Importing
 

Hey all. I'm in the amateur movie business and we need some weapons for out next flick. I want to keep it cheap so i was thinking some clearsoft and just spray painting it. just wondering though. do the same rules for cleasoft apply at the border as for airsoft? and if they do. what are the legal implications of just taking a trip down to buffalo and buying a couple cymas? we arent planning on using these for actually game play. just as props.

Thanks, Jason

P.S. Mods plz move this if its in the wrong section...

in order to import anything resembling a firearm it needs to be a) CLEAR and b) HAVE AN ORANGE TIP
you also have to be 18+ to buy clearsoft

Canada doesn't require orange tips. Wouldn't hurt though.

Hire an armourer with the proper paperwork...

Hey where are you located? Im a filmmaker too, and asked the same question somewhere on this thread.


Anyways the response was great via PM. I suggest PMing Sgt. Haggis, I know hes been in a few independent works and he pointed me to a local armourer named Dave Brown (google it!)

Anyways, Ive looked into importing guns for movies, and at this point its just not feasable to do it, there are a few armourers out and about that you can deal with to rent you some props much better than clearsoft. Or, alternately, depending on how legitimate your filmmaking is, you can apply for a Theatrical Firearms Business Licence.... but thats a long shot and dont expect it if your anything short of an established film producer already.

Anyways good luck with the film. PM me if you need more information on anything moviewise.

Note also: some airsofters will love to be in your film if you feed them a day, the perfect extra: their own equipment, own costumes and no training neccessary

yes verry true

Thank you for the responses. i will inform you guys when we start production as the script is still just getting finished.

so just a quick reassurance here... its ok to order these from the US and have them make it across the border without being seized right?
http://www.speedytoys.com/shop/category.asp?catid=12
just dont want to go and blow the budget and have customs seize it...

Thanks. Jason

Those guns wount make your movie look realistic, even if it is painted. Your better off doing what diamond_SEA said.

Even painted those will not look very realistic on film. Contact and hire a local armourer, as has already been suggested earlier on in the thread.

This is all of course very dependent on your budget. As you can see, it is overall agreed taht an armourer is the best way to go about this.
As an indpendent film maker, i realize that you can be worried about paying another person, but you never know unless you ask, their rates can be reasonable.

Painted clearsoft are excellent for movie props if you use general shots.

If you have a mid to close up shot you will clearly see it's fake.

I was a director a few years ago and we tried it and it looked like shit. We ended up using replicas - not airsoft since replicas were cheaper for me because I was working part-time in a store that imported them (back when it was still possible to import them).

Ya, thats why clearsoft is not the ideal prop.