The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer hopes that the tragedy will cause the film business to "reevaluate its beliefs and processes" to ensure that no one is injured again.

Following the tragic shooting of Halyna Hutchins on October 21 and the injuring of director Joel Souza while filming the western Rust in New Mexico, David Halls issued a statement to the New York Post, breaking his silence.

Ms Hutchins, Mr Halls added, was a friend and one of the most accomplished women he had ever worked with.

“I’m shocked and saddened by her death,” he said in the statement. “It’s my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to reevaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again.”

Mr. Halls did not elaborate on what he believes should be changed or how modifications may have prevented the incident on the set of Rust.

Court documents have revealed details regarding Ms Hutchins' death on the scene near Santa Fe.

According to authorities, Mr. Halls passed the firearm to Mr. Baldwin and remarked, "cold gun," suggesting that the weapon was safe to use.

Last week, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that there was "some complacency" in the handling of guns on set.

Even though the set's guns specialist, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, said real ammunition should never have been present, investigators discovered roughly 500 rounds of ammunition — a mix of blanks, dummy rounds, and suspected live rounds.

Ms Gutierrez Reed claimed, through her attorneys, that she had no idea where the live rounds came from and that producers were to fault for the dangerous working circumstances.