.......Advise and
feedback on a real gun used on
stage, but with no blanks or bullets in it. The gunshot is a sound
effect. Is this a safe idea even though there are no bullets or blanks in the gun? The gun is a rifle and several times it gets pointed directly in an actor's
face. Best practices? Legal issues?.........
Just to let you know where my advice comes from. USMC vet, expert marksman. Trained in weapons management. Hunter and firearms user all my life. Weapons
Wrangler on 15 feature length films ( 1969-75) and several live
stage productions including the National Heritage production of
Young Washington in 1982 which had 180 black powder rounds and 6
cannon shots per night. I
build and
restore historic firearms and replicas.
If you compile what has already been said you have the gist.
1. Don't use a real weapon.
2. If you must use a real weapon, refer to item 1.
3. If the weapon does not have to discharge, refer to item 1, use a replica.
If you insist on using a real weapon, or if the weapon absolutely must discharge on
stage:
1. Consult your insurance company and lawyer and determine your liability and coverage under all circumstances.
2. Always have a
Competent Person assigned as a weapons
wrangler.
3. If the weapon does not have to discharge, have the gun
wrangler remove the firing pin and place wooden or plastic plugs in the chamber or cylinders to prevent the loading of a round of any kind.
4. If the weapon must discharge:
a. If possible obtain a replica, firing, weapon designed as a blank weapon or a simulated firing weapon.
b. NEVER
point a blank firing weapon at a person, under any circumstance. There are always ways to
block the scene to appear as if the weapon is pointed at the subject without it being the actual case.
c. Have
safety sessions with the entire cast and crew present and demonstrate what can happen if a blank weapon or a simulated firing weapon is discharged directly at an object.
d. Make the rules known and understood by all. The weapon is only handled by the weapons
wrangler and the actors actually handling the weapon on
stage. The weapon is always to be checked, loaded and cleared by the weapons
wrangler. The weapon is to be checked by the actor firing and being fired at as close to their entrance as reasonable.
4. When the weapon is not onstage it is ALWAYS in the possession of the gun
wrangler or locked in a gun locker, NEVER placed on a prop table or left unattended. If the weapon must be on
stage at the top of an act, when the weapon is placed on
stage, place it at the last possible moment. The weapon should be placed by the gun
wrangler, not the property
hand if they are not the same person. If Union jurisdiction is an issue, the gun
wrangler will
hand the weapon to the property
hand and observe it being placed. If the weapon is left on
stage at the end of an act, it is picked up immediately by the gun
wrangler or designated property
hand and not left on
stage during the
intermission. If the
stage is in full view of the audience during an
intermission, and no
stage hands are on
stage at anytime and the weapon must remain on
stage, the gun
wrangler must be assigned to watch the weapon during the entire
intermission with no other assigned duties.
5. A weapon that must fire must only be loaded just prior to the last entrance of the weapon before it is fired.
Hope this helps a
bit, if you have additional questions, please ask.
