(Large Scale)
A Hollywood based Feature film hired NEXUS Canada to provide FX on set for the film, shooting here in Toronto. For weapons, the production required 11 prop weapons for non-firing scenes and 11 of the same weapons for firing. The prop guns were needed for 18 days and the live weapons were needed for 3 days. Here are the actual numbers from a local weapons supplier.Toronto weapons supplier
Prop Handguns - $20.00 / day x 11 guns = $220.00 / day x 18 days = $3,960.00
Live Handguns - $45.00 / day x 11 guns = $495.00 / day x 3 days = $1,485.00
Wranglers - $500.00 / day x 2 wranglers = $1,000.00 / day x 3 days = $3,000.00
Blanks - $0.50 cents per round x 2000 rounds = $1,000.00
Total cost before permits, ETF, etc - $9,445.00
One of the issues was that the production claimed that the prop guns were not realistic looking and was different than its real steel counterpart. The production had learned that we provide more than just FX and asked us to quote on the same.
NEXUS Canada SPFX (Prices based on package rate)
Prop Handguns - $10.00 / day x 11 guns = $110.00 x 21 days = $2,310.00
Firing Handguns - $0.00 (cost included in prop rental as it is the same weapon)
Weapons Handlers - $200.00 / day x 2 handlers = $400.00 / day x 3 days = $1,200.00
Cartridges - 40 implied rounds per cartridge x 50 Cartridges = 2000 implied rounds. $0.80 cents per cartridge = $40.00
Total cost before permits, ETF, etc - $3,550.00 (more than 60% less)
In the final edit of the film, 52 actual gunshots were used, meaning 1,848 blanks would have been wasted money. It cost approximately $450.00 for the production to have muzzle flash inserted bringing the total cost to under $4,000.00. What the client had to say ----
"It was absolutely fantastic to have discovered these alternative weapons from NEXUS Canada. Not only did we save money, but we achieved production value and realistic gun fire without live weapons. The entire cast and crew felt safe at all times and the professionalism from the NEXUS crew was unmatched both in weapons and FX. I would urge any production of any size to utilize this new option."
CASE STUDY (Typical Scale)
While filming a Feature Film in October 2010, the Producer asked NEXUS to keep track of the 'implied rounds' being shot for a specific scene to compare had they gone the Blank route. The scene was shot 7 times. Each take consisted of 12 shots fired, totaling 84 rounds fired. In the 'turn around' shots and close up shots, another 14 takes and 168 implied rounds were shot. In the end, a total of 252 rounds were shot, but 12 were only used for the scene.
If by blanks, more than $200.00 would have been spent, instead only $5.00 was spent in gas rounds. The average indie film will do this in 6 scenes. Applying these numbers, NEXUS can save the average Indie Production $1,200.00!
