Movies and Shooters

[Ed Gallop]

I know I sometimes over react, but it bothers me every time I see an actor blink when firing guns in both western and cop movies. Looks like directors would teach them not to blink. Tom Selleck blinked heavily on every shot in Quigley Down Under. It was distracting and spoiled my vicarious pleasure. They teach actors how to handle guns, draw fast, fire in a general direction, even twirl with amazing style, but they don't teach them not to blink when firing. DUH! Charlton Heston didn't blink but we know a director didn't have to teach him that. I can tell a real actor shooter just by their blink. Oh well... It's only movies.

 

[kingpin008]

Uh, the directors don't teach the actors anything. They tell them what to do, where to stand, and when to speak & shut up. If anything, on-set armorers teach the actors about the guns they use, and even the most knowledgeable armorer isn't gonna have much luck stopping some random hollywood hills, gucci-wearing, uber-celeb movie star from flinching or otherwise giving a completely mediocre performance with firearms.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

why do you think they wore glasses in the matrix? secondly, some actors do get major gun training, before filming. michelle rodrigize apperently loves gun school (check special fetures on resident evil and S.W.A.T)

 

[FireArmFan]

I remember hearing somewhere that one of the reasons Kate Beckinsale was chosen for her role in Underworld was the fact that she could shoot without blinking. It was supposed to make her look like killing didn't have any affect on her. Plus when she went into super kill mode her eyes changed colors and blinking would kinda ruin that.

 

[bluestarlizzard]

actually, i was trying to remember that bit. they didn't chose her because of it, but they made her train until she could do it. jeez, can i go train there, i swear i would blink every time if i could shoot for free all day

 

[Autolycus]

I figure it might be the guns themselves.

 

[akodo]

Tom Sellek is highly trained in firearms, if he is blinking while shooting there is probably some other reason for it, having to look into bright lighting, poor editing, etc etc

 

[bogie]

Campers, blinking/flinching is NORMAL. You just eventually learn to work around it.

I wear plugs and muffs, and I still have a hard time keeping my eyes open to watch impact.

Now if you NEVER blink or flinch, that likely means that your mad shooting skillz were developed either on video or with airsoft.

They make noise. They recoil. You live with it.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Title of this thread should be movie and blinkers.

 

[Ed Gallop]

I watched Quigley Down Under last weekend and noticed Tom Selleck blinked heavily when shooting his Sharps. I could see if it were a flint. I recall he is an avid NRA member, not new to shooting, but don't know how accurate he is. Most actors blink and I guess it wouldn't be noticed if I were not so overly critical. :banghead: Also watched Major Dundee last weekend and noticed Charlton Heston didn't blink the slightest. I would assume he would out-shoot Tom.

When I was trained to shoot the instructor watched my eyes and helped me learn not to blink. A person can eliminate it. He also had random empty rounds in the cylinder to watch my flinch, which he also helped me with. Went several years without shooting and the flinch returned but it wasn't hard to stop after I realized it. I do not see how blinking or flinching can result in consistent accuracy.

 

[Library Guy]

It's called acting

Granted, a great many film actors grimace and flinch their way through the shooting scenes but with Tom Selleck in Quigley I think it’s a case of over-acting rather than flinching.

Most of the close ups of TS shooting don’t show the muzzle so I doubt he’s even shooting blanks in those scenes. All he’s doing is trying to convey what it’s like to shoot a .45-110. So he blinks and pretends to recoil. (Not nearly enough)

Then the special effects guys blow some smoke (not nearly enough) across the scene and the sound guys dub in a big ka-boom then dub in the sound of Winchester lever action for when TS opens the breech of the Sharps.

 

[CountGlockula]

I work at an indoor range near the Burbank studios and it brings a smile to my face when "upcoming" actors want to sign up to be members because they're playing a starring role for a picture.

Once I asked them, have they had any firearms experience...they usually say "no" and I'd have to suggest that they take our basic firearms course.

I had signed up one up and coming actor a few weeks ago.

 

[Havegunjoe]

Tom Selleck is an NRA Board member and a great representative for gun owners. I don't know why he was flinching but we couldn't ask for a better guy on our side. One of the things that bother me in movies is when you have some skinny starlet wilding a .50 Desert Eagle like it is a Bersa .380. They must think everyone must have a Dirty Harry gun but it looks silly on some people.

 

[bigbadgun]

blink blink blink

 

[bigbadgun]

Blink Blink Blink