Answer to Question 6.
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6.How
important is advising the Police of our film shoot?
A.
The Police are most helpful with film production and
should be contacted well in advance of any Firearms
Action, Stunt or Special Effects Filming.
There is also a need to
communicate with other authorities when Firearms are being
used in public places or in the view of the public through
windows, doors etc. You know that you are only making a
film, but the public don't know this, so they pick up the
cell phone and call the Police "It's a man with a gun
officer." Police don't take kindly to having to
respond to an "Armed robbery in progress, shots
fired." and running red lights etc., arriving with
pistols drawn and almost shooting your actor before he is
knocked to the ground and handcuffed....You don't want to
experience this. It may sound amusing but your actor might
wet the bed for weeks!
A professional working
Armourer has regular contact with Police in most States
and is well known in his home State and can obtain any
permits that may be required from just a phone call or fax
to the Police.
It is the Armourers
responsibility to ensure that all of the above has been
taken into consideration by the producers of the film. The
producer is ultimately responsible for a safe workplace
and must provide a recognised correctly licensed Armourer.
(Under Occupational Health and Safety, the film set is the
workplace). The completion bond guarantor will also insist
on a correctly licensed Armourer as will your insurer.
Toy Pistols,Imitation
Pistols,Water Pistols painted black,
The use of SWAT Team Outfits
or Para-Military Outfits are also of concern
to the police when they are used in public places or used
in such a way that the public might mistake you for a
"Bad Guy".
If you intend to use such items in
your film it is most important that you contact a Licensed
Armourer and the Police
Film Office in advance of your production so that they can
advise you of what is required and the police can advise
their other various departments about your filming
locations and thus avoiding any unnecessary Police call
outs.
The Police have been known to charge film makers for
the cost of these call out's, when film makers have not informed Police
of their use of Firearms or Explosions in public places.
Police have also charged Un-Licensed persons working as Armourers on film sets
as well as the film's producers and have shut down the film production.
The Victoria Police are
very supportive of Film Makers and the Police Film Office
should be considered to be part of the production's behind
the scenes team.
The Police provide a service to help you achieve these Action
and Special Effects shots.
They will Not Hinder you, but you must
advise them of your intended filming.
VICTORIA POLICE FILM
& TELEVISION OFFICE
Victoria Police Media & Corporate Communications Division
E-mail film.tv@police.vic.gov.au
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