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 2/27, 28
March:
Portland, Oregon 3/7
Burbank 3/17
April:
Burbank 4/14
May:
Burbank 5/19
June:
Burbank 6/16
July:
Burbank 7/20
August:
Burbank 8/11
September:
Burbank 9/21
October:
Burbank 10/12
November:
Burbank 11/17
December:
Burbank 12/14
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 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 cater to the broad range of entertainment industry gun handlers. From Property Masters and their Assistants to new or established studio Gun Wranglers.
Feature Films and TV are the lion's share of entertainment industry Armorer work. We also serve stage hands in theater, theme parks and trade shows.
We uniquely make our program available to both union and non-union crew. And purposefully make this knowledge available to other directly-affected crafts as Camera Operators, Key Grips, Set Medics, Set Teachers, UPMs and Assistant Directors.
Directors, Writers, Actors and Stunt Performers each benefit in a unique way from proper knowledge of safe gun handling for film.
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 Hollywood Property Craftspersons. Which represents the film & TV Propmasters and Armorers who set the standard for the entertainment world. Also an author 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
Firearms have been in constant use as props for entertainment production for more than a hundred and twenty years. Hollywood productions fire literally 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 before.
GALLERY
RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY
28 years of real film experience.
50+ National Interviews. University guest lecturer
KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERIENCE
When safety is on the line, never compromise.
Recognized industry leader Dutch Merrick brings to the table grounded, first hand industry knowledge that shapes his teaching style.
With more than 50 National and international broadcast and print interviews, Dutch is a recognized authority for 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 60 national broadcast interviews on the subject of set safety in the wake of the "Rust" accident in 2021.
50+ national television and print interviews
Payments
Tuition for the Prop Gun Set Safety essentials course is $359
Which includes a 200 page full color 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.)
