Depiction of Weapons

Preamble

Hollywood movies and TV shows often use real firearms with blank firing cartridges. This is done to have an authentic look and feel, but it is done with oversight of a trained armorer and many professional processes in place to help mitigate risk. Using real weapons of any type on a film set is inherently a high-risk activity and it should be avoided in most scenarios.

As this additional risk is not essential for the school’s learning outcomes, real weapons are not permitted for student productions at UCF. So are blanks, squibs, and other means of in-camera special effects to physically simulate gunfire.

Requirement to Disclose

Students are required to disclose to their instructor-of-record that their media assignment or production includes scenes that involve the depiction of weapons or objects being brandished or used as a weapon.

Requirement to Use Prop Weapons

Student productions must use safe replicas in lieu of the genuine article when depicting the use of weapons in their films.

As defined for our purposes here at UCF, a “prop weapon” is a replica of an actual weapon that was designed and built to simulate functionality but is mechanically incapable of discharging cartridges, launching projectiles, cutting or stabbing objects, or causing blunt force trauma. Prop weapons are specially designed to look authentic while also removing whatever qualities that make the object function as an actual weapon. They are not lethal and can cause limited to no damage if used in staged combat.

The use of a “prop weapon” in a student production is permitted but must be approved by the instructor-of-record and the Risk Management Panel.