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-   -   STORIES from the armory world.... (http://forum.imfdb.org/showthread.php?t=1580)

MoviePropMaster2008 01-25-2011 05:55 PM

STORIES from the armory world....
 
I got a call from a movie art director. The story supposedly takes place in the late 1950s.

Quote:

Me: "Okay, what do you need?"

Them: "Oh, we need, uh, Glock 26s, Beretta 92FS, H&K USP-9C and an XD."

Me: "Oh, you mean for a scene that takes place today?"

Them: "No, the story takes place in Topeka, KS in 1959"

Me: "WTF? Those guns had not been invented yet."

Them: 'Nobody cares about that. It's what the director wants. He likes the look of them. We need them anyway for continuity because we've FILMED some of the scenes already with airsoft weapons and the live firing weapons need to match."

Me: (Sound of MPM2008 fainting and his head hitting the floor)....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nearly every week I get a voicemail or email like this:
Quote:

"Hi there. I'm shooting a film about a bank robbery. My name is _ _ _ _. I need three live firing MP5s, four Colt M4s, three Beretta 92FS pistol and a Benelli M4 Shotgun. Please mail them to THIS address: _ _ _ _ _ (usually an address that is EAST of the Rockies) Next Day Air delivery is required as I need them by tomorrow afternoon. Please let me know when the package is on the way. Thank you."
No other identification other than their first name. No mention of what the production title or production company is. No mention of whether or not they are renting or buying these things (well they can't buy them) and obviously no realization that it is not legal to ship firearms that is not theirs already, to non-licensed persons via mail. No mention of insurance or security deposit, the list goes on.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I love it when a low budget production enlists the aid of an active duty COP to be their weapons advisor. Sorry but COPS are not movie armorers. Their knowledge base is really deficient when it comes to movie making. I had a detective ask me the following:
Quote:

HIM: We need a shootout scene so we need handguns.
ME: Okay how many do you need? of what model?"
HIM: Oh, let's say, um. We need 30 Berettas, 30 USPs and 30 Glocks.
ME: Okay, I can get you multiple firing versions and then non-firing background guns to total 30 of each gun.
HIM: NO! What kind of armorer are you? We want 30 FIRING guns of each one.
ME: I doubt any armory stocks 30 firing versions of these handguns by themselves. When there are large orders, they usually borrow/subrent from the other armories. Armories DO stock weapons in those numbers if they are infantry issued (so we have at least 30 M1 Garands or more, 30 Springfield rifles or more, 30 M16s or more, 30 AK-47s or more (much more), etc. etc. because it is much more likely to have a mass firing scene with a ton of guys firing, but even then, when you get close to a HUNDRED ACTORS, you're gonna start issuing fake/rubber/replica guns to the background guys.)
HIM: Well you obviously don't know what you're talking about. We will look elsewhere.
Now this guy is talking Ninety (90!!!) live firing handguns in one shot. There is no film in existence where you see 90 pistols firing at the same time. Much less the SAME HANDGUN MODEL. But he thinks "Well I can conceive of it, therefore it MUST exist". Sorry pal. We're not a Police Armory paid by taxpayer dollars. Also your POLICE armories have tons of the same weapons because they are DUTY WEAPONS used by dozens and dozens of officers.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I get a call from a low budget film production and they want to rent some firearms and they want full flash from the muzzle like in other movies. I give them a quote and note that many of the live firing weapons they need requires a licensed handler on set, I can't just hand them off to them and say "Have a nice day". I get a call back from them later which usually goes like this:
Quote:

THEM: Oh, thank you. We got a 'gun guy' on set. He's a cop.
ME: Uh, okay, he MAY be exempt from some of the gun control laws, but just being a cop doesn't allow him to receive firearms any more than a non-cop.
THEM: Oh, well, we're gonna use his guns for the film.
ME: You sure?
THEM: Oh yes. He says he knows what he is doing.
ME: Okay, have a nice day .....
I hang up the phone, and wait, expecting a call later when they realize that this cop only has live ammunition and doesn't have full flash movie blanks and none of his autoloaders are blank adapted...... DOH!


And it's only Tuesday.....

k9870 01-25-2011 06:11 PM

Can you mention the 1959 film with the Xd's name? i just HAVE to see that.

predator20 01-25-2011 06:22 PM

WOW those are some great stories. The one asking you to ship them the guns is the best. Do low budget films often try to use a cop for the weapons advisor or on-set armorer?

MoviePropMaster2008 01-25-2011 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by predator20 (Post 24736)
WOW those are some great stories. The one asking you to ship them the guns is the best. Do low budget films often try to use a cop for the weapons advisor or on-set armorer?

Yes. They think "Oh Cop, he MUST be a gun expert". As others here (exemplary professionals like PhoenixEnt or Gunguy001) can attest to , we set them straight pretty quickly.

In fact right now, I am providing some M16A2 barreled uppers to a police department (to use on their own lower receivers) and sell them full flash blanks for some sort of training video. They can't figure out why their weak Milspec 5.56mm blanks don't appear in bright sunlight or why the blanks don't cycle the actions.......

MoviePropMaster2008 01-25-2011 06:37 PM

Seriously guys. I cannot make this stuff up......

predator20 01-25-2011 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008 (Post 24738)
Seriously guys. I cannot make this stuff up......

So like once a week or month you're going to tell us some new ones?

MT2008 01-25-2011 06:47 PM

As soon as I read these, I started thinking about a quote from some famous guy regarding the universe and stupidity and which is infinite.

And Jesus Christ...if my local PD had cops who were as stupid as the ones you've dealt with, I'd want them fired ASAP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9870 (Post 24735)
Can you mention the 1959 film with the Xd's name? i just HAVE to see that.

Of course he can't. For the same reason he posts anonymously.

k9870 01-25-2011 06:49 PM

Tell us when it comes out, some things are stupid enough to bother watching...

As to a cop automatically being able to be a gun expert....I saw a news photo of a NYPD officer strolling around with his finger wrapped around the trigger of his ar-15.

funkychinaman 01-25-2011 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9870 (Post 24735)
Can you mention the 1959 film with the Xd's name? i just HAVE to see that.

Maybe it's science fiction and involves time travel. It's odd that someone would be able to name those guns so specifically (USP-9C?) and not know they weren't around in the fifties.

k9870 01-25-2011 07:11 PM

They must have just bought the airsoft stuff they though looked cool.

funkychinaman 01-25-2011 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9870 (Post 24745)
They must have just bought the airsoft stuff they though looked cool.

Isn't Sucker Punch set in the fifties?

k9870 01-25-2011 07:18 PM

And imaginationland, sad thing is it looks like those girls have way better gun handling than most tv actors.

Jcordell 01-25-2011 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008 (Post 24737)
Yes. They think "Oh Cop, he MUST be a gun expert". As others here (exemplary professionals like PhoenixEnt or Gunguy001) can attest to , we set them straight pretty quickly.

In fact right now, I am providing some M16A2 barreled uppers to a police department (to use on their own lower receivers) and sell them full flash blanks for some sort of training video. They can't figure out why their weak Milspec 5.56mm blanks don't appear in bright sunlight or why the blanks don't cycle the actions.......

Very true. I'm a Rangemaster with my department. I'm here to tell you that many officers don't know much about firearms. That isn't to say they're bad shots or inept. Many of them are athletic and pick up the skill fairly quickly. In more than a few cases I'e seen new officers surpass me in fairly short order. But that doesn't make them very knowledgable about firearms or how to instruct people in their use.

Ever notice how some of the best coaches in various sports were just average when they were playing the sport? It's rarer for naturals to be good teachers. Because it comes naturally to them.

I am not a natural athlete and my skill and knowledge has developed over many years. I understand this and have also learned to seek info from folks who know their respective business. For example MPM 2008.

I've seen the same thing with guys in the elite military units (SEALS, SF ect). Very good with what they use and excellent athletes, but that doesn't necessarily make them gun buffs.

gunguy001 01-26-2011 12:19 AM

Grab your popcorn…..

A director wanted a M4 with full flash to shoot at the back of the head of the lead actor from 3 ft.

Did a show in Morocco and had 250 guys shooting all over the place,
we had concerns of ND's (negligent discharge) with the BG.
We had ND's courteous of the stunt department, the best one was a PKM went off inside a pickup truck with 6 stunt guys.

When we deploy the .50's, people think it's as loud as a 9mm.
When it goes off I get all giddy like a little school girl and watch their reactions.
After firing people coming running up to me all orgasmic like and tell me how that was amazing.

People who complain that the guns are loud and that we should use a more quite one, usually hair and make up types.

As a stunt performer, I was playing a soldier and had to dump 4 mags out of the M4 on the move with a whole lot of pyro going off around me, make a transition to a pistol and do 2 mag changes, also I had cast running around me like cats who just sat on a pack of alcohol wipes.
The director thought I looked nothing like the movies he mentioned and instructed me what I should do, the stunt co ordinator jumped in and pulled the director aside and told him that I was a 20 yr vet and a film armorer.

I have more but I'm tired….

Excalibur 01-26-2011 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9870 (Post 24741)
Tell us when it comes out, some things are stupid enough to bother watching...

As to a cop automatically being able to be a gun expert....I saw a news photo of a NYPD officer strolling around with his finger wrapped around the trigger of his ar-15.

Seriously just because someone has a background in a certain career that handled guns doesn't mean they are experts. The Marines I knew that are back in the states had to learn on their own time about guns that obviously weren't covered in Boot just to know general facts and then I had to fill in the blanks about movie guns when they ask me.

Excalibur 01-26-2011 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur (Post 24765)
Seriously just because someone has a background in a certain career that handled guns doesn't mean they are experts. The Marines I knew that are back in the states had to learn on their own time about guns that obviously weren't covered in Boot just to know general facts and then I had to fill in the blanks about movie guns when they ask me.


Quote:

Originally Posted by gunguy001 (Post 24760)
Grab your popcorn…..

A director wanted a M4 with full flash to shoot at the back of the head of the lead actor from 3 ft.

Did a show in Morocco and had 250 guys shooting all over the place,
we had concerns of ND's (negligent discharge) with the BG.
We had ND's courteous of the stunt department, the best one was a PKM went off inside a pickup truck with 6 stunt guys.

When we deploy the .50's, people think it's as loud as a 9mm.
When it goes off I get all giddy like a little school girl and watch their reactions.
After firing people coming running up to me all orgasmic like and tell me how that was amazing.

People who complain that the guns are loud and that we should use a more quite one, usually hair and make up types.

As a stunt performer, I was playing a soldier and had to dump 4 mags out of the M4 on the move with a whole lot of pyro going off around me, make a transition to a pistol and do 2 mag changes, also I had cast running around me like cats who just sat on a pack of alcohol wipes.
The director thought I looked nothing like the movies he mentioned and instructed me what I should do, the stunt co ordinator jumped in and pulled the director aside and told him that I was a 20 yr vet and a film armorer.

I have more but I'm tired….


I'd love to hear more stories

gunguy001 01-26-2011 04:31 AM

Only if you share Excalibur.

Excalibur 01-26-2011 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunguy001 (Post 24773)
Only if you share Excalibur.

I'm not a "gun guy". I'm just a guy that happens to "know guns"

predator20 01-26-2011 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunguy001 (Post 24760)
Grab your popcorn…..

.

As a stunt performer, I was playing a soldier and had to dump 4 mags out of the M4 on the move with a whole lot of pyro going off around me, make a transition to a pistol and do 2 mag changes, also I had cast running around me like cats who just sat on a pack of alcohol wipes.
The director thought I looked nothing like the movies he mentioned and instructed me what I should do, the stunt co ordinator jumped in and pulled the director aside and told him that I was a 20 yr vet and a film armorer.

I have more but I'm tired….

Did the director tell you what you were doing "wrong". Or what did he tell you that you should do to make it "right"? I guess he was used to actors playing like they knew what they were doing.

Excalibur 01-26-2011 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by predator20 (Post 24776)
Did the director tell you what you were doing "wrong". Or what did he tell you that you should do to make it "right"? I guess he was used to actors playing like they knew what they were doing.

Well there's directors that wants that actors to be realistic and utilize their countless hours of training and then there are directors that wants the actors to be "realistic"

Kirill 01-26-2011 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunguy001 (Post 24760)
Grab your popcorn…..

A director wanted a M4 with full flash to shoot at the back of the head of the lead actor from 3 ft.

Did a show in Morocco and had 250 guys shooting all over the place,
we had concerns of ND's (negligent discharge) with the BG.


What's BG?

MoviePropMaster2008 01-26-2011 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunguy001 (Post 24760)
The director thought I looked nothing like the movies he mentioned and instructed me what I should do, the stunt co ordinator jumped in and pulled the director aside and told him that I was a 20 yr vet and a film armorer.

I would love to hear more about this incident. :) I'm a little confused. Was the director being a douchebag? Did he want something that was just different looking or something really stupid looking? Knowing your experience and skill on many sets, he was probably asking for something super stupid. Usually if a director wants the actors to 'cheat for the camera' I usually don't have a problem with that.

I only comment in that I too have military training, but being also film trained, I am aware of some of the limitations that cinema puts on pure realism. I think we should also point out to the forum that sometimes one has to 'cheat the shot' in order to get the footage for the film.

For example, I did a WW2 film some years ago and the military advisor had all the paratroopers patrolling the correct military way for the period. Spread out, all correct hand signals of the time, no man was closer than 25 feet to another man (i.e. so that a single grenade won't take out a bunch of guys)... He also told them not to bunch together and trained them well to utilize cover and concealment.....

Wonderful, right? Except that the D.P. couldn't get any of the guys into frame. Kinda makes it pointless when you're filming these guys.... And spreading them that far apart made the scene impossible since TWO of the characters were supposed to be talking to each other. Good thing the Ex-SF guy who was advising the film understood that you can't make EVERYTHING completely correct militarily in some cases, because it makes it impossible to film the scene in the script.

Anyway, it's all about getting it IN Camera. And having a smart director .....

MoviePropMaster2008 01-26-2011 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MT2008 (Post 24740)
And Jesus Christ...if my local PD had cops who were as stupid as the ones you've dealt with, I'd want them fired ASAP.

Being ignorant as to the workings of a movie set doesn't mean you're dumb or incompetent. I know quite a few people who are lovely and smart people who don't know shit about filmmaking, and they have some of dumbest assumptions! ;) hahahahaha

One can be a good COP (which is probably the most important thing) and not know a damned thing about movies. I just resent the 'assumption' by the lay public that being a Cop magically endows these people with knowledge of movie making and armoring films.

BTW: on a NON-Armoring story, I had a neighbor, a nice little old lady who was an extra in a movie. Two weeks later she told me that she was angry because she 'hadn't received her DVD of the movie she was in yet'. I was "Huh? You only filmed your scene on that production TWO WEEKS ago!" She was "Yes, shouldn't I get a copy of the movie by now?" I was: "Uh, it takes a LOT LONGER than two weeks to finish production, post production, distribution, etc. etc. Your film probably won't be out for a year." She said that sounded ridiculous..... Sigh, the things that the ignorant public DON'T know about film. ;)

ManiacallyChallenged 01-26-2011 01:37 PM

Great stories. Keep them coming if you have more you'd like to share.

funkychinaman 01-26-2011 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008 (Post 24783)

BTW: on a NON-Armoring story, I had a neighbor, a nice little old lady who was an extra in a movie. Two weeks later she told me that she was angry because she 'hadn't received her DVD of the movie she was in yet'. I was "Huh? You only filmed your scene on that production TWO WEEKS ago!" She was "Yes, shouldn't I get a copy of the movie by now?" I was: "Uh, it takes a LOT LONGER than two weeks to finish production, post production, distribution, etc. etc. Your film probably won't be out for a year." She said that sounded ridiculous..... Sigh, the things that the ignorant public DON'T know about film. ;)

So extras get a free copy of the movie they're in? That's pretty cool!

MT2008 01-26-2011 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008 (Post 24783)
Being ignorant as to the workings of a movie set doesn't mean you're dumb or incompetent. I know quite a few people who are lovely and smart people who don't know shit about filmmaking, and they have some of dumbest assumptions! ;) hahahahaha

Using live weapons is definitely a sign of incompetence.

MT2008 01-26-2011 05:31 PM

And BTW, thank you both MPM and Al for sharing these stories. I realize you can't tell us which productions you're referring to, but it's still really hilarious to read them.

Out of curiosity, do you guys have any funny stories regarding your work with actors (again, not asking you to name names, just what they did)? I've heard a couple of those from other armorers I have talked to.

MoviePropMaster2008 01-26-2011 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MT2008 (Post 24803)
Using live weapons is definitely a sign of incompetence.

Okay, you have me confused again. We ALL work with live weapons. I just handed out some K98 Mausers which are perfectly LIVE. If I were to pop a live 7.92 Mauser round into them, I could wreak some havoc.

I think you're reading my comment "He only had live ammunition" with "He brought and expected to USE live ammunition". Cops I know all have live ammunition. I think low budget filmmakers forget that Cops don't usually carry the appropriate blanks. It was more of a dumb assumption on the part of the movie makers than the cop.

MoviePropMaster2008 01-26-2011 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkychinaman (Post 24794)
So extras get a free copy of the movie they're in? That's pretty cool!

Uh, no. They don't. But I won't argue with her any more about anything movie related ...;) LOL

MT2008 01-26-2011 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008 (Post 24806)
Okay, you have me confused again. We ALL work with live weapons. I just handed out some K98 Mausers which are perfectly LIVE. If I were to pop a live 7.92 Mauser round into them, I could wreak some havoc.

I think you're reading my comment "He only had live ammunition" with "He brought and expected to USE live ammunition". Cops I know all have live ammunition. I think low budget filmmakers forget that Cops don't usually carry the appropriate blanks. It was more of a dumb assumption on the part of the movie makers than the cop.

Sorry, yeah, live ammunition is what I meant. Isn't that pretty ridiculous?

Jcordell 01-26-2011 07:38 PM

MPM2008 have you ever seen (or prevented) people on a set from doing something real stupid with blank loaded firearms ala the infamous 1984 Jon-Erik Hexum inccident with the blank loaded 44 magnum?

MoviePropMaster2008 01-26-2011 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Checkman (Post 24818)
MPM2008 have you ever seen (or prevented) people on a set from doing something real stupid with blank loaded firearms ala the infamous 1984 Jon-Erik Hexum inccident with the blank loaded 44 magnum?

We all have. One of my assistants stopped a director from telling an actor to shoot a Beretta 92FS at the back of a 'bad guys' head. I mean full powered full flash blanks a distance of THREE INCHES from the back of the other actor's skull. He forced them to use that 'forced perspective' camera trick (like they did in Beverly Hills Cop). You pull the camera WAY BACK and ZOOM IN so the guy firing can be pretty far away from the guy reacting and it looks like he shot the guy right in the head. It's a camera trick regarding angles and compression of the image with a long lens. Another armorer who I sub hired for a project, YANKED a H&K USP from an actor who was really unsafe with it. He actually fired too close to the face of another actor who was working with him (accidentally) during a firefight scene. They had rehearsed their blocking on that scene over and over again, but when it came to filming, adrenaline kicked in and the guy forgot everything he was told. Good thing ALL the actors had sunglasses on because the other guy had unburnt powder and crap peppering his face. The "junior" armorer (technically he was working for me) yanked the guy's live gun and said "You're an idiot. You get a RUBBER GUN from now on". The actor complained loudly and the Asst. Director came up to me and I said "Don't ask me. I back up my armorer 100%" The director was so pissed that he almost FIRED that actor from the set. But they just continued shooting, and that actor had a RUBBER pistol the rest of the entire movie..... :)

Jcordell 01-26-2011 08:00 PM

Whew. I have to admit that back in my Army days I "played" with the blanks that we used in our M-16's.

I and my fellow soldiers would unscrew the blank adapters from our barrels then shoot cleaning rods out of the barrels by firing the blanks. We didn't shoot at each other, but I did see cleaning rods driven into tree trunks.

Young soldiers can be dangerous if left unattended. I also recall playing with artillery simulators. :eek:

It was many many years ago and I like to think that I'm smarter now. But blanks aren't toys that's for sure.

Now I shudder when I think about the damage that we probably did to the barrels as well with those cleaning rods.

I look at my teenage kids and find myself hoping that they are smarter than I was.

Excalibur 01-26-2011 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Checkman (Post 24825)

I look at my teenage kids and find myself hoping that they are smarter than I was.

Then be a smart parent and teach them to be smarter

Rockwolf66 01-27-2011 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Checkman (Post 24825)
Whew. I have to admit that back in my Army days I "played" with the blanks that we used in our M-16's.

I look at my teenage kids and find myself hoping that they are smarter than I was.

I remember a time when my dad was talking about his time in the british military and how two guys in a WWII concrete machinegun nest were killed when a grenade simulator was tossed in with them. the duo had closed the door in back and the only opening was the machinegun slit. cuncussion killed them.

Then I have some of the details of all the industrial accidents dad investigated. Suprisingly few of them involved explosives.

ManiacallyChallenged 01-27-2011 05:35 AM

This is gonna sound somewhat off topic, but I couldn't read one of the newer Stephen King novels for that reason.
I got about 20 pages in, and the main character was horrifically mauled in an industrial accident. I was like: not for me. And stopped reading.

On topic: young people maybe should be introduced to firearms safety at a young age. I know lots of people will never grow up to use firearms regularly(if at all), but I just see no better way to learn respect for firearms(real, blank firing, even replicas) than having your parents instill that respect from an early age.

Jcordell 01-27-2011 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur (Post 24831)
Then be a smart parent and teach them to be smarter

Really? Glad you are here to state the obvious. ;)

Jcordell 01-27-2011 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacallyChallenged (Post 24844)
This is gonna sound somewhat off topic, but I couldn't read one of the newer Stephen King novels for that reason.
I got about 20 pages in, and the main character was horrifically mauled in an industrial accident. I was like: not for me. And stopped reading.

On topic: young people maybe should be introduced to firearms safety at a young age. I know lots of people will never grow up to use firearms regularly(if at all), but I just see no better way to learn respect for firearms(real, blank firing, even replicas) than having your parents instill that respect from an early age.

Couldn't agree more. However it is also true that people will still do stupid things (at times) regardless of their upbringing. Whether it's due to peer pressure, alcohol or just a momentary lapse in reason. Eventually as a parent one just has to cross one's fingers and pray that their teaching sticks.

My father gave me a strong sense of firearm safety and I wasn't encouraged to be reckless. And yet I still did engage in stupid behavior. And I knew at the time it was risky.

Fortunately I was lucky and I got a grip on myself and stopped after a short while.

None of us are perfect and I'm very skeptical of those who claim to be perfect.

S&Wshooter 01-27-2011 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ManiacallyChallenged (Post 24844)
This is gonna sound somewhat off topic, but I couldn't read one of the newer Stephen King novels for that reason.
I got about 20 pages in, and the main character was horrifically mauled in an industrial accident. I was like: not for me. And stopped reading.

That book was pretty boring. It drags on forever and then there are zombies, which a supporting character caps with a Desert Eagle (which doesn't work) and then the main character kills them with some silver object. The evil monster is imprisoned, The End.

gunguy001 01-29-2011 01:15 AM

Ok
I just finished a show and yesterday was a check in the box for my bucket list.
I finished doing a shoot out in a strip club, man some big guns were there.
All 30 ladies ended up hanging out by my station lol.

Someone had asked what's BG, that would be Background Performer, some people call them walking props, cattle, zombies or breathing set dressing,
IMO not a fan of any terms used.

Here's a dumb move made by an actor 3 years ago.

We had been doing a lot of shooting with actor dick toucher for about 2 weeks.
On this day, we set up to do a close up with DT firing his pistol.
Single action army revolver loaded with full black powder, rehearsed a few times, did 2 takes and getting ready to do the third.
Here is what saved him from having a valley in his head, the director asked for the gun to be cocked, I suggested we leave the hammer forward and let him cock it for the dramatic effect, the director agreed.
Speed was called, camera's rolling and just before the director yelled action, the actor had a hair issue and used the barrel to move his hair which was covering his eyes!
Yes he had the pointy end smack in the middle of his head with finger on the trigger, I know that if he pulled the trigger nothing would happen but that was not the point,
so….
I said "eh" and walked into frame, now remember the sound is speeding and three camera's rolling, I just went good old fashion Sgt and ripped him a new shiny asshole, I started on one side and worked over to the other side, every profane word that I knew came out, I leaned into his personal space like a recruit and went ape shit.
I walked out of frame and without missing a beat the director yelled action, buddy fired and the director yelled cut, I walked over and ripped the gun out of his hand.
That was it for him doing gun fire for the whole show, 100 plus crew just stood there gob smacked.
The 1st AD wanted me to apologize!
My reply to the AD, whats the next set up?
After that, the cast would suck pine cones thru a crazy straw if I asked them to do it.


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