Primary Filming Locations in New Mexico
The production of the film Rust was primarily based in New Mexico, with the majority of principal photography taking place at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe. This historic film studio, located approximately 13 miles northwest of downtown Santa Fe, has served as a backdrop for countless Western films and television series. The production team utilized multiple soundstages and exterior sets at this location, which provided the authentic frontier aesthetic required for the story. Additional filming occurred at various locations across northern New Mexico, including the Santa Fe County and surrounding desert landscapes that doubled for the film's fictional setting. The production was managed by Rust Movie Productions LLC, with the principal photography schedule spanning several weeks across these New Mexico locations read more here.
Beyond the Bonanza Creek Ranch, the production established temporary sets in other areas of Santa Fe County to capture the diverse terrain needed for the film's narrative. The crew filmed at locations including the outskirts of Santa Fe and nearby rural areas that provided the open landscape essential for the Western scenes. Local permitting through the New Mexico Film Office facilitated these shoots, with the production taking advantage of the state's incentive programs for film and television. The specific addresses and exact coordinates of some filming sites were not publicly disclosed to maintain security and minimize disruption to local communities. The New Mexico Film Office reported that Rust was one of several major productions to utilize the state's diverse filming locations during this period details here.
Production Companies and Key Personnel
Rust Movie Productions LLC was the primary production company behind the film, with the project originally announced in 2021. The company was founded specifically for this production, with Alec Baldwin serving as both a producer and lead actor. The directorial duties were initially handled by Joel Souza, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Baldwin. The production team included several experienced crew members from the New Mexico film industry, with local crew members filling key roles in the camera, art, and transportation departments. The budget for Rust was reported to be approximately $6 to 7 million, a relatively modest figure for a Western film with a full ensemble cast more info here.
The production timeline for Rust included an initial pre-production phase in early 2021, followed by principal photography that began in October of that year. The filming schedule was structured to maximize the available daylight hours in the New Mexico desert, with shooting days typically starting at dawn and concluding at dusk. The production employed a mix of local New Mexico crew members and traveling professionals from other states, contributing to the local economy during the shoot. Post-production work, including editing and visual effects, was planned to be completed at facilities outside of New Mexico, though the specific studios were not publicly identified at the time of filming. The film's completion was delayed following the on-set incident in October 2021, which led to a significant pause in production activities SEC filings reference.
Filming Timeline and On-Set Incident
Principal photography for Rust commenced on October 6, 2021, at the Bonanza Creek Ranch and other New Mexico locations. The production was approximately one week into the scheduled 21-day shoot when the on-set shooting incident occurred on October 21, 2021. The incident took place during a rehearsal scene involving a prop firearm that was discharged, resulting in the death