Gene Maddaus-Senior Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the armorer on the ill-fated Western film “Rust,” was convicted on Wednesday of involuntary manslaughter in the death of the film’s cinematographer. Jurors returned a verdict after less than three hours of deliberations on Wednesday afternoon, following two weeks of testimony about safety lapses on set. Gutierrez Reed was acquitted of a separate charge of tampering with evidence.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Attorneys gave their closing arguments in the “Rust” trial in Santa Fe, N.M., on Wednesday, with the prosecution urging jurors to find Hannah Gutierrez Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter and to hold her accountable for an “astonishing” lack of gun safety on the film set. Special prosecutor Kari Morrissey argued that as the film’s armorer, Gutierrez Reed, was in charge of guns on set, and that it was her failure to tell the difference between dummies and live rounds that led to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. “This was a game of Russian roulette every time an actor had a gun with dummies,” Morrissey said.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer An OSHA investigator testified on Tuesday that “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was not given enough time to make sure that there were no live rounds on set. Lorenzo Montoya was the first witness called by the defense in the involuntary manslaughter trial underway in Santa Fe, N.M. Gutierrez Reed is accused of causing the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by loading a live round into Alec Baldwin‘s gun.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The man who supplied guns, blanks and dummy ammunition to the set of “Rust” denied Monday that he had provided any live rounds to the production. Seth Kenney, owner of PDQ Arm and Prop, took the stand on the eighth day of the involuntary manslaughter trial of Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armorer. Gutierrez Reed is accused of negligently loading a live round into Alec Baldwin‘s gun, leading to the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Matthew Loeb is heading into what is likely to be the most consequential negotiation of his 16-year tenure to date as international president of IATSE. The union’s contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are set to begin March 4. After last year’s protracted strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, the industry is on edge about the possibility of another work stoppage.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — The director called “action,” and Alec Baldwin emerged from a wooden shed and advanced toward the camera, firing shots from an old pistol. As soon as he heard “cut,” the actor wanted to do the take again.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — The “Rust” trial boiled over in hostile bickering between the prosecution and the defense on Wednesday, after the defense poked several holes in the Sheriff’s investigation. Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armorer, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in the October 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed told detectives that she brought dummy rounds to set that were left over from a previous film, and that had been loose in a bag in her car. Gutierrez Reed is on trial for involuntary manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins, who was killed by a live round fired from Alec Baldwin‘s gun.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — A crew member on “Rust” gave jurors a tearful account Monday of the fatal shooting on set, and laid much of the blame on Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armorer. Ross Addiego, the dolly grip, became choked up and cried at several points as he recalled the events surrounding the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The trial of Alec Baldwin on involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting on the set of “Rust” will begin on July 9, a judge in Santa Fe, N.M., ruled on Monday. Jury selection is scheduled to begin that day. Testimony will begin July 10, and the trial is scheduled to last eight days, concluding on July 19.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — Jurors in the trial of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed were shown text messages on Friday that indicated she was smoking marijuana the night before a fatal accident on set. Prosecutors are building a case that Gutierrez Reed’s sloppiness and lack of professionalism led to the death of Halyna Hutchins, the film’s cinematographer.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SANTA FE, N.M. — The trial of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed began Thursday with prosecutor Jason Lewis arguing that her “sloppy” and “unprofessional” conduct led to the death of the film’s cinematographer. In his opening statement, Lewis argued that Gutierrez Reed had twice failed to properly check ammunition that she loaded into Alec Baldwin’s gun.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer J.C. “Spike” Osorio, the rigger who died on the set of Marvel series “Wonder Man” last week, fell when the wooden catwalk gave way beneath his feet, according to three sources familiar with the accident. Osorio was working at Stage 3 at Radford Studio Center in L.A.’s Studio City when the accident occurred at 6:42 a.m.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Harvey Weinstein‘s lawyer urged the highest court in New York to overturn his conviction on Wednesday, saying that too many accusers were allowed to testify at his trial. Arthur Aidala challenged the trial judge’s ruling allowing three women to testify as “Molineux” witnesses. The women spoke about sexual assaults that were not among the charges, but did help establish a pattern of misconduct.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The trial of “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed will begin as planned next week, as a Santa Fe judge on Wednesday rejected a last-minute bid to throw out the case. Gutierrez Reed’s lawyer, Jason Bowles, had argued that the case was irreparably tainted when the state turned over hundreds of attorney-client text messages to a key witness. But Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer refused to dismiss the case, finding that the disclosure was not prejudicial to the defense.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A former music video producer sued Russell Simmons on Tuesday, alleging that he raped her when she worked for Def Jam Recordings in the late 1990s. The woman, identified in the complaint as Jane Doe, alleges that she went to Simmons’ Manhattan apartment to get his approval for a rough cut of a video. While there, she alleges that he made a “wrestling move,” pinned her down on his bed, and proceeded to rape her.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer After studying the issue for the last eight months, Georgia lawmakers unveiled a proposal on Wednesday to limit the state’s lucrative film and TV tax incentive. Georgia has the largest production tax credit in the country, with $1.24 billion in credits certified last year. Over the last decade, soundstages have sprouted up around Atlanta and hundreds of productions have come to the state, including “May December,” “Black Panther,” “Stranger Things,” and “The Walking Dead.” Unlike in most other states, the Georgia credit is not capped.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA spoke out Friday against pornographic AI images of Taylor Swift that have been circulating on social media, and reiterated support for legislation to outlaw such images. The actors’ union called the images “upsetting, harmful and deeply concerning.” “The development and dissemination of fake images — especially those of a lewd nature — without someone’s consent must be made illegal,” the union said. “As a society, we have it in our power to control these technologies, but we must act now before it is too late.” The performers’ union has been following this issue for years, and has previously expressed support for state and federal laws that would make it illegal to distribute “deepfake” pornographic images that replicate someone’s likeness without consent.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA issued a statement Thursday defending Alec Baldwin after the actor was indicted last week for involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The union argued that Baldwin was not responsible for firearms safety, and that if the prosecution rests on such a responsibility, “that is an incorrect assessment of the actual duties of an actor on set.” “An actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert,” the union said. “Performers train to perform, and they are not required or expected to be experts on guns or experienced in their use.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Former President Donald Trump has won the New Hampshire primary, according to the Associated Press, as he continues to cruise toward his third nomination to lead the Republican Party in the coming election. The AP called the race immediately once all polls were closed at 8 p.m. local time.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Los Angeles Times announced Tuesday that it is laying off 115 staffers, as billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong looks to stem losses that have grown to $30-$40 million a year. The layoff figure includes both union members and non-union managers. Matt Pearce, a Times reporter and president of Media Guild West, said on X that 94 union staffers were being let go, which he said was “devastating” but less than the number expected a week ago.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The “Rust” case has been a bumpy ride for prosecutors, as they have faced repeated setbacks over a series of blunders. As a special prosecutor revived charges against Alec Baldwin on Friday, obtaining a grand jury indictment in the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, yet another problem emerged in a related case. Baldwin’s co-defendant, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, sought on Friday to have her case thrown out, citing the prosecutor’s mishandling of attorney-client communications.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Alec Baldwin has been indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, as prosecutors once again seek to hold the actor accountable for the on-set death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin, 65, was initially charged in the case in January 2023. But the charges were dropped three months later, after Baldwin’s defense team raised questions about whether his Colt .45 was functioning properly when it fired.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The prosecutor in the “Rust” case offered a “favorable” outcome last fall to armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed if she would help explain how live rounds made it onto the film’s set. But the offer came with a warning that if she refused, she would be hit with additional charges. Gutierrez Reed is set to go on trial next month in Santa Fe, N.M., for the death of Halyna Hutchins, the “Rust” cinematographer.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A former masseuse filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that she was coerced into having sex with James Dolan and was also sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein. The woman, Kellye Croft, alleges that Dolan pressured her to have sex after a massage appointment while she was working on an Eagles tour in 2013. She alleges that Dolan ignored her resistance and then summoned her to his room several more times on the tour, pressuring her to have sex.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer TV and film production in Los Angeles was slow to recover from the industry-wide strikes last fall, according to new data released by FilmLA. Scripted TV production ticked up slightly in the fourth quarter compared with the prior three-month period, but still remained far below historic levels. And feature film production continued to decline even after the strikes ended.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Former president Donald Trump won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, according to projections from the Associated Press and other outlets. Trump was the heavy favorite heading into Monday’s vote, as he seeks to reclaim the White House. Florida Gov.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A background actor sued Mia Goth on Friday, alleging that she intentionally kicked him in the head during a scene last April. James Hunter claims that he suffered a concussion after Goth kicked him during production on the A24 sequel “MaXXXine.” The film is the third in a trilogy of horror films directed by Ti West and starring Goth, following “X” and “Pearl,” both of which were released in 2022. In the lawsuit, Hunter states that he was hired for three days of work to play the role of “Dead Parishioner.” On the first night of shooting, he lay on the ground for several hours covered in fake blood, “enduring ants and mosquitoes.” In the scene, Goth was to run past him, and sometimes step over him, look down and keep running.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer SAG-AFTRA signed a deal on Tuesday with an AI voiceover studio that sets terms for the use of artificial intelligence in video games. The union announced the deal with Replica Studios on Tuesday at CES in Las Vegas. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s executive director, said that the terms include informed consent for the use of AI to create digital voice replicas, as well as requirements for the safe storage of digital assets.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Nigel Lythgoe is stepping down as a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance,” after two lawsuits accused him of sexual assault. Lythgoe, an executive producer of the show, is accused of groping and forcibly kissing Paula Abdul in an elevator about 20 years ago. In a second lawsuit, two contestants on “All American Girl” also accused him of forcibly trying to kiss them after a wrap party in 2003.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Nigel Lythgoe, the producer behind “So You Think You Can Dance” and “American Idol,” was hit with a second sexual assault suit on Tuesday, days after he was sued by Paula Abdul, who had worked as a judge on both shows. In the new lawsuit, Lythgoe faces allegations from two contestants on “All American Girl,” a competition show that aired on ABC in 2003. The women, identified in the suit as Jane Doe K.G.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer First there was “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” Now, get ready for “Steamboat Willie” horror films. The 1928 version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain on Monday, and indie horror producers are wasting no time in capitalizing on it. Steven LaMorte is set to direct an untitled horror-comedy based on Mickey’s cartoon debut.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Paula Abdul alleged in a lawsuit on Friday that she was twice sexually assaulted by Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Abdul rose to stardom in the late 80s and built a second career as a judge of reality show competitions in the early 2000s. In the suit, she alleges that during one of the early seasons of “American Idol,” Lythgoe sexually assaulted her in an elevator.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Dan O’Neill was 53 years ahead of his time. In 1971, he launched a countercultural attack on Mickey Mouse. In his underground comic book, “Air Pirates Funnies,” the lovable mouse was seen smuggling drugs and performing oral sex on Minnie.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer There has been little improvement in diversity among film directors over the last five years, as the total number of features as plummeted, according to a new report from the Directors Guild of America. The DGA report found that women directed 16% of the films released since 2018, while non-white directors accounted for 17%. The total number of DGA-covered theatrical releases fell from 292 in 2018 to 162 in 2022, which the union said has had an effect on the opportunity for hiring diversity.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A former assistant to Vin Diesel sued the actor on Thursday, alleging that in 2010 he pinned her against a wall in a hotel suite and masturbated in front of her. Asta Jonasson alleges that she was working for the actor in Atlanta, where he was filming “Fast Five,” when he brought her to his suite at the St. Regis Hotel and forced her onto his bed.