What guns and bullets are used in film and television?
While filming the movie "Rust", actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot the director of photography, who died shortly after, and the director. What weapons and ammunition are used for movies and series? Can blank bullets kill?
The drama that unfolded on the set of Rust is unthinkable: actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Halyna Hutchins died shortly after. Joel Souza is hospitalized. Still, he had to use a blank loaded weapon. What ammunition is used by cinema and television? For which weapons?
Blank cartridge
First of all, you have to understand the difference between blank cartridges (bullets) and real bullets. A cartridge is composed of a primer, a propellant charge (the powder) and a projectile (the bullet). The set is contained in a socket. When you pull, you pull the trigger, which activates the tail, which, like a hammer, strikes the primer. This triggers the powder explosion, which ejects the bullet through the barrel.
For a blank cartridge, the case does contain a primer and an explosive charge, but no bullet. The tip of the socket is either bent or sealed with paper or plastic. The case cannot be left open, because the powder must already be prevented from getting lost, then the explosion of the powder can destroy the barrel and send fragments all around. When you shoot, you get the same visual and auditory result as with a "real" shot, but without the bullet being thrown. This is what is used for the start of athletics races, for example.
However, the force of the explosion and the potential pieces of casing or plastic remain at risk. An actor, Jon-Erik Hexum, thus died while simulating a suicide for the needs of a series.
There is a third type of cartridges, called dummy, instructional or "round" cartridges. They look like a real one, but they have no powder. Convenient for close-ups. Usually. Because in 1993, Bruce Lee's son, Brandon Lee, died on the set of The Crow. A dummy had gotten stuck in the gun. When the weapon was fired, with a blank cartridge, the explosion projected the projectile like a live bullet.
The powder
For blank ammunition, the problem is realism. When there is a projectile (a bullet) in the cartridge, the explosion of the powder produces a pressure, slightly increased by this weight. Then the ball is ejected by this accumulated pressure. But for blank cartridges, there is no bullet. The pressure is therefore less important. The advantage? There is almost no recoil effect for the shooter. The downside is that the sound is not as loud.
To make the effect as realistic as possible, gunsmiths use mixtures of powders to increase the sound, smoke or even the "flash" effect of the shot.
The weapons used
On a shoot, real weapons can be used. But with blank cartridges you need an adapter for automatic weapons.
In addition to "real guns", Hollywood uses airsofts. They are perfect replicas of firearms, but they can only fire plastic balls, at the speed of 30 to 120 meters per second, compared to 250 and 500 m / s for most handguns. Ammunition does not contain powder. It is a motor, a pressurized gas or even a spring which allows the ejection of the ball. Paintball for example is played with airsofts.
Special effects
To avoid any risk, studios may choose to use digital special effects (CGI). In post-production, "flash" and smoke are added using editing software. After the Rust drama, some series directors have announced that they will no longer use digital technology.
What are the safety rules?
After the death of Brandon Lee on March 31, 1993, safety rules regarding the use of weapons were clarified. But these are only recommendations. For example, blank and actual cartridges should not be on the same platter. Gunsmith Dutch Merrick explains to Variety: "There are three golden rules. You should always treat a gun as if it was loaded with real ammunition and could kill. You never point a gun at anyone. a. You never put your finger on the trigger, until the moment you have to pull it. "
On some sets, at the time of armed scenes, the gunsmiths ask all non-necessary personnel to leave the premises. Protective screens can be placed in front of team members, such as the director or cameramen, for added security.
