Do such props exist ... for minimal price?

Hawk Teflon

Hawk Teflon

Veteran
Greetings! I'm working on a script for a Zombie short. I'm curious as to a few things, though. I'm looking for a baseball bat that looks real, but isn't. One that you could actually hit someone in the head with without worrying about petty things like "brain damage" or "lawsuits" ... a google search found me only that big red bat that comes with wiffle balls. Hardly zombie repellant.

I also have more zombie movie related questions, but most aren't Special Effects/Stunts specific (can you use a real gun with no ammo out on the streets without getting arrested, etc), so if you have experience with that kind of thing, please PM me.
 
in answer to your second question, waving an unloaded real gun in public can still get you arrested (or shot). On a closed set where everyone knows Hey, It's Just Acting, an unloaded real gun will give you a little extra realism over a fake gun, but frankly the 'Whoops I forgot to take the bullets out' risk may make it more trouble than it's worth.
 
Real gun or fake gun - it's the perception that you want/need . . . and that's exactly what'll get you shot/killed.

Closed set - lots of placarding - prior notice to authorities & neighbors - these are the things that'll keep you alive.

Mustang, Oklahoma - asked politely, the authorities will probably want to come watch, even act. Exploit the advantages of a friendly locale.
 
Waving a real gun in public is brandishing and will get you arrested or killed. In some state open carry is legal, but waving a gun with out cause is a really big no-no. Felony level in most states.

http://www.starterpistol.com/products.php?cat=38

If you want realism, then get one of these and get permission from law enforcement. You may want to talk to your states film office, they might help get you that permission. Before the states film implosion the Iowa film office helped us get roads closed and opened all sorts of doors. All on little to no budget.
 
wow, those are a little pricey for something that won't kill something ... wait, that didn't come out right...

Those are really nice, but ... I just cannot justify that right now.

I like what you said about the film office. I need to look into that, too. Thanks again
 
The advantage of a "starter pistol" over airsoft is that the starter pistol actually functions properly. The slide has weight it, which means that there is a fair bit of perceived recoil. Its not too much but it is enough to sell the look. Most actors have little to no experience with actual firearms and as such they have a tendency to either over or under react when they pull the trigger.
 
I see what you're saying, Starshine, but if I'm going that direction, why not use a real gun with blanks? With the exception of "The Crow" it's safe ... right? Is it legal to shoot a starter pistol at someone as opposed to a real gun with blanks?

Blaine, I was thinking about that, but often times they just look plastic and fake. Then again, I could have an airsoft war with my wife afterward...
 
Advantages of "starter pistols"; no 1044 needed for transfer, everybody can handle them. I have worked with actors that have had pretty troubled pasts. If they had needed to use a gun in the film and I handed them a real gun with blanks then I would have just committed a felony. There are so many good reasons to not use real guns for films and so few even remotely decent reasons to use real guns. There are more if you want to here them.

Unless for some reason a real gun is really needed for the film then use a fake. I don't care if thats airsoft or cheap prop or a starter pistol.
 
For anyone questioning whether airsoft can look real or not, I would suggest you look at my site (link below). You tell me if those look fake. I normally spend 2-4 hours on every prop I get, aging and painting it. Go to the photos page and the catalog page. The ones on the photos page are all taken on set. Here are a bunch more not on the site yet: http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/gg136/DocBernard/Indie-Arms/

Every state will have different laws pertaining to the use of firearm replicas (airsofts do fall into that catagory). As to using real weapons that are just unloaded for film? Hmm, how do I politely say:

Do Not F$#&^ng Even Consider It! That is how mistakes happen, fatal mistakes. "Oops, who's turn was it to unload the gun today?" "Yeah, it's unloaded, trust me."
 
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Hawk Teflon said:
Fair enough.

Doc, how do you age your guns? What kind are they? Where do you get them? So on and so forth...
Click to expand...

Just to chime in with everyone else in here. DON'T USE REAL GUNS. :kali:

As a hunter and shooter, I've seen just what a real gun can do. Blanks can kill. Starter pistols can even be dangerous.

I'm also an airsoft user. And we shoot those at each other all day long. Get them here:

http://airsoftgi.com/

If you need any advice regarding brands or whatnot, let me know.

Gunfire can be simulated in After Effects. Check out this tutorial:

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorials/realistic_gun_blow_back/
 
I've been looking for firearm replicas for the longest time now, and this has been a pickle. Been working on a western set in Beirut for a while, and the guns have me stuck. I can order the holsters, but it is legally near impossible to order fake guns from abroad. We don't have them here in beirut, and here's the zinger.

It is easier and cheaper and more available than getting a fake approved for a film. It makes no sense, but I can pick up an arsenal of arms now, but can't get permission to fake money (white paper on one side with a hundred printed on the other with film prop written there) or to fake guns.

It's odd.

I would've gone for any militia and taken a bunch of arms, but also having hunted before and a licensed and trained firearms user..

... it's the last bloody thing I want to do.

Also, the airsofts are all new guns. I need single action colt 45's, and shotguns.

I found starteer pistols, but they're to order from abroad and I don't like the idea of gunpowder or any kind of cartridge.

Long shot. But does ANYONE on dvx live int he mideast or lebanon and knows where to get these replicas?

It's been hell.

Never bloody use real guns.
 
I've been looking for firearm replicas for the longest time now, and this has been a pickle. Been working on a western set in Beirut for a while, and the guns have me stuck. I can order the holsters, but it is legally near impossible to order fake guns from abroad. We don't have them here in beirut, and here's the zinger.

It is easier and cheaper and more available than getting a fake approved for a film. It makes no sense, but I can pick up an arsenal of arms now, but can't get permission to fake money (white paper on one side with a hundred printed on the other with film prop written there) or to fake guns.

It's odd.

I would've gone for any militia and taken a bunch of arms, but also having hunted before and a licensed and trained firearms user..

... it's the last bloody thing I want to do.

Also, the airsofts are all new guns. I need single action colt 45's, and shotguns.

I found starteer pistols, but they're to order from abroad and I don't like the idea of gunpowder or any kind of cartridge.

Long shot. But does ANYONE on dvx live int he mideast or lebanon and knows where to get these replicas?

It's been hell.

Never bloody use real guns.
 
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