PROP GUN SAFETY WORKSHOPS

Making Hollywood Safer,
One Shot at a Time!

Prop Gun Safety Training aims to be the gold standard in training film and Television Prop craftspeople, Gun Wranglers and Armorers to the highest standards of film set safety protocols

WHY PROP GUN SAFETY WORKSHOPS?
WHY NOW?

PGS was formed to fill the clear void in hands-on and truly effective training programs for entertainment Gun Wranglers, Armorers and other Prop Professionals

Immersive, hands-on participant involved training is the most effective way to establish this crucial skill set. Total Participant Involvement has proven to be the best approach to building the necessary skills to safely and confidently manage prop guns

MODERN METHODOLOGY

Through Total Participant Involvement, we educate, engage and empower our graduates to be the safest they can be

Hands-on, immersive workshops are a new and innovative approach to learning safe gun handling skills in theatrical entertainment

By creating a collaborative learning environment, people are empowered to learn by trial and error and making mistakes in a safe environment. Mistakes made in the classroom are part of the learning process and prevent failures on set, where it really counts.

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EXPERIENCE IS TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE INDUSTRY IN RECORD VOLUME

Baby Boomers are retiring from our craft in record numbers, creating an unprecedented talent drain behind the scenes in Hollywood. While consumer demand for new entertainment is at an all time high

Prop Gun Safety workshops are crafted to educate and empower the current and next generation of entertainment Armorers, meeting increasing production demands while improving over all safety for our crews and cast alike

HOLLYWOOD CENTERED, INDUSTRY ACCESSIBLE

Located in Hollywood and Burbank, CA

We cater to the broad range of entertainment industry gun handlers. From Property Masters and Assistants to established Armorers.
Feature Films and TV are the lion's share of Entertainment Armorer work. We also serve stage hands in theater, theme parks and trade shows.
We uniquely broaden our program's reach to both union and non-union crew. And purposefully make this knowledge available to other directly affected crafts as Key Grips, Set Medics, Set Teachers, Camera Operators UPMs and Assistant Directors.
Writers, Directors, Actors and stunt performers each benefit in a unique way from proper knowledge of safe gun handling

LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE

Founder and Chief Instructor Dutch Merrick

For more than a quarter century Dutch has been working in Film and TV as an Armorer and Propmaster.
Starting in the 1980's as a competitive shooter, he brings 35 years of safe firearms experience to his teaching. He is a past President of Hollywood's largest craft union, I.A.T.S.E. Local 44 Property Craftspersons. Which represents the theatrical Propmasters and Armorers who set the standard for the entertainment world. Also a writer and award-winning film maker, his prop work has been seen on TV shows such as SEAL Team/ Paramount+, CSI:NY/ CBS, Euphoria/ HBO and ROAR/ Apple+ TV. As well as features including S.W.A.T. and First Man

ESTABLISHING NEW SAFETY PRACTICES RAISES THE BAR FOR THE INDUSTRY

More than a Century of Safe Film Firearms

Guns have been in constant use for entertainment production for more than a hundred and thirty years. Hollywood productions fire tens of millions of studio safety blanks each and every year.
Safely.
With recent events shining an ever brighter light on our behind the scenes practices, we are raising the bar for safety higher than ever