Op-ed in IndieWire
The Rust Tragedy Wasn’t an Accident: It Was a Warning
Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna is streaming now on Hulu. The death of Halyna Hutchins was a singular tragedy, but the conditions that led to it were anything but unique. Ignoring crew well-being, prioritizing budgets and schedules over safety, and pushing people past their limits happens every day.
As an industry, we have yet to fully acknowledge the pervasiveness of unsafe working conditions because we’ve normalized the idea that suffering is an essential part of filmmaking. Our “battle-tested” cameras have names like Rocket, Weapon, and Arsenal. We use terms like “run n’ gun,” “lock it up,” and “shoot.” Our toxic production culture frames suffering as “paying your dues.” We don’t just accept self-sacrifice — we glorify it.
The data backs this up. In a 2024 survey by IPC, 79% of film workers reported being injured on the job, and 69% believed that creative vision was prioritized over safety. In a study by The UK Film and TV Charity, 77% of respondents said the Film and TV industry is a mentally unhealthy place to work, and a shocking 30% having considered taking their own life in the past year. These aren’t just statistics, they are people. Yet since most struggles don’t end in public tragedy, they rarely make headlines.
But there is hope. A movement for change is growing. Documentaries like Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna and Safe Sets: Dying to Work in the Film Industry are sparking conversations and bringing long-overdue attention to the realities of working behind the scenes. More productions are actively prioritzing well-being, proving that a better way is possible.
The most effective way to create safe, sustainable sets is to build well-being into the production process rather than reacting when things go wrong. Here are some ways to start:
Mental Health Resources
Productions can establish dedicated well-being roles with trained professionals embedded on a project to support crew and proactively address mental health, burnout, and interpersonal challenges before they escalate.
reporting mechanisms
Only 7% of industry workers feel safe reporting concerns without fear of retaliation. Anonymous reporting channels allow workers to speak up without risking their jobs.
industry-wide standards
Creating safer productions requires a unified approach. Producers, executives, and department heads need to align on best practices and define the roles that will make safety and well-being a priority across every set.
You may be asking “How can we do more when budgets and timelines are already stretched to the limit?” Because the best work doesn’t come from exhaustion and fear. It comes from safe, creative environments where people feel free to bring their best ideas to the table. When people experience a culture of trust at work, they report a 76% increase in engagement and a 50% boost in productivity. A study by Google found that high psychological safety in teams leads to 31% more innovation. Prioritizing safety doesn’t just protect people, it elevates the work itself.
Rachel Mason, director of Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, said, “Every single thing had to happen the way it did in order to have this outcome.” But what if the outcome had been different? What if the bullet had missed? Would anyone other than the crew have ever known about the poor working conditions on Rust? How many other productions have come close to tragedy without the public ever hearing about it?
This is about more than one feature film—it’s about the culture of production. A producer’s success can’t just be measured in accolades and bottom lines. It must also include the well-being of the people who bring these stories to life. If the cost of a project is that people get hurt, can it ever really be a success?
A true culture shift will require action from those in power who set the tone for how productions operate. By committing to sets that center humanity, where people feel energized, valued, and fulfilled, we do more than improve our individual productions. We raise the standard for how great work gets made.
