Built for post
Practical where it counts.
Clean for VFX everywhere else.
More productions now shoot with non-combustion gunfire and finish it in post. We plan each setup with your VFX team so the plate already has what the comp needs.
Choose the method per setup
Four ways to fire.
One plan.
Most shows mix methods: blank for the hero close-up, gas for the wide, non-firing for the stunt. Here's how each one splits the work between set and post.
Gas / airsoft
Gas-blowback replicas give realistic recoil and slide movement with no combustion.
Best for Wide coverage, crowded sets, many performers firing, quick turnarounds.
On set
- In-camera flash
- None
- Audible report
- Low
- Real action cycling
- Partial
- Ejected casings
- None
Lower hazard profile, still armourer-controlled. Smaller perimeters, faster resets.
In post
- Muzzle flash & smoke added in post
- Shell ejection added in post
- Interactive light via LED or comp
A planning guide, not a safety assessment. Your MAG armourer makes the final call for every setup.
How we work with VFX
From breakdown to turnover.
- 01
Breakdown
We read the script with the props master and mark every weapon, round count and gag, scene by scene.
- 02
Method plan
Together with your VFX supervisor we choose blank, gas, LED or non-firing for each setup, trading safety and schedule against what post has to build.
- 03
Prep & rehearse
Actors train on the actual hardware, and MAG Works builds rubber doubles and stunt versions to match the hero weapons.
- 04
Shoot
Armourers run the floor and log every shot: which weapon, what fired, how many rounds, and where the flash or ejection gags fall.
- 05
Turnover
Post gets the shot log and weapon reference, so compositors aren’t guessing at flash shape, ejection side or cadence.
In development
The VFX reference pack.
We're putting together a standard set of reference for each weapon on a show, delivered to your vendor with the plates. Tell us what your pipeline needs and we'll build it to that.
Talk to us about reference →- ORTHO
Orthographic stills
Six views with a scale bar and colour chart, shot on our own bench.
- TURN
Turntable
360° video for lookdev and matching CG doubles.
- 3D
Geometry
Clean models from MAG Works’ 3D pipeline: the files we already make for printing and casting.
- FIRE
Firing-cycle reference
Slide and bolt travel, ejection direction and cadence for the matching platform.
- FLASH
Flash character notes
What the muzzle device does to flash shape and size, so the elements chosen in comp are plausible.
- LOG
Armourer’s shot log
A per-shot record of method, weapon and rounds, turned over with the plates.
VFX supervisors & producers