Dan Benton: “Although it’s not actually a prop, do you own the ‘Starship Troopers’ book written by Robert A. Heinlein?”
Eric Speiser: “I must shamefully admit, I don’t own a copy, nor have I read one. And although it might be interesting as an alternate approach, I really don’t want to read it in the hopes that it doesn’t ruin my vision of the film I hold so dear. I am aware of the differences and the overall outlook of the book and the omissions left from the film, but I just can’t bring myself to read it.”
Dan Benton: “Switching gears, I’m to understand you have a vast and intriguing prop collection. What would you say is your most unique piece? And if it differs, what is your personal favorite?”
Pvt. Ace's Levy's Blank Firing Morita Rifle & Shotgun (Eric Speiser)
Eric Speiser: “My collection, at this point, is far larger than I could have ever expected it to be, but I have to say my personal favorite would be the custom made portable nuclear rocket launcher from Starship Troopers. My most unique piece would be my deactivated glock 18 pistol.”
Dan Benton: “Many people may not realize this, but a good percentage of your prop gun collection is functional. Does it surprise you that such weaponry is still used on sets across America, especially after the death of Brandon Lee?”
Eric Speiser: “It is true that the majority of the movie prop firearms I own are indeed fully functional guns, and no it does not surprise me the least to see directors pouring out the big flashes on screen one bit, even after the accidents in the industry.
The reason films, even animated ones such as Avatar, gravitate towards real working firearms are simply due to the demand by moviegoers to see real action. You can’t simulate the reaction an actor or actress has when a live round is fired off, whether it be the ejecting brass bullet casing echoing through your surround sound system or the flash from the end of a barrel lighting your room. Some would say it’s simply the most important part of the film, after all, who would Agent Smith be without his .50 cal Desert Eagle, or Detective John McClain without his 9mm Beretta 92?
Agent Smith with his Desert Eagle (IMFDB)
Keep in mind firearms used for filming and on set use have been extensively modified to work with custom loaded blank ammunition and can only fire blank ammunition unless heavily modified again to return them to a factory working condition.
Brandon Lee’s death in North Carolina, while a horrible tragedy, could have easily been avoidefd. His passing was due to improper modification, training, use, and handling of firearms on set. The failure and complete lack of chain of custody for all firearms while filming The Crow was the direct cause of Brandon Lee’s death. The only person that should handle a firearm is someone who is trained and proficient in each and every weapon being used, whether it is to service or clean the weapon, load it for use, or training actors to properly and safely operate the guns in question.
Today’s weapons coordinators insurance and federal firearms licensing procedures are incredibly difficult, and make it almost impossible to obtain working firearms from movie production, hence their collectability not only as guns but as movie props as well. All firearms used on production sets are strictly regulated, sometimes even down to the type and amount of ammunition ordered, and used on set.”
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