Blank gun questions

Well, my brother and I found these really cool toy guns at KB Toy store, they fire like the Guncon guns for the Time Crisis videogames in the arcade except they look like real berettas. What we did was took them apart and ripped the sound chips out and carefully tore off the orange bud on the front of the barrel. They look like they'll be a great tool for our movies when mixed with post flashes and because they make a Guncon-like click when you fire them, it'll be easier to match sound and flash.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zack_birlew/detail?.dir=/63b8&.dnm=3a29.jpg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zack_birlew/detail?.dir=/63b8&.dnm=f594.jpg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zack_birlew/detail?.dir=/63b8&.dnm=eaf7.jpg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/zack_birlew/detail?.dir=/63b8&.dnm=cdc3.jpg&.src=ph


Amazing how far toy guns have come from when I was little...

Just have to spray paint them black and we're good to go!
 
i am a musician and stage performer looking for information related to the use of blanks in a performance. part of the script would involve a simulated suicide. i am concerned about and was wondering what the best/safest way to simulate a close up gun to the head situation was that would look and sound as realistic as possible to the live audience. i read the past posts and i just want to make it absolutely sure that what i purchase is the safest means possible. i was thinking about purchasing a plugged gun. i know they vent pretty hot stuff and i dont think any actor wants to get burned so im wondering if theres a way a little safer when close to a person.
 
No blanks of any type around an actor or stuntperson's head. Not vented, not anything. Not full loads, half loads, quarter loads, cap pistols, starters pistols or the like period.
 
thats what i was afraid of. sounds like the idea just isnt safe. can anyone suggest any alternatives i can lookin into with a lifelike sound and or look. any ideas would be most appreciated.
 
The idea is absolutely not safe. Regarding sound, you can get that in post. All kinds of gunshot sounds on line, just Google them.
 
Check out detonation films, http://detonationfilms.com/missionstatement.htm
Also if you are going to use any type of weapon on set, it would be best if you had a prop master that is qualified with weapons or a weapons master on set. Actors should be shown the proper technique for holding the weapon, shown that the weapon is not loaded EACH Time. Non guns are nice but expensive to use. 3-5 dollars for every shot fired.
 
HKFF said:
Thanks for everyone's tips. I have actually started to look into airsoft guns as they seem to be great safer alternatives to purchasing blanks. As long as I don't load BBs, they'll be perfect.

Now the only thing is, I'll have to learn how to make smoke, muzzle flashes, and ejecting shells with some program. Any advice on how and which program to start that would be great. I'm guessing After Effects is good for that?
Click to expand...
This issue is near and dear to my heart, and something I devote a ton of pages to in The DV Rebel's Guide. Airsoft guns are much safer and quieter than blank-firing repilcas. And if you learn just enough to create the flashes in post, the results can actually look better—since the replicas have unrealistic flashes that come out the top of their plugged barrels.

More expensive that airsoft, but with the added benefit of ejecting brass and smoke galore, are model guns that fire special caps loaded into little replica bullets. We've seen some posts here before from folks who have added digital flashes to these guns with excellent results.

A great trick when compositing in a muzzle flash is to blur the background slightly behind the flash. The results will look much more realistic. And bear in mind that muzzle flashes in movies are almost never on screen for longer than one frame.

-Stu
 
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Hey Stu,
I bought your book recently and I am enjoying it. I definitely now want to fog a room! I see you are going to be "one of us", the Red people :-). I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with #1073
 
Oh, and as for this thread. Blank guns rock my world. I own 5 of them and wish I could have more. People do freak out thinking they are real or mentioning the Brandon Lee incident (which was a REAL gun shooting blanks, totally different concept than a blank gun). Once I had to prove that nothing came out of the barrel of my blank gun, I just held my own palm about 3 inches from the gun and pulled the trigger :-)
 
Thanks shawneous! I can't wait to get my hands on a Red, but in the meantime I picked up a Go-35 Pro and am enjoying a renewed love affair with my DVX100a.

-Stu
 
Prop guns are plugged because of federal law. They weigh, look and feel like the real thing. SO the orange plug is there so a cop doesn't shoot some kids by accident, and other reasons. Not to mention, as has been said numerous time on this thread, the barrel is stopped, so if you fired a real bullet (most blank firing guns are 8mm if you get a 9mm you can technically fit a 9mm round in the chamber) there is a chance you will blow up the gun, and your hand or even possibly kill yourself. Even with a blank round, i would never put the gun to close to anyone because there are still hot gases that have to be released when the powder burns.
 
I am a little concerned about some of the information being shared on this thread. I have been a movie armourer for many years and have had to re-educate many people on the use of firearms in movies. Firstly ALL blank firing guns are dangerous. If nothing comes out of the barrel, then the gas must come out somewhere else, often this is a small hole in the top. Imagine if you fire the gun into the air, the hole in the top is now pointing at your face!! There are no wads, plastic wax or otherwise in genuine movie blanks, the end of the cartridge is crimped together and opens when fired, the exception being some shotgun blanks which have a soft sponge wad. Even so, there are still unburnt powder particles being propelled at high speed under pressure. Most firearms used in major movies are real and controlled by expert armourers even low budget movies should consider getting an expert film armourer. Most of us know when there is a genuine shortage of cash and are willing to do deals. As for suicide scenes, the best thing to use is an airsoft which has the blowback ability, that is when the trigger is pulled, the slide will move back as a real gun would. But would this be appropriate to do on a live music performance! In my experience on live stage, the audience will not see any movement on the firearm and because you will have no bang then the cue for the reaction should come from a sound effect off stage. The legal aspect of people in the audience taking offence should the firearm, real or not, be pointed at them, should also be considered.
 
milspec's advice strikes me as right on target,

milspec's advice strikes me as right on target,

(no pun intended), by pointing out things like unburned powder, hot gases, and the potential dangers of ANY kind of wadding or "plug." As a younster of 12, I was taught by my father how to reload everything from (.38 cal, .357 magnum, 9 mm, .45 cal, big-bore long-gun rounds, 20, 12, and 410 gauge shotguns). He bought powder 10 lbs. at a time, and primers by the thousand. He made me well aware of the dangers of all. even "blanks."

While there's been mention of face shields and protection from flying bits of lead, what I haven't seen in this forum is mention of the dangers of sound and pressure on hearing. Any fast release of pressure, whether hot or cold, has the potential to damage hearing if done closely. My understanding has always been that weapons go from a locked cabinet to the weapons master's hand, to the talent, then right back to the weapons master, and right back to the locked cabinet, and no one else, not even Christ Himself, gets to touch the weapons. IMO, any process other than that means someone is being careless and putting others in danger.

Enuf lecturing...sorry...just remember to protect your hearing as well as the rest of your body.

x
 
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