If you're in the US, then it'd be wise to check up on your state's laws and inform the police.

=========================
There's daggers in men's smiles

I am in the US, so I will try that some time.

It don't matter what country your in yous till need a police presence on set to maintain the publics safty etc. I'm from the UK, an over here there shit hot on gun crime more reacently so I know for a fact that over here you defintly need police autherisation and a member of the police force to attend the set. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

How would I go about getting the police or something to come to a set. Do you think I would have to pay a security guard or would the police be there for free?

I believe in the US you risk a charge of "brandishing a weapon" if someone misinterprets what's going on. Having a cop around prevents that.

The guns would be totally harmless without ammunition yet if you've watched CSI weird shit happens. Some idiot practical joker might bring a blank or something so have the guns checked constantly to ensure they are still unloaded even if this seems silly.

Getting police on the set is a different situation in every city. In San Diego, when you get a film permit you simply ask. They will charge you but they will be there. They'll want more if they are on camera. Other cities might be different.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

Hi, remember Brandon Lee, where something actually went wrong.

Just a thought, depending where it is to be filmed if you knew someone with an enclosed farm or some such you may be able to film without attracting too much attention, but you are still risking.

Internal shots, etc could prob be done ok.

In the uk there was a guy making a film, some one didnt realise what they was doing and because there was a lot of activity in the house, someone thought it may actually be to do with drugs or something.

The filmmakers had replica weapons in the house but because someone reported them they had a nasty visit off the law and a LOT of explaining to do.

So if youre going to do anything like that you want to make sure that you dont attract any kind of attention to yourselves.

It maybe be all good to let people knowing that youre shooting a film(for publicity etc), but in that case get the gun scenes out of the way first on your shots list.

Best regards, wayne

http://filmind.meetup.com/296/?gj=sj3

Ok, thanks guys. One more question though, do I just go to the local police department and say will you come to my film set? How do I go about asking the police to come?

I would personally lose the risk of having a real gun on set, as that is a huge liability. You will have to pay tons, if you decide you want insurance, and the police may require you to get permit, which may require insurance, which may completely destroy any idea of a budget you had. I would still let the police know what you're doing, you still need to inform them or you risk breaking several laws, but instead, use airsoft guns. With just a little work, you can have two handguns and two AK--47's that are perfectly lifelike. I play airsoft, as well as use it in my films. If you go down to your local flea market, or you can order them online very cheaply, you can get what you need.

If you go to ?url? http://www.hobbytron.com/AirsoftAK47.html?/url?
you can pick out whatever AK you want.

You can go to ?url? http://www.hobbytron.com/CheapAirsoftSpringPistols.html?/url?
to find some pistols. You can also try amazon or any local stores that might carry them.

Even the cheapest ones look very realistic on camera. If you intend to have the person holding it still or for the camera to dwell on it for any length of time, though, then I advise buying some model paint and touching it up so it looks really realistic. You'll also need to take off the orange tip on it. Some people may say that it's illegal to do so, but it is legal as long as you own the gun and do not try to pass it off as real on public property without a permit. Good luck!
then you can find which AK you want for under $20

"We all have the potential to be great. It is our inability to do so that makes us miserable." C.S.Lewis

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ace24

How would I go about getting the police or something to come to a set. Do you think I would have to pay a security guard or would the police be there for free?

---

Its as simple as going in to your local police station and telling them in advance that you plan to shoot a scene in public using fierarms. I wouldnt have thought that they would charge you for it as its in their intrest to keep the public feeling safe. Over here in the UK we have got community support officers who volenteer to police the streets them selves, who would more than likely attend the shoot as opposed to diverting police funds in to some thing that is otherwise unnecessary. Cleary.

www.myspace.com/b31_film_productions

That wont work. It would have to be cordoned off. There not going to let someone loose with even a pretend gun on an unsuspecting public.

You have to get all kind of permissions.

Dont forget after all the terrorism stuff they have clamped down a lot on any type firearm. All it would take is someone to say hey were shooting a film, then actually going ballistic in public with live ammo.

It may work in uk with community support workers but i think it would all still have to be cordoned off.

You will seriously have to look at your budget, what it will withstand.

http://filmind.meetup.com/296/?gj=sj3

I had though about using airsoft guns because I used to play a little, but it says removeing the orange tip is illegal. So I don't know about that. My bugdet is very low, considered a no bugdet.

I know in Florida it is completely legal. It may also depend on where in the U.S. you live. If you go to ?url?www.airsoftforum.com?/url? and click on their legal info board, then you should be able to answer your question. Personally, that's they way I'd go. Add sound effects and muzzle flashs in post and you're raring to go.

"We all have the potential to be great. It is our inability to do so that makes us miserable." C.S.Lewis

Well I live in Georgia, so they should be close to the same laws.

I do a lot of gun play movies on a next to nothing budget ( http://www.youtube.com/WorldClassAssassin)and I recently shot an assassin short in Atlanta. All my guns were airsoft and the orange tips were painted over. If you're filmimg in a public place or somewhere on-lookers can see, you should inform a policemen in the area of what's going on beforehand. You should also get bright colored poster boards or signs that read "filming in progress" in large enough letters so that it can be read from a distance. Put them up out of your shot. You may have to move them around between shots but it's worth it for the safety of you and your crew. I'd advise against using real weapons in a low budget film though. Fake guns are safer and if the police are called, they will be more understanding of your cause. I've been in a bad situation with the police before and I can imagine my run in would have gone tragicly different if I had real guns. Ammo or not.

"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." - Yoda