Guns

Circusfilms have purchased some blank-firing glocks for use in our new film. I don't think local residents will be to happy when we start filming a shoot out between killer clown zombies and our hero. Has anyone had any experiences or advice they want to share about this kinda thing?

Where are you doin' your shootout? If it's in the middle of the street, then I imagine a clown blowing a hole in a zombie might not go down too well.

I tend to cheat when it comes to gunplay. If we're in a reasonably built-up area, then the blank-firers are left at home and we duke it out with bb guns and repainted toys and add all the flash, bang, wallop (what a picture... sorry...) in post (Premiere, Cool Edit & Photoshop can do wonders for this kinda thing).

If we're out away from people, then we'll use blank-firers.

A few tips: make sure your actors get a chance to practice with the guns for a bit first, so they know how to hold them, don't screw up their faces when firing them and don't shit their pants when one goes off.

Also, never underestimate the sound one makes when it goes off. I recently did some work with a blank-firer while shooting on Super8 and my brain told me "get in close for a real good close-up, you're shooting silent, so it'll be fine". I nearly burst an eardrum!

Get some of those little in-the-ear earplugs and paint 'em fleshtones (hit Games Workshop and the like for some decent, realistic colours).

If you absolutely gotta use blank-firers, let absolutely EVERYBODY within earshot know about it. I shot a kung fu fight/gun battle out the front of my mate's house and the residents were all cool with it because two days before we printed "Please don't call the police"-type notices on luminous yellow paper and posted them through every door on the estate.



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The future is here:-
www.gwailofilms.co.uk

When shooting our first movie we used some BB-Guns as well as a Swiss Army Assault Rifle (SIG SG550).

About a month before shooting I talked to the Police and they sent in a 2 man team that 'secured' the area to make sure that nobody calls the Police and reports a shooting.

It all went fine, the officers had some fun watching us working on the movie and it wasn't too expensive.

If you do use blank firing weapons with your cast, make sure they use them correctly and respect the guns. Though they only actually fire blanks, they are still very dangerous pieces of equipment.

As you are using Glock guns (I assume the Glock 17) you may wich to add the hammer-cocking sound effect in post. Glocks don't have hammers, but pretty much every film using Glocks (from Die Hard to The Matrix) adds a hammer sound, most audiences don't realise the mistake, and you'd probably be better going for conventions rather than relaism, this is the movie industry after all!

Regards
Keviano
ReelRaine Productions
Special Effects Supervisor, Samra Pictures http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/wink.gif
Special Effects Co-ordinator, Catdog Films

Excellent information....

I've been in the same situation, but I thaught, if the people see the camera, they won't be worried.
I was wrong. We didn't warn the neighberhoud, or the police. We used BB-guns and wore balaclava helmets. Then when we were busy filming, the police showed up. They told us that we had to warn them and the neighberhoud next time we were going to film again.
Later in some shops, we heard the most ridiculous stories. A truck was robbed by men with balaclava helmets and they used guns. But we didn't even come close to a road where trucks are allowed.

Conclusion: Warn the police and neighberhoud before you start.

Greetz Exarfilm http://exarfilm.tripod.com

My advice is to leave the UK--Go to a place where they actually are not afraid of guns let alone fake ones.

Hello Nigel

Do you mean people in the US aren't afraid of guns?
I suppose you speak for all of america?
Jesus you must be REALLY stupid.

I'm in a similar situation. We film a shootout scene using blank guns in a rural area soon. We're going to tell all the neighbors about it, but I hesitate to inform the police. See, many of the people using guns will be minors. Are there laws against that kind of thing? Do you have to be 18 to use blank guns? What would happen if the police arrived and found one of our under-18 actors with the gun? Would it be confiscated? Or will the police be ok with it as long as I tell them about the scene beforehand? I'm really starting to wonder what the policy on this kind of thing is. Any information on these kinds of laws would be helpful (I'm in the US by the way).

I own a real 9mm but i was wondering if it will fire blank rounds. I think that it would but can anyone confirm this? also i want to know where to purchase blank rounds. it would be possible to make the movie with live rounds but i think its a little too dangerous.