Making Hollywood Safer,
One Shot at a Time!
Prop Gun Safety Training aims to be the gold standard in training Film, TV & Theater Prop craftspeople, Gun Wranglers and Armorers. We strive to set the highest standards of production set safety protocols
Making a Difference
Workshop Calendar 2024
January:
Burbank 2/14
February:
Burbank 2/18
Atlanta, GA 2/27
Atlanta, GA 2/28
March:
Portland, Oregon 3/7
Burbank 3/17
April:
Burbank 4/14
May:
Burbank 5/19
June:
Burbank 6/16
Wilmington, NC 6/25
Charleston, SC 6/27
July:
Burbank 7/3
August:
Burbank 8/18
Live Fire 8/24
September:
Burbank 9/15
Live Fire 9/21
October:
Live Fire 10/12
PGS Burbank 10/13
Live Fire 10/18
November:
Live Fire 11/2
Live Fire 11/16
PGS Burbank 11/17
December:
Live Fire 12/7
PGS Burbank 12/15
Live Fire 12/21
- 2025 -
January:
Live Fire 1/?
Prop Gun Safety Burbank 1/19
February:
Live Fire 2/?
Prop Gun Safety Burbank 2/16
MODERN METHODOLOGY
Join us in our mission to educate, engage, and empower through Total Participant Involvement, ensuring our graduates become the epitome of safety.
Our hands-on, immersive workshops revolutionize the learning experience, offering a new and innovative approach to mastering safe gun handling skills for theatrical entertainment.
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 fresh 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, CA and serving locations across the USA
We serve a diverse range of entertainment industry professionals, from Property Masters and their Assistants to both new and established studio Gun Wranglers. While Feature Films and TV dominate the Armorer work in the industry, our expertise extends to stagehands in theater, theme parks, and trade shows.
Our program is uniquely accessible to both union and non-union crew members. We also make this critical knowledge available to related crafts, including Camera Operators, Key Grips, Set Medics, Set Teachers, UPMs, and Assistant Directors and others.
Directors, Writers, Actors, and Stunt Performers each gain unique benefits from a proper understanding of safe gun handling for film.
LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE
Founder and Chief Instructor Dutch Merrick
For over a quarter-century, Dutch Merrick has been a prominent figure in the Film and TV industry as an Armorer and Propmaster. Beginning his journey in the 1980s as a competitive shooter, Dutch brings 40 years of safe firearms experience to his teaching.
Dutch is a past President of Hollywood's largest craft union, I.A.T.S.E. Local 44 Hollywood Property Craftspersons, representing the Propmasters and Armorers who set the industry standard.
An accomplished author and award-winning filmmaker, his prop work has been featured in acclaimed TV shows such as SEAL Team (Paramount+), CSI: NY (CBS), Euphoria (HBO), and ROAR (Apple TV+), as well as in notable films 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
Firearms have been an integral part of entertainment production for over 120 years. Hollywood productions use tens of millions of studio-safety blanks annually.
Safely.
In light of recent events highlighting our behind-the-scenes practices, we are committed to raising the bar for safety higher than ever before.
GALLERY
RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY
28 years of real film experience.
75+ National Interviews. University guest lecturer.
Hundreds of film professionals taught, across 5 US states!
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KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERIENCE
When it comes to safety, there's no room for compromise.
Renowned industry leader Dutch Merrick offers unparalleled expertise, drawing from extensive, hands-on experience. His teaching style is shaped by real-world knowledge and a deep understanding of industry standards.
With over 75 national and international broadcast and print interviews, Dutch Merrick stands as a trusted authority on stage and set safety.
CONNECT WITH US
530 S. Lake Ave #939
Pasadena, California 91101
Info(at)PropGunSetSafety.com
INQUIRIES/ APPLICATIONS
Apply to attend an upcoming workshop
Or simply ask a question here
Advocacy
in Action!
In April of 2023, Dutch Merrick was invited to participate in a round-table discussion of gun safety on film and TV, at the White House in Washington D.C.
Also attending this meeting were 30 high-profile Producers, Writers, Directors, Show Runners & Actors from Hollywood.
From this was born the effort to "Show Your Safety" on stage and screen. Exhibiting the best firearms safety practices whenever possible by the cast of filmed entertainment.
Dutch has participated in more than 75 national broadcast interviews on the subject of set safety in the wake of the "Rust" accident in 2021.
75+ national television and print interviews
Payments
Tuition for the Prop Gun Set Safety essentials course is $369
Which includes a pistol shooting workbook, a copy of the brand new "Prop Gun Set Safety for Film & TV" guide book, all workshop materials, studio safety blanks, snacks and some very cool Prop Gun Set Safety swag!
Mention in the payment notes which date & location you are booking.
($50 deposit can also hold a space for you, with the balance
to be paid on or before the workshop date.)
Tuition for the Live Fire Learning
Pistol I course is $250
Which includes guns, paper, cardboard and steel targets, ammunition, range fees and a variety of pistols to learn with.
Mention in the payment notes which date & location you are booking.
Private Instruction available.
