Filming with fake guns in the UK

[Tyrant T100]

Ok I hope I'm on the right board and I hope someone will be able to assist me.

Here's the dilemma, me and some friends want to film a STALKER parody in some woods near my house, the problem is I live in the UK and there's a law to stop people carrying Replica guns in public places. For our film we will be in the middle of the woods where no one will be around however because of the law we won't be taking anything out that's too questionable (Realistic airsoft guns ect). Question is what can I take out that is fine by law? We basically would be ok only using pistols and they can look as fake as possible as it's a parody.
Question is would this still be breaking the law, we can take all our equipment up there in bags as to not scare anyone until were in position to film.

So I would appreciate any help or advice with this law.
Thanks in advance.

 

[shreedder]

Well I am not from the UK but the USA has some similar laws I am sure.

When I want to film with weapons I always think of 2 things
1) how realistic do the guns look? Things like nerf guns are fine even in public areas as long as they are not painted.
2)How many people will be exposed, and can I explain the situation to the people who see it. So in the woods you may come across a few people. As long as you have orange tips on your prop guns and a camera you should be able to explain what you are doing to them without them freaking out.

Not sure what the penalties are, but probably they will ask you to stop and leave, maybe take the guns away and fine you.

Also think about who owns the woods. Are they private property, are the public, or are they in a park.

Hope this helped.

 

[Tyrant T100]

Well I am not from the UK but the USA has some similar laws I am sure.

When I want to film with weapons I always think of 2 things
1) how realistic do the guns look? Things like nerf guns are fine even in public areas as long as they are not painted.
2)How many people will be exposed, and can I explain the situation to the people who see it. So in the woods you may come across a few people. As long as you have orange tips on your prop guns and a camera you should be able to explain what you are doing to them without them freaking out.

Not sure what the penalties are, but probably they will ask you to stop and leave, maybe take the guns away and fine you.

Also think about who owns the woods. Are they private property, are the public, or are they in a park.

Hope this helped.

Yeah it has thanks, basically the woods are public, I've double checked that so I won't encounter angry land owners. In the UK if it's private property and you have permission to use guns nobody can stop you and you can't get in trouble.

However the laws are NOT CLEAR at all how close a gun looks to a real gun as to be classed as an imitation gun and therefore be banned from public.

But anyway were thinking now as it's a parody we will use children's prop guns and water pistols, that way we definitely can't get into trouble as they won't look real and we can carry them out there in a bag.

So thanks for the help and hopefully I might get some replies from some people who have done similar stuff.

 

[Insanum]

Contact your local police/council offices and inform them of your intention, ask them if they would have any objection to your actions, and if they would like to supervise if possible.

i mean, the one thing you dont want is to be filming and then get arrested.

 

[Tyrant T100]

Contact your local police/council offices and inform them of your intention, ask them if they would have any objection to your actions, and if they would like to supervise if possible.

i mean, the one thing you dont want is to be filming and then get arrested.

Thanks for the reply but I've also considered this and there were several problems.

I know someone who works with the Police and he said that to use realistic guns e.g Airsoft I would have to pay the police to supervise it and that would cost around £500-2000. Evidently I can't afford to do that for casual film making. I didn't ask him at the time about non imitation guns as I hadn't thought about doing a parody. So if I see him I'll mention it but if not there's not much I can do.

 

[Insanum]

Contact your local police/council offices and inform them of your intention, ask them if they would have any objection to your actions, and if they would like to supervise if possible.

i mean, the one thing you dont want is to be filming and then get arrested.

Thanks for the reply but I've also considered this and there were several problems.

I know someone who works with the Police and he said that to use realistic guns e.g Airsoft I would have to pay the police to supervise it and that would cost around £500-2000. Evidently I can't afford to do that for casual film making. I didn't ask him at the time about non imitation guns as I hadn't thought about doing a parody. So if I see him I'll mention it but if not there's not much I can do.

Never mind your friend, approach them professionally, explain that you're willing to take the "weapons" to a local police station for inspection if needed (be careful how you word it - you dont want to turn up and then they take them off you.)

Failing that, just mark the area you're in with flyers informing passers by it is just a film and all is well, etc.

 

[Nickolai77]

I'd be tempted to just change the film location and time to when and where you won't be disturbed by anyone, and have a watcher or two just to make sure nobody disturbs the filming.

 

[Tyrant T100]

I'd be tempted to just change the film location and time to when and where you won't be disturbed by anyone, and have a watcher or two just to make sure nobody disturbs the filming.

Well yeah this location was picked specifically to not bother anyone or us and I think we shouldn't be bothered, I've gone on walks here before and never met anyone in the woods and only once met people walking on the footpaths. It's not exactly an advertised walk or anything, just some woods that link several small villages together but everyone who wants to travel would normally use the motorway which is far faster.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Back when I knew people who were into LARPing they used to do some really irresponsible things. Even my 17 year old self was a little gobsmacked sometimes by the sheer level of disregard for the public. I don't think you could be worse than that.

While you might be breaking the law by carrying replica guns outside. If noone is likely to see you or misinterpret what you're doing I wouldn't worry. Just be prepared to stop and explain that you're not an al-Qaeda cell in training should anyone arrive who shouldn't be there.

Also, if you can find a private wood and ask the owner nicely if you can use it for a day, that would probably be better.

 

[ramboondiea]

the only way to guarantee no problems is to use water pistols (not actually joking, there are still laws concerning water pistols but they they only "gun" that can be carried in public places)
a second option is toy guns, but clearly toy gun, as in toy coloured, but be careful, should the police get a firearm report, they must alert a armed unit. so just be careful

 

[Tyrant T100]

Thanks for the help guys, I won't really be able to rent or get permission to use any of the private land because most of it is rented out to other people such as Horse riders ect.
But I think the combined factors that we'll use water pistols and such as well as us obviously filming it and not using manoeuvring tactics or any such training exercises as it's a parody and therefore won't raise suspicion.
The most important factor is I don't think we'll even encounter anyone there but if we do I'm sure we can explain it properly if the guns are evidently childish and fake.

 

[The Cheezy One]

Thanks for the help guys, I won't really be able to rent or get permission to use any of the private land because most of it is rented out to other people such as Horse riders ect.
But I think the combined factors that we'll use water pistols and such as well as us obviously filming it and not using manoeuvring tactics or any such training exercises as it's a parody and therefore won't raise suspicion.
The most important factor is I don't think we'll even encounter anyone there but if we do I'm sure we can explain it properly if the guns are evidently childish and fake.

You've probably finished with this, but I would check out this guy's [http://www.youtube.com/user/freddiew2] youtube channel. He gives loads of good advice on how to make good videos involving guns, and you can watch them here [http://www.youtube.com/user/freddiew]!
Good luck, have fun, and tell me how it goes!
Or as we say... Get out of here Stalker!

 

[steevee]

Honestly, I've never had a problm, me and my friends have filmed in a few locations with replica guns. Full diecast perfect replicas and everything.

Generally, as long as you're somewhere that's not tooo public, hav a camera around and tll anyone you should be ok. For extra safety have the cameraman wear a high vis, fluroscent vest. Noone of sound mind will think you're actually shooting anything loking like that.

 

[Tyrant T100]

Well thanks to anyone who posted, last Sunday we scouted the area out and know we won't experience any problems however we will definitely use fake looking guns.
However we'll have to wait until the Summer as the woods are really muddy atm.