IN light of the horrors of an accidental shooting involving Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin and two film crew recently, those in the industry are looking at the importance of on-set safety deeper.
This includes domestic discussions within the setting of local entertainment.
You might say that guns do not carry any significant relevance to the community here because we can’t necessarily buy them at our local supermarket. However, it does not mean that we do not use weaponry to boost audiences’ viewing pleasures.
If you look at the array of action/crime films and TV shows of the past and present, how many times have we been amazed at the props used to capture the authenticity of certain scenes?
Movies such as ‘Polis Evo’, ‘Paskal’, ‘J Revolusi’ and shows like ‘Gerak Khas’, I’m sure, will require an abundance of caution when committing to deliver certain stunts appropriately.
Even the attempt to drive madly on a high-speed chase on the road requires some level of careful planning.
Fatal accidents on production sets are not necessarily out of the norm, even within the domestic context.
“In Malaysia, even though policing is very strict about using real weapons or explosives, there have been one or two productions that were given permits to use firearms,” shared PETRA Media executive director and film director Datuk Paduka Shuhaimi Baba.
On the set, anything can happen
Despite supervision, she noted that local productions have seen similar accidents using blanks, although not many.
“It does come with the job, especially there are action sequences that involve fights, ie, in military or police-themed movies.
“That is why insurance coverage is a must and the use of stuntmen is important,” highlighted Shuhaimi.
“Today, most of the time minimum pyros are used, and they are enhanced through visual effects in post-production.
“We [filmmakers] are very careful all the time since we can't afford any unwanted accidents involving someone’s life to occur,” she added.
Sharing in detail that while a close-up shot of a gun still requires the real thing, but in truth “...it's very difficult to get permission for real weapons.”
“Using real guns will need police permission and supervision. It's very strict. The actual scene needs to be scrutinised before you can get permission.
“Certain productions use real police officers as actors to handle real weapons. But in general, most of us avoid close-up shots with weapons or try our best with an angle that will make the prop gun look real.”
That said, the difficulties of acquiring real live-looking weapons as props can also take a long time to be processed at customs.
Practices at play
When asked about whose responsibility it is to ensure the safety of cast & crew, Shuhaimi shared that it is commonly a shared effort. Among them, the production manager, production admin manager, producer/executive producer, director, head of stunts (if any), armourer (for real weapons) – these roles have their equal involvement in the safekeeping.
“Any production must be covered by insurance because accidents (whether fatal or not) can be in many forms, not just via gunshot injury. It also guarantees us against public liability.
“It took many years and experience before producers understood the importance of insurance,” noted the film director, adding that the level of coverage may be different for film and television productions.
“Generally it should be the requirement before shooting starts but some don't take insurance coverage due to budgeting issues,” expressed Shuhaimi.
On the oversight authority, “police will be involved in sequences with weapons, traffic, car chase, pyro explosives etc. Whereas the fire department is present in preparation to extinguish big fire scenes requiring large volumes of water.
Training is usually required for the use of weapons, and explosives. This includes stunts, wires and any dangerous movements which will put the safety of the cast and crew at risk.
“It’s a standard procedure, especially if the actor insists on doing the stunts himself/herself. I generally don’t allow the actors to do their own stunts,” noted Shuhaimi.
“I have had accidents on my sets too in the past, such as the timing of pyro explosives, stuntmen giving the wrong cue to each other endangering the artists, explosives that didn't go off until upon checking. Things like that, but the approaches are more careful and sophisticated now to avoid accidents.”
*A behind-the-scenes look at the stunts of police action film ‘ Polis Evo 2’.
Can we move beyond cost?
Understanding the reluctance of some producers to film risky scenes, the filmmaker notes that it is more to do with the costs involved than anything else.
“The riskier the stunt, the more cost is involved.
“However, when it concerns getting the ‘money shot’, producers generally would be willing to spend for as long as there are stand-ins for the actors,” shared Shuhaimi.
The director emphasised again that fatal or near-fatal accidents during production are not unheard of here.
In 2018, 31 actors in Malaysia suffered burns after filming went awry in Bandar Bukit Puchong, Selangor. In the incident, the film crew used petrol to ignite wooden houses for a scene, and while the petrol was poured, it vapourised into the air causing some of the actors' clothes to catch fire after being ignited.
As a filmmaker, she highlights that reading headlines involving a fatality on sets does not necessarily deter her from making movies that play big on ‘action’.
“Not yet at least – if the script and scenes require it, you do your best to deliver but for as long as we put safety first.”
So, how safe are our film sets and what do we make of the existing practices at play? Do we also now have to sit and worry about all possible scenarios and plan against any risks from happening?
Most definitely.
Although the call for extra vigilance on set may not be a roaring one within the local scene yet, practitioners have been vocal on an industry-wide code of conduct in the wake of public outrage following an alleged rape joke.
Aside from the emotional practices, the hazard of the job is an area that companies, affiliates and individuals should put equal emphasis on, so no lives may potentially be lost. – The Vibes, October 25, 2021
