The Santa Fe District Attorney said that this fatal shooting may still be criminally charged. Video/CNN

After the fatal shooting involving Alec Baldwin, the local film industry was shaken.

The industry association stated that New Zealand’s safety standards are very strict, but fatigue, low budgets and long working hours still pose risks to actors and staff.

The Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins shot on Thursday highlighted multiple suspicious mistakes and the complex work of professionals such as armorers in the film set.

"Everyone is stunned, this can even happen," said Jennifer Ward-Lealand, actor and president of Equity New Zealand.

"This is a tragedy. It is definitely a tragedy. I don't know what to do with this movie. Without your director of photography, I just don't know how you can overcome it."

Both Ward-Lealand and her husband Michael Hurst made guns and armor locally.

Ward-Lealand said that based on her experience, the armorer always carefully guides the actors and follows a number of safety procedures and inspections.

"This may be why I know never to put my finger on the trigger."

Hirst said he could not understand how the Hutchins shooting happened.

"The gun will never leave the armored division's sight."

Hirst said in his experience that the actors are waiting for verbal and visual assurance from the armorer.

"If something goes wrong, it will be too problematic. All armored divisions must be qualified."

Hirst said that when guns were used in theaters, the police were told that they should closely follow a number of safety plans.

Stewart Thorpe, a New Zealand stunt professional, said that armored divisions are often former military professionals, and the use of guns in the local area involves detailed plans.

"The Armory itself is an expert position. They know different types of ammunition. In fact, the first assistant director controls the entire scene."

According to reports, Rust director Joel Souza told investigators that three people were dealing with guns, and the armorer and the first assistant director inspected the guns before handing them to the actors.

Thorpe said it appears that some crew members are practicing live fire near New Mexico.

"It was an assistant director who took the hot weapon from the trolley and handed it to Mr. Baldwin."

But Baldwin thought it was a cold or unloaded weapon.

"Live ammunition should not be close to prop ammunition."

Thorpe, a member of the New Zealand Aerobatic Association, said that the use of weapons in production involves safety briefings and regular cooperation between different departments.

"For example, if you have a science fiction show, a company or art department like Weta might add styling to the weapon," Thorpe said.

"Generally, rubber guns are under the art department."

Different stunts may require different weapons and techniques. Thorpe said that computer-generated muzzle flashes are sometimes used in scenes.

"Even for rubber weapons, treat every weapon as loaded."

Thorpe said that after more temporary measures were taken decades ago, New Zealand’s laws now make manufacturers and department heads responsible for ensuring safety to be taken seriously.

"There is no doubt that in New Zealand, based on my experience, the standards surrounding such things are very strict."

Other hazards may include rigging, but Thorpe said the film industry uses best practices from arborists, scaffolding, or other industries that use rigging.

He said that before the shooting, the staff raised safety issues with Rust, which made the tragedy even more shocking.

"Usually, more than one thing goes wrong. There are many reasons for tragedy."

He said the only possible benefit from the shooting is whether the industry has learned its lesson.

"We learn from industrial accidents, adventure travel accidents. You will see human error, whether it is fatigue, budget cuts or time constraints."

Stock director Dennis Roach said that members of the Screen Actors Guild have been in contact to express their grief over the shooting in New Mexico.

Roche said a senior member recounted his memories of unsafe practices. The actor said that the lax safety standards of the local scenes in the 1970s must not be tolerated today.

Roche said New Zealand’s industry is now generally much better at implementing safer work practices in many areas, including the use of weapons.

"A lot of work has been done around health and safety. There are many dangers involved... all kinds of preparations must be made."

But she said that people still worry that working long hours will lead to fatigue and accidents.

She said that most people in the industry are independent contractors and they hate to reject any offers, even if it means working 16 hours a day.

According to reports, seven members of the Rust crew left the studio hours before the shooting, citing security concerns.

Roche said the strike was extraordinary. She said that for fear of being blacklisted, many actors and staff usually do not talk about safety issues.

The New York Times stated that Baldwin was rehearsing with a gun and he was told that there was no live ammunition.

A district attorney told the New York Times that an investigation focused on ballistics to determine what kind of bullet was in the gun and who put the ammunition into the gun.