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The movie director who was wounded on set when Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun says he is "gutted" by the death of the film's cinematographer, as more details emerge suggesting the production was troubled even before the accidental shooting.

Joel Souza, who was hit in the shoulder on Thursday when Baldwin fired a prop gun that unexpectedly contained a live round while rehearsing a scene, broke his silence as the investigation entered its third day, with multiple questions remaining over how the mistake happened.

"I am gutted by the loss of my friend and colleague, Halyna. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better," Souza said in a statement on Saturday.

The shot hit cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in the chest, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. She died of her wounds and Souza, who was behind her, was injured but later released from the hospital.

Just hours before the incident on the New Mexico set of Rust, a low-budget western, several crew members quit in protest at what they saw as poor working conditions, according to multiple news outlets.

The Los Angeles Times reported that last week Baldwin's stunt double accidentally fired two rounds with a prop firearm after being told it was "cold", an industry term meaning a weapon is not loaded with ammunition, including blanks.

At least one employee complained to a production manager about gun safety on set, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed crew members.

The same mistake may have occurred on Thursday, according to court records. An assistant director, Dave Halls, handed Baldwin the prop gun and told him it was a "cold gun", according to an affidavit from the sheriff's office that was filed as part of a search warrant application.

Halls could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

A Santa Fe judge on Friday approved the warrant, allowing authorities to seize firearms, clothing, cameras, video tapes and ammunition from the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe.

Rust Movie Productions said on Friday it had not been aware of any safety concerns but was investigating the incident.

"Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down," the company said. Baldwin is among the film's producers.

It is unclear why the gun contained a live round. The person in charge of weapons on set is known as an armourer; the armourer for Rust, Hannah Gutierrez, had set up the gun and two others, according to the affidavit.

Gutierrez could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

No charges have been filed, and police say the investigation remains active. Security guards were posted at the road leading to the ranch on Saturday.

The International Cinematographers Guild planned to hold a candlelight vigil for Hutchins, 42, on Saturday evening in Albuquerque, about 60 kilometres from the ranch. A second vigil was scheduled for Sunday in the Los Angeles area.

"Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words. Our loss is enormous," her husband Matt Hutchins wrote on Twitter.

The American Film Institute set up a scholarship fund for female cinematographers in Hutchins' honour.

Baldwin, 63, best known for his roles in TV comedy 30 Rock and his Saturday Night Live impersonations of former US president Donald Trump, said on Friday he was shocked and heartbroken at Hutchins' death and was fully co-operating with authorities.

© RAW 2021

Victoria has reported 1935 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths ahead of an expected announcement on further restrictions easing when the state hits its 80 per cent full vaccination target.

On the first weekend since Melbourne's 77-day lockdown ended, the state is managing almost 25,000 active cases.

There are 787 people in hospital, slightly lifting the seven-day average to 793. Of them, 146 are in intensive care and 93 of those on a ventilator.

The latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 223.

There were 69,624 tests processed and 39,250 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs on Saturday.

Some 73 per cent of Victorians over 16 are now fully vaccinated.

It comes as changes to Victoria's roadmap are set to be unveiled on Sunday, as the state nears its 80 per cent full vaccination milestone.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday said the state is on track to reach 80 per cent full vaccination of its over 16 population by next weekend, paving the way for further restrictions to ease.

He flagged he would hold a press conference "quite soon to clarify what we hope can happen at the end of next week", and could go further than previously announced.

Under the government's original roadmap, outdoor masks will be scrapped, statewide travel will return, indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail can reopen, and capacity limits increase when the state reaches 80 per cent.

Victoria was initially forecast to reach the milestone on November 5, but analysts predict the target could be hit on October 29 or 30.

The sped-up vaccination rate has prompted Victorian authorities to green light a 5500-strong, fully vaccinated crowd for Derby Day before 10,000 arrive at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup three days later.

Caps on major sports events could be dumped altogether once 90 per cent of Victorians over 12 are fully vaccinated, the Herald Sun reports, allowing up to 75,000 fans to potentially pack into the MCG for Boxing Day Test.

© AAP 2021

Melburnians will be able to enter regional Victoria before next weekend as part of further eased COVID-19 restrictions when the state hits its 80 per cent full vaccination target.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday announced the latest round of rules will take effect from 6pm on Friday, as the state closes in on 80 per cent of people 16 or over being fully vaccinated.

Under the changes, statewide travel will return, outdoor masks are scrapped and indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail can reopen for fully vaccinated patrons.

In addition, capacity limits will increase for restaurants, pubs and cafes.

Mr Andrews also outlined changes to the state's roadmap when 90 per cent of people 12 and over are full vaccinated, forecast on or around November 24, including scrapping all venue caps.

"There will be no density quotients anywhere," he told reporters.

"Masks will only be required in high-risk indoor settings, such as public transport, prisons, hospitals, aged care, to give you some examples.

"We will retain the vaccinated economy, all those requirements, all those settings, where you only get in if you are double vaccinated."

He wants a 80,000-plus crowd for day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG but said all would have to be double-dose vaccinated.

It comes as Victoria reported 1935 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths, taking the toll from the current outbreak to 223.

On the first weekend since Melbourne's 77-day lockdown ended, the state is managing almost 25,000 active cases.

There are 787 people in hospital, slightly lifting the seven-day average to 793. Of them, 146 are in intensive care and 93 of those on a ventilator.

There were 69,624 tests processed and 39,250 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs on Saturday.

Some 73.7 per cent of Victorians 16 and over are now fully vaccinated.

© AAP 2021