Gun Handling for Action Scenes

[@TheVoidReturnsNull]

There's another great way to help actors simulate the action of a gun -- take them to an actual gun range and let them experience it! A lot of people have never done it before, and it blows their mind away as to how different it really is. Gun ranges usually have stuff for rent if you don't have any of your own. Just make sure you have one or more people who know what they're doing and can teach you (hopefully certified instructors or range officers). If you want them to appear as professionals in film, have them practice good trigger discipline and muzzle control, which are 2 things that will be essential to basic gun safety for your range trip anyway. But in short, these are 1) never having your finger on the trigger unless you're ready to fire, and 2) never letting the muzzle cover anything you're not willing to destroy (this includes accidentally sweeping friends or your own body parts during a shot -- it looks very undisciplined). If you want to appear experts (a la Tom Cruise in Collateral or Keanu Reeves in John Wick), take actual defensive handgun/carbine classes, which can basically be found nationwide, and incorporate whatever you can get away with without sacrificing visual engagement to it. Well, I guess you'd ultimately need an experienced gun choreographer too... but hey, this would help with the realism if only a bit. :)

[@MeMyselfAndPi]

These behind the scenes are always so fascinating. Thanks guys for taking time from your busy production schedules to help out other film makers in training. Your videos are always brief, to the point, and includes just a touch of flavorful editing. :D

[@TheMonthlyJack]

I agree, awesome stuff guys!

[@chaos311clarity]

The thing that really sets actors apart is their ability to use real techniques and stances and make them look good.

[@DerHirni]

It's more the production that sets it apart. Even if you can handle a gun well, it might not be legal to use it where and how you want. Professional studios can probably get licences and permits for it.

[@ShadowManV3]

DerHirni ur comment has absolutely nothing to do with what he said

[@rkshireygames]

DerHirni They use replicas. Either non functioning guns, airsoft guns, or blank firing guns.

[@djbutipower]

The cast of Walking Dead need to watch this video

[@TeyCallMeBigMac]

seriously, i cringe when they fire weapons

[@djbutipower]

Either way there will be a kickback with a gun. It doesn't matter how trained they are, even though they can get automatic headshots since season 3. They should atleast get thrown on their asses from the kickback since they are untrained

[@TeyCallMeBigMac]

***** im talking about when a child fires an AKM on full auto and doesnt have recoil

[@Third_Machine]

You realize not every gun has enough recoil to move you a significant amount right?

[@fedsanity]

Golden Films Yeah, but there's literally no recoil AT ALL when they shoot, even the little kids. Seriously, their hands remain dead still. But the majority of the audience can't tell anyway, so I guess they don't bother with it.

[@Apropoetic]

After hearing Niko's gun noises, I think you guys should make a video where you do all sound effects with your own voices.

[@bushDid911]

brilliant idea.

[@boggypete0]

If you want to replicate something like pulling the slide back for effect without making yourself look like a fool, you can have your actor perform 'check the chamber'. This is done by partially pulling the slide/charging handle/bolt back, where the shooter can see the chambered round, but is not completely opening the slide. It can be done in a combat situation to make sure a round has chambered properly after a malfunction or reload.

[@chefkendranguyen]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing guys.

[@GamePhysics]

Another pro tip: Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. If you carry your gun around while not planning on shooting anything, having your finger on the trigger is unsafe and looks really unprofessional to everyone who knows guns.

[@michaelotis223]

as was seen with Vincent Vega's character and Marvin in Pulp Fiction

[@GamePhysics]

Michael Otis "I just shot Marvin in the face!"

[@michaelotis223]

GamePhysics "why the fuck did you that, the car ain't hit no motherfuckin bump" 😂

[@annasstorybox7906]

Yea... This really triggers me to (Bad punintendet)... But seriously, trigger discipline is one of the first things that is told to people learning how to handle a gun and yet mandy movie soldiers, policemen or proffesional hitmen constantly have the finger on the trigger, even when they are just handing a gun to another person or... Trigger discipline could be used to differenciate between characters. Everyone who has basic knowledge about shooting will notice this little but awesome detail. The police officer or soldier will show trigger discipline but a street thug that randomly gets bis hands on a gun wont.

[@PathinAZ]

I've been shooting (real guns) for 35 years. Many of your Pro tips are actually good real training tips. I'm glad you advised viewers about gun safety and shooting (movie) protocols so no one throws a hissy fit upon seeing a "gun". I carry every day (Tucson), occasionally open carry, and it's really easy to forget the different perspective (in CA) and opinions on carrying a firearm in other parts of the country. you guys always make great vids, and are always professional and mindful of others. Thx!

[@ElocTheComrade]

Haha, in Idaho people will see you open carry and be like "Hey dude, nice piece" and then proceed to show you their concealed gun and then you compare.

[@LiamMarcon]

The different reactions are interesting. When I visited the states and saw someone carrying a gun on their person for the first time it made me instantly uncomfortable and nervous. When you grow up with guns (specifically pistols) used ONLY by cops or criminals, it makes it difficult for you to trust or be comfortable around someone who is just walking around with one. Luckily for me it was a rare sight so it didn't effect my opinion of the states as vacation destination. I had a great time.

[@ChekhovsGun_]

you have no idea how much that cocking noise bothers me in movies.. sometimes theyll cock it like 3 times before even shooting it like wtf ure just wasting bullets now mann

[@RoronoaZoroSensei]

all these videos make me realize, that you actually KNOW what you're doing, you're not just youtubers, you're *Filmmakers*, you operate on a level much higher than I could if I was to start today.

[@MrFirefox365]

Just a little thing I've learned about Snipers, Professions will keep both eyes open when looking down a scope. I've tried it with good success, it allows you to see the general area in a wide view with one eye then easily switch focus to the eye looking down scope to line up a precise shot.

[@TheVoidReturnsNull]

Oh, and I generally can't recommend Collateral enough as a movie with amazing and amazingly accurate (plausible and correct) gunplay. The very short Alley Gunfight scene where Tom Cruise's character engages a couple of tweakers who are walking off with his briefcase is incredible. I never get tired of it!

[@TheMohawkNinja]

The big reason why you don't want to use real guns, is that dry firing guns can be very bad for the fun. Guns are designed with a lot of force in mind, and a lack of force on a trigger pull from no bullet being fired can cause damage to the parts. This is even more so true for bows/crossbows.

[@TheVoidReturnsNull]

+TheMohawkNinja Also, because violating the 4 Rules of Gun Safety with a real gun is... retarded. Doesn't matter how sure you are, that's how accidents happen. :)

[@BackFromSpace]

+TheVoidReturnsNull True. RIP Brandon Lee.

[@charlessneed708]

+TheMohawkNinja no it's not bad for modern center fire guns to dry fire, please stop spreading misinformation.

[@TheMohawkNinja]

Ita Pupu Never used the word "modern".

[@thevoidreturnsnull62]

+FuZZy961 And as far as I know, stage guns are less expensive anyways. *shrug* I mean I get that people have real ones on hand already, but it's not so much to get stage equivalents. Except, well, blank-firing ones are regulated the same way and probably cost similar to the real thing.

[@TheTechDweller]

"Gun Handling" (or how not to handle a gun but look cool with one!) XD

[@TheTechDweller]

***** Yeah, I said that it was just how to look cool holding a gun not real gun handling, it was a joke.

[@TheTechDweller]

***** Got more +1's than you! XD

[@DeathBringer769]

Argumentum ad populum. Even if you're completely right, NEVER cite a popularity contest as "proof."

[@IndependentVFX]

Brilliant advice! Such a helpful video, thanks guys

[@midnight_commander]

Pro-tip: all situations are two eyes open situations with the exception of magnified optics.

[@DraginNite]

I think for the most part you are right except in long range shots where you have no spotter. With your other eye closed you won't see surrounding movement out of the scope, however I think they are going more for movie magic and what makes it more convincing to the general public. Most

[@R8rRen]

9:40 THANK YOU SO MUCH. Movies are driving me NUTS with that crap!

[@potatotofilms]

9:54 Finally. FINALLY. Someone gets it right! *Phew*, I thought I was the only one. Thank you Sam and Niko, for being smart. :)

[@SuperTerminator65]

i have to agree with Sam on this one here with having people confusing a clip with a magazine. i just really hate it when people do that, they say the magazine of a gun is a clip when obviously their wrong about it and they don't know the difference between the 2. cause a magazine is what holds the rounds into and a clip is whats used to load rounds into a magazine. so like Sam said, get it right you guys

[@pawNisDecent]

And I hate when people don't know the difference between their and they're... Get it right.

[@SuperTerminator65]

-3- pffffff who freaking cares about my freaking spelling, thats not what im talking about here -_-

[@DemonFang72]

DJ Kitsune Driid Critical attention to detail is annoying, isn't it?

[@SuperTerminator65]

+Turtle Shell 720 yes, it is annoying -_-

[@DemonFang72]

DJ Kitsune Driid I hope you understand the irony in not receiving nit-picking criticism well about how to use proper grammar when you, yourself, are nit-picking at minor details in the use of proper terminology.

[@roryfree4707]

"Its about how you put your weight,and how you distribute your body." Good words.

[@HeyJD123]

It's about how you put your body, and how you distribute your weight.

[@TheRewindVault]

Thanks for passing these hints on to other KZbinrs. I can't tell you how many videos I've watched with people firing weapons like they are riding on an elevator while reading a phone book. =Much appreciation

[@afterhoursphotography]

Whoa! These are very pro tips that some Hollywood films cannot even give emphasis and probably the nearest real life special operations tutorial we (your viewers) could freely watch. Thank you.

[@5DiceProductions000]

Great video guys! Very educational and helpful for my next few projects. I thought of one of my favorite movies ever called: "The Way of The Gun" and they did a great job by making all the actors look like they were natural gunmen. That was a Christopher McQuarrie movie, and his other movie "Jack Reacher" had a great shootout and fight scene in the climax. Also two Michael Mann movies, "Heat" and "Collateral", has some intense gun work and textbook hand-to-hand action. Honorable Mention: "Public Enemies" (Also a Michael Mann movie.)

[@PreviouslyPALProductions]

I am very annoyed that I didn't know this stuff when I was filming a few months ago. I thought the poses looked a bit strange in editing! Thanks for putting this up, brilliant explanations!

[@CBSuper]

Pro-Tip _Tactical Roll! Great tips, love how you brought up what is real is not always what looks best on camera. Very true.

[@kildaryuhara]

The way they said to hold your pistol at around 3:00 Is, or at least, similar to the weaver stance. A preferred stance to many when shooting.

[@RC-1290]

I remember that you guys advised against getting a permit for filming in cities. In those cases, do you guys still inform the police that you'll be using fake guns in that area?

[@kivigerbil]

You can have both eyes open when firing through iron sights, if and only if your dominant eye is the one that looks through the sight. If your dominant eye is the wrong one, you won't see the sights. Don't know about holographic or red dot sights though. Holding one eye closed actually affects the other eye as well, and it's better to use an eyepatch. My experience comes from military training in the Finnish army, 1 Year, during which I used an array of different firearms, including assault rifles, machine guns and the heavy rocket launcher APILAS. My dominant eye was on the wrong side though, I tried looking through the sights from the left handed side and it worked with both eyes open. Couldn't operate the weapons properly from that side though.

[@RyanMossi]

Thank you for stating the fact that these are not the proper stances for shooting in real life. It highly bothers me when people say that they would ne great at shooting because they have played a lot of video games/watched a lot of action movies. So THANK YOU!

[@isalerno2213]

Nice job knowing the difference between a mag and clip! I can't stand when people don't!

[@user-jw4fn6fh2x]

Very good advice. Especially about notifying the police BEFORE you shoot. They will show up if anyone sees you running around with guns. Also, if you want your actors to know how a gun feels when it is fired, take them to a gun range where you can rent different types of weapons. Let them actually shoot the gun in a safe and legal environment. This is so helpful to actors who may never have touched a gun in their life.

[@stumpy990]

make sure you have all the sights on the gun too. M4 at 2:15 is missing the rear sight

[@Jorcap]

3:19, what kind of movie do you guys act in performing that kind of movements? :p :)

[@JordanFountain]

great video, the new studio looks rad

[@WCurrier]

Those were some good tips. I'm glad that you mentioned that that's not how you fire a real gun, for the people who don't have any experience.

[@ChaconIncProductions]

i love these videos that are about stuff that most channels dont cover very much

[@CartoonCorey]

Great tips, and well said! Some people don't understand that you have to do what is most dynamic for film, not necessarily for realism. Sometimes what is real...looks fake because a camera sees things way different than our eyes.

[@JasonGamer25]

Hey love your videos, just want to point out that the whole 1 eye open/closed bit is in fact incorrect, a seasoned gun fighter is actually taught to keep both eyes open, that way they can observe more at a time, also when in a close quarters situation soldiers are taught to face their chest at the target they are shooting that way if they get hit in the chest they have a good chance to survive due to the vest, standing sideways actually has less kevlar..

[@blakerellasound]

You tell em Jason Soares

[@JasonGamer25]

word

[@KevinSoares]

Swag swag jay!! #soldierinthemaking

[@JasonGamer25]

Also don't show recoil as soon as you pull the trigger, the mechanism inside the weapon still needs to react to the pull and flinging the gun up would throw off your shot

[@Enzait]

Never thought of these tips, awesome guys!

[@killerdog5500]

This is great! The last movie I was in required us to handle guns. I was the only one of the three "guards" with any military training. I did great but the others needed training so time was taken to make sure they could walk, aim, and holster a pistol.

[@tohkiatboon]

Those are actually the correct techniques when you are handling an actual weapon. Awesome tips! great share guys!

[@ipie13579]

i love every time you guys come out with one of these!!!

[@FlunkTVGaming]

You guys are so right but there is one thing you did wrong; you locked your elbows. If you are trying to absorb that shock, you would want to have your arms already bent a bit so that you can absorb it better.

[@MinxandthePig]

Great video, I actually learned a lot. It's great that you still post these kinds of videos

[@plotcoalition]

Haha around here we will be filming and if someone sees us with guns they are just like, "Making a shoot 'em up movie?" Haha the joys of NH

[@Broad-ShoulderS]

Iron sights = Both eyes open -> you see the environment around the target, and can prepare for other threats as well...

[@spaghetticatjenkinz]

Sam is a savant fan gg

[@Kraffcho]

thanks guys, now I know how to handle my gun and not pee all over the toilet

[@bishopknight-sm]

Niko, your looking a little like a young Liam Neeson in this vid. Especially, at 2:03. Maybe you guys could do a parody on one of his films. The voice might be hard to pull off.

[@tmfilmproductionshd7470]

Taken 2!

[@FlorianCalmer]

For reference, the most realistic gun shooting scene in cinema is in Bottle Rocket. Check it out.

[@IntenceCeption]

Niko's gotten muuuuch muuuuuuuuuuch better at speaking in front of the camera, also your tutorial vids have gotten more helpful, they're easier to carry on watching, especially for those people with absolutely no attention span (like me)

[@ajCabrera7]

Sam got dirty at 3:20 . Very 'gifable' These BTS are great. Cool transitions as well.

[@gootintag5453]

I have no intention of working in film, but when I watch these two and/or Brandon's video's it makes me want to start haha

[@Lightning-2153]

This is a really good video. With any fight scene, it's important to think about fightning/acting with your whole body; in a swordfight, you can look pretty stiff if you just fight with your arms.

[@AgentXRifle]

classic 007 golden eye roll!

[@Addikti]

Am tip: don't be too rigid about the number of rounds the mag of the actual gun would hold. Don't shoot a scene with 60 shots from a 30-round mag, but don't worry too much if the scene flows better without a mag change and you'd be pushing 40. Also, some types of characters will be using personal or issued, prized weapons and would never discard them unless there's a low chance of survival and there's a certain amount of enemy weapons available.

[@Charmlethehedgehog]

Holy crap.... LOL the disclosure at the end!

[@Zoll1989]

And you are guys not proffesionals, but know more than some proffesional one

[@Lucas-ts9rr]

7:08 what is that for kind of riffle? what's it called? can someone tell me?

[@BlitzedNostradamus]

Diggin' The Savant shirt, Sir!

[@Squaire]

I love these type of videos from you guys.

[@melas50pvp]

When firing a gun, you're supposed to lean forward anyway as suggested, although tucked in, you need to be leaning forward to compensate for the backwards momentum of the gun you're firing

[@RyanGatts]

2:15 also, if you want to sell a shot of someone concentrating and aiming down sights, it helps to have your rear sight up :B

[@RyanGatts]

I'm a bit surprised you didn't talk about trigger discipline or what would happen if you do the classic hollywood mistake of having someone cock a loaded gun (ie, they would eject the loaded round). You might also want to tell the masses how to actually unload a gun and make it safe (magazine release, pull the slide back to eject the loaded round, check the gun, release the slide); or what position for the safety means what -- it's always funny to see people 'firing' guns with the safety on.

[@dirus3142]

You can also get Dale Dye to consult for your movie, or other veteran to show your actors how to use a gun.

[@philipgeertsen]

Nice Savant t-shirt :D Savant has his studio in my town :)

[@dr.cockroach1266]

I love this video so much, I have been trying to teach my siblings acting for action scenes and i have used this video so many times.

[@DaCoder]

Good video, but why no shock mount on the mic?

[@NickLantzy]

Thank you so much for making a point about the fact that magazines are magazines, not clips. It annoys the crap out of me.

[@MrValleymountain]

damn.. sams tactical roll looked soo smooth xD

[@bobosynth6327]

epic Savant shirt

[@risrelchy]

I don't know if the "shoot" puns were intentional, but I loved them either way

[@jake2eproductions]

yall love the whip pans in these types of videos haah

[@SnapquesterMage]

The artist in me appreciates the visual direction of making gunplay look "cool" and epic on the screen. But the shooting enthusiast in me finds it very hard to overlook many common errors and oddities that kill the immersion. Overall convincing though, other than the nitpicky stuff. However, the best on-screen gunplay is always real tactics and movements.

[@333dae]

that gun recoil editing tip is really cool

[@woodedairsoft]

On AK's it okay to hold the magazine at the point of entry to the body (Dragonov and VSS bodys along with regular AK's as well)

[@MontagesRobin]

Cool video :)

[@losivert]

I was watching this video at work with headphones and taking notes. All my coworkers were looking at me with a worried look. Don't know why...

[@MattRuizPhotoCinema]

Like for real what kind of fucking building do you guys and Freddiew live in?

[@CorridorCrew]

It's actually one big hologram room.

[@DanasaVFX]

samandniko i knew it

[@randomboomerang2787]

+samandniko LoL. Same.

[@HeartDigger9]

Sam and Niko i know I'm 2 years later but, BOI!✋

[@ingaizer]

i like the details you guys bring to my attention, awesome!

[@OktatOnline]

Awesome! I've learned a few things. Thank you, guys!

[@TheArabsolga]

LOL " so SWAT doesn't show up and shoot you" thanks for the advice LMFAO

[@william91pr]

Cool, Nice technical advices guys, every action actor/director should know.

[@ferdinandobartoccioni4904]

thanks! I was searching all over youtube to learn this

[@LeNico]

SSSAAAVVVAAANNNTTTT!!!! Love your t-shirt!!!!

[@jacbarker2227]

You guys are amazing and so are your videos keep doing what your doing

[@JRVideoChannel]

Best way to run around streets with an assault rifle: call the Police and tell them "it's just a movie"... xD

[@FuryFingers]

Jay and Silent-Bob know their shit.

[@SimonLundberg]

Really good vid!!!! Thnx Niko and Sam! Love your work

[@Miniac]

Where the heck did you film this?

[@CorridorCrew]

In our new studio space! We'll make a video introducing you guys to it in a week or two.

[@Miniac]

Thanks for responding to my question!

[@lasco81]

U can recognize the kitchen & Sam's office from later years

[@crazypabs1]

Kinda love how Sam always talks to the audience like they are his dumb younger brother lol

[@ConnorGabe]

Please make more vids like this talking about behind the scenes

[@Skilltagz]

One point for iron sights; you keep both eyes open while scanning and use one to shoot, close it as you find your target and take aim. That's the technique I've always used when hunting small game

[@TealJosh]

Lose half of your sight while doing so and have imbalance in light intake for your eyes. When firing a gun in real life fight scenario, you really want to have full sight of everything happening around you. Point to the video, use protective glasses. No real soldier fires a gun without eye protection.

[@phantomenergies]

Great instructional video. A must watch for actors

[@tacticalscooby495]

May I suggest a video on You tube. " Chris Costa Easy Day ". He is an actual weapons instructor that uses proper tactical employment as opposed to the actors that make all of the mistakes that you speak of. I will admit I am a nit picker when it comes to things being done properly with guns because I train to use them in such fashion. That said I understand "proper" might depend on the skill level of the character you are filming. Is he a RED SHIRT or a TIER 1 operator. I understand that it depends on what you are looking to shoot. I just believe that the "easy day" video shows that you can have a correct tactical look and still make the video interesting. In full disclosure I have never tried to shoot an actual action video of that nature so might be completely talking out of ignorance.

[@GlassMonGoose]

My friends a few years ago didn't follow points A - E when they shot a video for school. It caused a whole heap of trouble.

[@UCFElCarnicero]

Very good video. Not intending to do anything like making a video but still entertaining. QUESTION: WHAT'S the music of the outro please?

[@-Infinite92-]

Thanks to all these behind the scenes videos I have been able to watch movies with a way more critical eye, which is how I roll anyways. Because that way I can really tell when a movie does a fantastic job, and when one really doesnt lol. Makes good movies better, and bad movies funny to watch, at least for me. So thanks guys, you're fucking awesome!

[@ashVGF]

This is great! Cool video as usual guys!

[@TheDocUre]

One tip that seemed to be left out. Trigger discipline. Keep the booger hook off the bang switch until you are ready to fire. Nothing like seeing someone walk around with their finger on the trigger whenever they have a weapon in their hand.