In August, DGA members attended Firearms Safety Training courses in Atlanta and Chicago. Hosted by the Guild in conjunction with the Assistant Director Training Plan of New York, these invitation-only sessions focused on safety concerns and procedures for the use of prop firearms on set, while allowing the production to achieve the desired visual effects.
The Georgia sessions were hands-on trainings held at the Atlanta’s IATSE Local 479 on August 16-17 and led by instructors Milot Krasniqi, Barbara Kastner and Joel Tarantino. The Midwest trainings took place at the MBS group in Chicago on August 30 and were organized in conjunction with IATSE Local 476 Training Coordinator Jim Harnett and taught by ISS Weapons Assistant Manager/Class Trainer Larry Zanoff.
The trainings covered subjects including: Industry-wide Safety bulletin #1 & #2 and how and when to apply them; the types of firearms used as props in the entertainment industry; the types of blank ammunition used on set; how to protect the cast, crew and equipment from hazards associated with the use of firearms on set; compliance with local, state, federal and international laws; best practices for production meetings, safety meetings, rehearsals and handling actor/talent issues; security and transportation of firearms; the role of the on-set armorer and how to vet them; interacting with other departments such as SFX and stunts; and interacting with local law enforcement, fire marshals and other outside officials.
