphasizing the need for rigorous safety standards and accountability.