An explanation of the grotesque continuity breaks in films re guns

[gunguy001]

MPM I feel your pain, I had a M2HB crushed by a hummer 2 years ago, they paid me in less then 5 days lol.

a) The director swapping guns between actors like an maniac:

up here directors let alone anyone else are not allowed to touch the guns,
only the armorer period, if he wants to swap it out and I know it's wrong, well it's his show.
But I do agree with you on this.

b) The production not telling us what guns to bring on what day

Oh how I know this all to well lol.
Yes sir, let me slide that gun you just dreamed of
from between my butt cheeks.

(c) Only major motion pictures do tons of pre-production with guns.

Very true.
I am doing a swat series and they expected me to teach the actors how to use 5 various firearms in 1 hour with 7 key cast members, it was a long coffee break amongst all of us, they knew it was BS.

(d) Most directors don't know sh*t about guns or tactics

Man, do I ever roll my eyes on this one, but it's entertainment.

(e) Some actors don't listen

The background for sure, a small percentage of stunts, key cast....only one to my mind and I yelled at him with sound and camera's rolling for a good 10 seconds, lots and lots of F bombs.
The producers thanked me for that.

(f) Some editors just don't catch the problems

agree, sometimes the prop teams between the units don't talk well enough or even know the differance between guns.


At the start I would always suggest the right way, after awhile it just became clear that that's what they want and so be it, only the 1% see the goof and life will move on, but my suggestions sometimes are heard by the ones who care.