Weapons Props On Set!

When the dust settled, it was found to be a student film involving airsofts. Thousands of dollars were expended on the part of the police investigating the incident, public exposure by the media covering the incident made the UC Irvine administration cringe, and the reputation and physical health of the involved parties was placed in jeopardy. Why, you ask? Because those behind a student film failed to notify the appropriate authorities and obtain the necessary permits.

On the face of it, one could say no harm, no foul. But let's look a little deeper into the "what if's." What if the police had confronted the individual student carrying the weapon and, in the confusion, they (the student) made the wrong move? Remember, these situations are very easily misconstrued. A student could have been killed by the police and it would have been a justified shooting, as many of the props out there are very real looking. Filmmakers, those in my company included, strive for realism in filmmaking, but that is where we need to be the most careful.

Being a business owner who provides weapons for film productions, I have to prepare the production staff for what having weapons on set entails. I have run into some reticence to our methods, but after I explain our safety protocols and reasoning for how we armor a set, the look of relief by the crew is apparent. Safety is something that cannot be skimped on.

Here are some of the rules and guidelines we adhere to when we step onto any set:

• Never, ever use real firearms as props! This cannot be stressed enough. If it can chamber real ammunition, it does not belong on a film set as a prop. The danger is just too great.
• Permits. This is especially important on non-studio "sets." By pulling a permit in the affected city or township, you put the authorities on notice that you are filming in their jurisdiction. A lot of problems can be overcome before they arise by following this step. Should a permit not be required (filming on private property with the permission of the owner), prudence must be employed to keep the weapons and props out of the view of the general public.








• Notification and Education. Contact the local Law Enforcement in the area you plan to be filming with weapons. Ask their advice. Develop a relationship with them. These are the guys who will be called when someone from the public calls about the "terrorists" or "criminals" running around with guns. 9-11 wasn't that long ago and people are still scared.
• Training. The actors on the set need to be kept under a tight leash when they have a weapon in their hands. One-on-one training with them on safety and handling is paramount. This is not only for the realism of the film, but also for the actors to realize that they are not handling toys. How many times do you see actors playing around and wanting photos for their "books," of them holding a gun? As long as the situation is controlled, no problem. But let them start horsing around, big problem. Weapons will be pointed at people, and people will start freaking out. And rightfully so. Someone points a weapon at me without my knowledge or permission, things are going to get ugly fast. The last actor who did that ended up on his rear with me taking possession of the weapon and the actor was denied the use of a weapon on set. It is that serious. Stress the importance of adherence to the rules up front. I don't care what the actors think of themselves; they could be Will Smith, John Travolta or Matt Damon; they will be in for a surprise if they mishandle any weapons on my set.








• Safety Briefings. Any time weapons are brought on set, a cast/crew safety briefing is held. No exceptions. Allow any person, crew or cast the opportunity to see the weapon and verify its "set-safe" status. Inform everyone that if they see anyone touching the weapons unauthorized or handling weapons in an inappropriate manner, they are to inform the handler, the AD's or the armorer immediately. When the weapons are brought onto set, a visual and functional inspection is performed in front of cast and crew to show status.
• Remain on Set. Any time weapons are on set, a designated trained person is to be in place in order to wrangle and babysit the weapons. In between takes, physically take possession of the weapons if cast takes a break or leaves the set. You are responsible for those weapons.
• Never Point the Weapon at Someone! That is the nice thing about film: we can cheat the angles and make it look good, yet remain safe. Many times, the angle I set up looks better on film, even though the weapon is not pointed at the actor. There are some exceptions to this and, as the armorer, I work closely with the actors and the director on these shots.
• When in doubt, hire a competent and educated armorer!

I hope this gives you some insight into integrating prop weapons into your production. To some, these rules and guidelines may seem oppressive, though in reality, they are not. They will dovetail into your set’s operations quite easily. Remember, a film is only good if everyone goes home safe to see their hard work come to be.

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