for all you action filmmakers

[Andy Graham]

when you get to the page there are two wmv videos just above the pictures.I particularly like the left one.

http://www.modelguns.co.uk/marushinXM.htm

I found this site while searching for a more quiet alternative to blank fireing weapons.

they use replaceable PFC caps that you fit back into the ejected cartraige.
You also don't need a firearms license to use them.

Of course you would have to be very very carefull where you use them, make sure you have police presence (which usualy you can pay them for the day) if using them anywhere remotely public or the police WILL shoot you.

As for safety although they are PFC caps I still wouldn't point them at anyone but you could do some really effective editing in post.

this other link is from their page regarding the law

http://www.modelguns.co.uk/the_law.htm

Its a UK based company but they ship internationaly.

Enjoy =)

[Joshua Provost]

For those on an even tighter budget, Airsoft-style spring-powered BB guns can be had for as little as $20 new. There are at least ten manufacturers making almost every type of gun imaginable, from classics to futuristic type weapons. Some of them can even hold up in close-up shots, though others can look very plastic up close. Perhaps some anti-glare coating would tone them down a bit?

[Keith Loh]

Originally Posted by Andy Graham

Of course you would have to be very very carefull where you use them, make sure you have police presence (which usualy you can pay them for the day) if using them anywhere remotely public or the police WILL shoot you.

Please pay attention to this warning. Police killed a boy last month who had a replica weapon (he had also threatened someone with it). It was well publicized. It happens.

Note also that you may be out some money if you try and import it and find that it is banned in your state or province.

[Andy Graham]

A friend invited me to join this site and I just joined for free and they give you 1gb of space to upload video or any other media. (THANKS DAVID)

http://www.livedigital.com/

It could be very handy for folks looking to post videos or pictures or music.

I have posted the video of the gun i was talking about in the link below just to see if it all works and people can see it.

http://livedigital.com/AMNbKgDoWg/content/17477

Let me know if anyone has a problem viewing the video

Andy.

[Keith Loh]

I'm impressed by that clip!

I suppose the gun flare can be composited in post.

[Andy Graham]

Yeah puting gun flare in shouldn't be a problem. The only thing is I reckon the guy who made that video chose that location in the hallway for its acoustic benefits making it sound really impresive, you would probably have to replace the sound if you were in an open environment.(maybe with the great live gun sounds from the gunfight in "heat" or something similar)

Andy.

[Keith Loh]

Indeed. But pair that with squibs, post production on the sound and flare and you have an action movie.

[Marcus Marchesseault]

That's pretty much what real guns sound like. Also, there was one or two flares coming from the barrel. What can't be simulated as easily is the effect the light from the muzzle flare has on the environment. It can be done, but the real thing is better. I believe in Aliens they used propane to get the big muzzle flare. They also had the characters say they were using caseless rounds so they wouldn't need to explain the lack of ejecting cartridges. I believe M1 tanks have caseless rounds, but small arms are all brass if you are doing a current-day action movie.

[Keith Loh]

I get what you are saying Marcus but real gun sounds are not big enough for the theatre. :)

Also on Aliens I recall that Cameron chose the two guns that had the biggest flares. The marines' assault rifles were rebuilt Thompsons while the two support machineguns were rebuilt MG42s. I hadn't heard the propane story.

[Andy Graham]

Originally Posted by Marcus Marchesseault

That's pretty much what real guns sound like. .

You would get away with it in a closed space like where he was in the clip but not outside, what you could do is record the sounds in the tight space onto DAT and use that as your sound replacement outside. with the post production sound tools we have these days you could take some of the echo away and very slightly dull the sound so it doesnt reverberate as much.

I'm definitely gettin a couple for props anyway (maybe the big kid in me =)

I watched the the special features on the aliens box set aswell....a rebuilt mg42 on a steadicam arm was genius, if you look you can see the vest aswell.


Andy