STORIES from the armory world....

[gunguy001]

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.

[Rockwolf66]

Thankfully I was never that stupid.

First time I ever fired a .357 it was out of a Thompson Contender loaded with the sort of handloads you use for 150 yard siloette shooting. I was barely a boyscout so I was young and scrawny. I bent my elbows before pulling the trigger. three guesses as to what happened?

[ManiacallyChallenged]

My dad grew up in Eastern Oregon. In those days it was more rural, and of course it was back in "those days" so he and his brothers all had rifles.
My uncle told me a story of them taking their .22's to a junkyard after a rain. There was a junked car with a dented in roof. He climbed up on top, stood with legs shoulder width apart, and fired his rifle into a puddle of water trapped in the divot.
The way he tells it, the bullet flatted out when it hit the water and put a very large hole in the rusty roof. No injuries though.

[Excalibur]

Originally Posted by gunguy001

Ok

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.

You mean like an "Extra"

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by Excalibur

You mean like an "Extra"

Oh that Al, using all those "big words" Actually I still use the words 'Extra' or 'background' or also 'deep background' because I don't automatically assume non-movie people would know all the abbreviations.

Like when I'm talking to a crowd of people I know are NOT in the biz, I don't say 'gaffer' unless I follow up with a brief explanation of what that position does. But sometimes I mess with the 'folks' and say "Oh that's the person who GAFFS" and leave it at that ... (leaving them even MORE confused LOL)

But the term Background Performer is used MOST by the strict union types, since SAG, AFTRA, DGA, etc. all very strictly define "Principal Performer" and "Background Performer" via contracts. Who they are, what they are allowed to do, how much they get paid, etc.

But I still am careful of how loose I am with industry Abbreviations. I don't use D.P. (director of photography) alone as much (uh there are just too many guys who surf for PORN who assume it's the 'other' DP).

I don't use A.D. unless I'm saying First AD, Second AD, because some folks will still think I'm saying Accidental Discharge (some folks use Negligent Discharge, same thing).

Again, depends on the SET you're standing on. If you're surrounded by industry pros, they should KNOW what you're talking about. If you're addressing a bunch of set visitors who don't work in the industry, then I expand my lexicon

[k9870]

Accidental Discharge (some folks use Negligent Discharge, same thing).

Actually, negligence is never an accident. An accident is something like a gun that malfuctions. Like a shotgun that slam fires when you load the chamber even when no pressing trigger and safety on. Negligence is stupidity.

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by k9870

Actually, negligence is never an accident. An accident is something like a gun that malfuctions. Like a shotgun that slam fires when you load the chamber even when no pressing trigger and safety on. Negligence is stupidity.

A little Anal retentive aren't we? The only real time you'd ever actually argue the fineries of that point is in a court of law and even then, an accident may be negligence or vice versa.

[k9870]

Well, its like when i cruise gun forums one guy had a stoeger fire off a barrel when closing the action due to loose firing pin. Accident.

Somebody puts their finger on the trigger of a hunting rifle and shoots himself in the leg in the woods during hunting season in my state. Being a dumbass which is negligence.

There is a difference, nd multi page debates are waged on it a lot. Dont worry, im not gonna do that. Just making the point that somebody who has an accident isnt necessarily negligent. Somebody who does something stupid wasnt doing it by accident.

[BurtReynoldsMoustache]

What's the weirdest modification you've had to make to a gun?

[Zulu Two Six]

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008

Oh that Al, using all those "big words" Actually I still use the words 'Extra' or 'background' or also 'deep background' because I don't automatically assume non-movie people would know all the abbreviations.

Like when I'm talking to a crowd of people I know are NOT in the biz, I don't say 'gaffer' unless I follow up with a brief explanation of what that position does. But sometimes I mess with the 'folks' and say "Oh that's the person who GAFFS" and leave it at that ... (leaving them even MORE confused LOL)

But the term Background Performer is used MOST by the strict union types, since SAG, AFTRA, DGA, etc. all very strictly define "Principal Performer" and "Background Performer" via contracts. Who they are, what they are allowed to do, how much they get paid, etc.

But I still am careful of how loose I am with industry Abbreviations. I don't use D.P. (director of photography) alone as much (uh there are just too many guys who surf for PORN who assume it's the 'other' DP).

I don't use A.D. unless I'm saying First AD, Second AD, because some folks will still think I'm saying Accidental Discharge (some folks use Negligent Discharge, same thing).

Again, depends on the SET you're standing on. If you're surrounded by industry pros, they should KNOW what you're talking about. If you're addressing a bunch of set visitors who don't work in the industry, then I expand my lexicon

but what is a gaffer and the othe type of DP?