CHAPTER 8

Troubleshooting

Image

Figure 8.1 A blank-firing prop that self-destructed when fired in a workshop. No fixing this one, but no actors were harmed in the production of this picture.

It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day’s toil of any human being.

—John Stuart Mill

Any mechanical device will have the potential to fail. Prop firearms exemplify this perfectly. With non-firing props this just means being aware of what’s likely to break first as things are dropped, slammed open and shut, or dry-fired repeatedly, but the real issues come up with props that can duplicate at least some element of firing. ...

Get The Theatrical Firearms Handbook now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.