What's New Latest news from the man behind the gun Behind the scenes with the creative team from High Life July 24 2010 - The film High Life was the highlight of the 2010 Gimli Film Festival. Several panel discussions and a question-and-answer session with the actors following the screening allowed film festival participants to have a unique peek behind the scenes at the making of High Life. Director Gary Yates, Producer Liz Jarvis, Cinematographer Michael Marshall, Production Designer Larry Spittle, Sound Editor Steph Carriere and Firearms Coordinator Dave Brown all participated in a Saturday evening forum at the festival called, "From Script to Screen: The Creative Team of 'High Life.'" Dave Brown talked about the process that the he and the director go through to select the firearms for the movie that have the right 'look,' and the work that goes into training the cast to keep thjem safe and make them look like they know what they are doing with a gun in their hand. He also mentioned how the big shootout scene in High Life could not possibly have been filmed anywhere else in Canada except Winnipeg, mostly because of the immense cooperation that film productions get from the City Of Winnipeg and from the Winnipeg Police Service. Without them, this film could not have been made at anywhere near that budget level. Dave explained how the words on the page eventually translate to the screen, and he even shared some inside information on how he matches guns to the character and to the actions in the script. Afterwards, one audience member even took the time to express his thanks and to comment, "I knew you did the guns but I never knew you went so deep and into so many levels." Safety in Bear Country - a trainer's perspective June 2010 - "The worst thing you can do if you encounter a bear is to panic and run." So says Dave Brown, Canada's premier shotgun trainer for those venturing into remote wilderness areas of the country. "If you run, you end up kicking in the predatory instincts of the bear who may have just been a bit curious or territorial." There were a lot of nodding heads. Employees from Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) Central and Arctic Region had all been there. Most had worked in bear country; some had encountered bears up close and a few had even survived bear attacks. So began the opening remarks at the latest DFO live-fire shotgun workshop. All non-enforcement personnel are required to complete this workshop every two years if they venture into remote areas with DFO-issued firearms. (Many sign up to attend the workshop opportunity every year.) The skills they will learn in one afternoon at the local shooting range were designed to be simple, practical and able to be used by the average person under stress. Unlike most other training courses, these outdoor professionals learn and practice skills they hope to never use but if they do need them, they know they must be imprinted enough into the subconscious to be automatic reactions. Long gone are the days that shotgun training at Fisheries & Oceans consisted of the local police officer setting up a silhouette target at 50 meters and shooting until everyone could put five slugs into the scoring rings! "Out there in the real world," says Brown, "there are no 'scoring rings.' Bears don't politely stand 50 meters away just to get shot. When that attack happens, it will be close, fast, violent and over in a heartbeat. What will feel like hours to you will actually be over in seconds. How you respond in those next few seconds can literally save your life or the life of your co-workers." One DFO scientist agreed. "I heard a snort, turned around and this huge polar bear was right behind me, almost arm's length away. He snuck up behind me so quietly I wouldn't have stood a chance if we didn't have this level of training." Another DFO employee related, "We didn't know we were being attacked until the instant the polar bear landed on top of our tent." She added, "THEN it got interesting because he also landed on top of our shotgun!" These are not video or paintball games. In remote areas of this country, guns are a lifestyle. They are not some prop from a Hollywood movie, they are serious business, and these professionals keep loaded shotguns arm's-length away 24 hours a day. Before the live-fire even starts, there is a review of the different bear species and what to expect if encountered. Various options in bear defense are covered and employees learn to watch for danger signs in bear behaviour. That being said, workshop instructor Dave Brown warns that every bear encounter is different. "Bears are individuals. They are highly intelligent, very curious and life-long learners. Every bear encounter will be different. There is no way anyone, even myself, can tell you exactly what will happen when you encounter a bear." Brown then voices what everyone is thinking. "No one wants to shoot a bear," he says. "We are the ones trespassing in their back yard. Bears are just doing what comes natural to them. All of us here are dedicated to conservation and the environment. The last thing anyone wants to do is to have to use this shotgun." But he reminds them, "If a bear attacks, it suddenly becomes you or the bear. There are no second chances. When life is at stake, the bear HAS to lose." (The reality is that few people caught without good training and proper defense plans ever survive bear attacks.) Since Central and Arctic Region began their structured program of classroom safety training (with the Canadian Firearms Safety Course offered to employees on a regular basis,) a series of ongoing safety seminars and video presentations and finally the practical live-fire shotgun workshops, not a single DFO employee has been injured in a bear attack. "I'm very proud of these folks," says Brown. "Some of them have never shot a gun before they come to this workshop, and by the end of the day they are shooting far more quickly and accurately than they ever thought possible. You know their basic technical skills are falling into place when they shoot better and better the more we ramp UP the stress level. Everything we talked about at the beginning of the day - stance, aiming, the physiological effects of stress on the human body; it is now all falling into place." The final exercise of the day is referred to as a 'confidence drill.' It involves a 60 meter run up in order to get the heart rate elevated, a simulated bear spray attempt, grabbing a shotgun from the table, chambering the first round and firing a careful accurate shot at a distant bear target, then systematically shooting six more reactive targets, fiendishly stacked one on top of another so that the top target must always be shot first. The instructor is behind them every step to push them to their limits and show them how well they can still shoot with their hearts racing and the adrenalin pounding. At the end of the day, Brown announces each person's time. It is a simple demonstration of a complex physiological process where the whole world seems to slow down under stress; the entire exercise that felt like two to three minutes was actually over in seconds. Called the 'tachypsychia effect,' it is only one small part of an integrated scientific approach to modern shotgun training for these outdoor professionals. In spite of the stress, nobody misses a target; everyone reloads without thinking and all attendees walk away with a smile on their face. Brown says, "I call it a confidence drill because I specifically designed it to show them how well they can perform under stress and, just as important, to show them how well their coworkers perform under stress. Some day, if a bear ends up on top of you, you need to know that the person behind the trigger can safely deal with that threat." He glances back at multiple hits in the center of each bear target, and adds, "I think we accomplished that goal." It is unlikely that bears will recognize DFO employees out in the field, but one could speculate that the smart ones know enough to stay well away. The horror is over October 2009 - After day 37 of a grueling 35-day shoot, the psychological horror/thriller "Mother's Day," is now in the can and headed to Los Angeles for editing and possible theatrical release in 2010. Directed by "Saw II, III and IV" franchise director Darren Lynn Bousman, this is most decidedly NOT the date movie of 2010 ... unless your date loves gruesome violence and LOTS of blood and gore. The final day of filming involved lots of sad farewells and hugs from the various cast members; many of whom have been working closely with the film's Firearms Safety Coordinator Dave Brown since even before day one. Leads Jaime King and Rebecca De Mornay were especially appreciative for Dave's care and attention to detail, and Dave got a chance to direct Rebecca for one of her gun sequences. Dave shared some 'interesting moments' with cast members Warren Kole and Patrick Flueger, and will especially miss Shawn Ashmore and Deborah Ann Woll who were two of the most talented, mature and professional actors he has ever had the honour of working with. Some dates just start off on the wrong note ... October 19 2009 - The movie premiere of the short film "The Note" takes place at the same spot it was filmed - J. Fox's Restaurant in Winnipeg. Written and directed by Alf Kollinger, Dave Brown was camera operator and Director of Photography on the film; both of which were a challenge with a new camera, tricky lighting conditions and one of the windiest days of the summer. Dave also help produce the film, alongside 'real' producers Alf and Louise Kollinger, although his actual producing contributions were not much more than shooting the movie poster and picking up the bar tab for the wrap party. (A VERY important job, one might add though ...) Accolades continue for Gary Yates' High Life August 2009 - Even before its theatrical opening, the black comedy High Life is continuing to delight audiences around the world. Directed by Gary Yates - and with all the gunshot scenes choreographed by Winnipeg's Dave Brown - the film was selected for showing at the Berlin, Edinburgh and Shanghai Film Fesitivals, and will screen later this year at the Toronto International Film Festival and Athens film festival. It has also been nominated for a 2009 Directors Guild of Canada award for Team Achievment in a Feature film and for Picture Editing. A Chinese Angle wins Best Crime Drama at the 2009 ACTION ON FILM festival in Pasadena July 30 2009 - Melva McLean's post-World War II murder mystery with a twist, A Chinese Angle, won the Best Crime Drama award last night at the prestigious Action on Film Fesitival in LA. Dave Brown helped write several of the scenes in this thriller and advised Melva on some of the technical issues in the film. This screenplay had already gotten interest from film producers, even before it won this award, and Melva is already hard at work on her third screenplay plus a sequel to A Chinese Angle. Traveling north to the VERY end of the road Dave Brown has recently been traveling the north country to teach firearms safety and shotgun shooting techniques, and has been out of email and cell phone territory for two weeks now, but he did have time to field this one report. Hopefully, he is home soon and wasn't eaten. Conawapa field camp - June 14 2009 - "On the map at least, one can drive almost a perfectly straight line from New Orleans to Kansas City, up I-29 to the Canadian border at Emerson and then up Highway 75 north to Winnipeg. If you keep going, the highway apparently ends up in Thompson Manitoba, but if you have a REALLY good map (or a Garmin GPS with the latest map software) you will find a thin trail that curls from Thompson to Gillam Manitoba and thence to the Manitoba Hydro dams at Spruce Rapids and Limestone. If you continue up that road, it ends at a solid concrete barrier at the absolute farthest point one can physically drive in Manitoba. "That end-of-the-road is the Conawapa field camp and I am here to teach the local Manitoba Hydro employees how to shoot guns. "There are places in Manitoba where one doesn't leave for work - or even a casual stroll down by the river - without a very powerful gun at their side. This is one of them. "Bears are a constant occupational hazard at this field camp. Black bears have been known to stroll right down the line of tents and ATCO trailers, a few grizzly bears have been sighted this far east and even the odd hungry polar bear has wandered down from Hudson's Bay, only 60 miles to the north. "The night before I arrived at Conawapa, five bears walked through the camp. The entire week I was there, not one single bear emerged from the bush. Whether this was by luck, circumstance or reputation, I don't know. "Still, nobody goes anywhere without a shotgun loaded with slugs, a satellite phone or a helicopter nearby as they work. An armed bear guard watches over the camp at night, and even when the helicopter pilot shuts down the turbines to save fuel, I notice as we chat that his eyes constantly sweep the bush beside the icy northern river and his hand never strays far from the ignition switches. "I am here to teach the locals how to shoot guns. "The people of the camp are warm, friendly and professional; the showers are hot and the food is both plentiful and good. The kitchen/dining room/lounge/training room is open all day and all night and people wander in at all hours to grab a snack or some hot coffee. This is northern Manitoba and nobody asks for decaf. "Even in June, the mile-wide Nelson River has 30 feet of ice smashed up along its banks and it and all the surrounding streams where these researchers work every day are only a few degrees above freezing. The bears seem to like it though. "This far north, the sun never really sets, and folks work hard all day, go to bed early at night and rise with the sound of helicopter turbines warming up outside their trailers. "We spend four days on shotgun training and have some fun with bear defense techniques and awareness. Everyone gets a kick out of the practical live-fire exercises I have invented for them to learn how to shoot a shotgun quickly, accurately and under stress. (Being eaten by a bear tends to do that to you.) We have fun, but they all approach the training very seriously, especially here in the north where people work, eat and sleep with shotguns within easy reach. "The course relies heavily on understanding the physiology of the human body under stress and the dynamics of a real-life encounter with a hungry bear or what we here in Manitoba might simplify into 'common sense.' I think this is why the course is so popular even with the locals, most of whom grew up with a gun in their hands. The techniques are a bit different than what they are used to, but in the end they just plain make sense. "Plus, you know it's going to be a good course where even the instructor learns something new from the participants! Watching them attack each exercise with enthusiasm and humour almost makes me feel sorry for the bears. Almost. "On the way home from one of the most unique experiences of my life, I drive four hours down a rough washboard gravel road just to get to the nearest pavement, and the only bears I saw all week are standing at the side of the road watching me as I head for home. I slow down for a moment and offer to them a silent thanks for not dropping around the camp to visit while I was there. "They ignore me and lumber off into the scrub; pretty much what bears do around here. "Another 12 hours of driving brings me back to cell phone and email territory and I have a dozen messages waiting for me on my phone. "I almost turn around and head back north." That's the last message we heard from Dave, and if he wasn't eaten, he is now headed for Northwestern Ontario to do the same course at the federal Fisheries and Oceans experimental lakes area facility. Hopefully, bears can't get cell service and are calling ahead to their buddies to watch for Dave. Vancouver Sun publishes an article by Dave Brown April 3, 2009 - In a tragic shooting situation in Vancouver, a knife-wielding assailant is shot by Vancouver Police officers who are forced to resort to deadly force to save their lives. A barrage of criticism resulted from the shooting, and once again , less-knowledgeable members of the public weigh in on what the police "should have done" in this situation. The Vancouver Sun even ran a headline describing the edged weapon as an "X-Acto knife," failing to point out that not only is this a razor-sharp weapon, but it is also the very same weapon that brought down two towers of the World Trade Center. On April 3rd, Dave Brown was able to respond to those critics in a special article for the Vancouver Sun entitled, "Policing is not what you see on televsion." He describes the reality of police use of deadly force and why these officers should be thanked and not criticized. A copy of this article is available here. Winnipeg Film Group panel discussion on filming with firearms for low-budget filmmakers March 18, 2009 - After the overwhelming sucess of the first free forum for local filmmakers in June 2008, the Winnipeg Film Group and IATSE Local 856 conce again co-sponsored an informational session for filmmakers on the use of firearms in low-budget productions. It featured a discussion with local filmmakers John Barrett, Paul Boge and James McLellan and a presentation by special guest Dave Brown. He urged filmmakers to remember that firearms can be integrated into even low-budget productions safely, legally and inexpensively IF filmmakers take some simple steps and follow some simple rules. A Chinese Angle wins Praxis Screenwriting Competition February, 2009 - Melva (Mel) McLean's second screenplay A Chinese Angle wins a Praxis award for screenplays and is now being workshopped by Hollywood screenwriters. When she needed advice on firearms, ballistics and terminology of the setting and time period - American mid-west, post-World War Two - she turned to Dave Brown for his advice. He even co-wrote several scenes and added an ending to this dramatic of this crime-thriller. Melva Mclean is a Vancouver-based editor and screenwriter. She edits fiction and non-fiction and has a Masters in Publishing from Simon Fraser University. She has now written three screenplays. Her script The Call was an Official Finalist at the Moondance Film Festival, a Semi-Finalist in the fall 2008 Praxis Screenwriting competition and made the top 15% of the 2008 Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Her second script, A Chinese Angle won the Spring 2009 Praxis Competition and she has just finished a third script, Dragonfly, co-written with actress/director/singer Bonnie Gibson. Record number of Canadian productions at Berlin Film Festival February 5, 2009 - The 2009 prestigious 59th Berlin International Film Festival will see a record number of Canadian productions being selected for showings, including the highly-acclaimed Gary Yates production of High Life. Dave Brown was an integral part of this production when he helped choreograph all the shootout scenes (that open in the first two seconds of the movie) and coordinated the safety of all the cast and crew when the many firearms were being handled. He trained actors Steve McIntyre, Timothy Olyphant, Rossif Sutherland and Joe Anderson on gun handling skills, and was there nearly every day to ensure their safety. High Life received rave reviews at its preview screenings and is a much-anticipated black comedic thriller from the director of Seven Times Lucky. Winnipeg Free Press Commentary by Dave Brown September 8, 2008 - The Winnipeg Free Press ran a series of articles on the tragic and bizarre murder of Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus near Portage La Prairie Manitoba. The stories pointed fingers at the RCMP officers who responded that night, and the tactics they used to contain the scene. Because of all the unfounded criticism leveled at the RCMP and the ignorance of police use of deadly force issues, The Winnipeg Free Press devoted a half-page to an article by Dave Brown on how police respond in deadly force situations. Drag Race, with Dave behind the lens August, 2008 - The Alf Kolinger written and directed Drag Race short film wraps shooting in Winnipeg, thanks to the owners of some of the nicest street rods in town. In what must have been one of the hottest and humid days of the summer, filming continued all day long. In a bit of a turnabout from his usual role, Dave was behind the lens of the B-camera. When asked how he developed an eye for cinematography, Dave responded that his background as a stills phootgrapher helped a lot. "A motion picture is really just a collection of good stills. Twenty-four of them. Every second. Plus," he added, "you don't get to stand behind a motion picture camera for ten years without learning a thing or two." Drag Race should be finished and ready for the film festival circuit in early 2009. "Thank you so much. I loved every minute!" June 20 - 22, 2008 - Participants at the Firearms Safety and Handling Actors Workshop expressed their appreciation for the quality of the training and the skills they learned at the end of the three-day workshop with comments such as, "The workshop personally was priceless," and "I have more knowledge about movies and how 'gun scenes' are shot technically and safely. I now feel confident and assured that if I had to handle a firearm in a scene tomorrow, I would be fine and comfortable." Even though few students had prior experience with firearms, they managed to pay close attention to the expert instruction and even overcame a few challenges to conclude with live-fire practice on a shooting range with real handguns. Workshop dates for 2009 have been announced here. Free informational session for filmmakers June 19, 2008 - The Winnipeg Film Group and IATSE Local 856 co-sponsored an informational session for filmmakers on the use of firearms in low-budget film productions. It featured a discussion forum with experienced filmmakers Paul Boge and James McLellan and a presentation from special guest Dave Brown. He especially urged filmmakers to adhere to some simple procedures for notification and permits, and follow industry safety guidelines when filming with what even looks like a real gun. As Dave says, there is no excuse for getting people hurt, no matter the size of your budget. Mental skills for actors March, 2008 - Actors at Onalee Ames Film Studio were treated to a rare opportunity to learn about mental skills in acting and how to apply some basic principles of sport psychology to their profession. Professional trainer Dave Brown conducted several workshops in which he discussed how every actor can practice some basic mental skills such as visualization, goal setting, positive thinking and maintaining focus. Participants tried some mental skill exercises and discussed the best way to put these tools to work in their acting and in their everyday lives. And why is there such a strong connection between sport and acting? Dave says, "Sit in a waiting room, look around at the 30 other people who are all auditioning for the same role, and tell me that is not a competition." As one of North America's top sports psychologists (and Dave's mentor,) Dr. Cal Botterill likes to say, "Life is a team sport." Stay focused, keep positive and always visualize successful outcomes were the messages Dave communicated to the actors who are always expected to show up ready to work and 'on top of their game.' Renée Zellweger thaws out March, 2008 - It may be a myth that Eskimos have 60 different names for snow, but Renée Zellweger has several different names for the variety of icicles that hang from a person's face when filming a movie at 30 below zero. "There are 'lashticles,' where your eyes get closed together because your face is numb and you can't tell that you're crying and have these big icicles on your face. Then there are the 'beardsicles' on the men, and those were interesting, but my personal favorites were definitely the 'nostricles,' where you didn't know you needed a tissue," she told reporter John Hiscock in Beverley Hills. "I didn't know frostbite could be so funny." The Oscar-winning actor just returned from three months of filming the romantic comedy Chilled in Miami, due in theatres next year. While it may seem strange to film in Manitoba in the middle of a prairie winter but both her and co-star Harry Connick Jr. both warmed and were warmed by, the people and the crews in Winnipeg. Intense handgun training for armed-response officers March, 2008 - Just to prove it is not all movie sets and celebrities with Dave Brown, he spent the majour parts of March and April training armed response teams of a majour federal facility in advanced handgun shooting techniques on the Glock semi-automatic pistol. Every officer spent three days of intense training with Dave Brown, using a course he specifically designed to bring all the armed employees up to the highest standards of safety and ability to respond quickly and accurately under stress. Participants joke that Dave is so anal about safety and ability with firearms that Chuck Norris, who is so fast he can travel around the world and kick himself in the back of the head, probably checks his closet every night for Dave Brown. Marketing Manitoba at the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association February, 2008 - Dave attended the CFTPA "Prime Time" awards and marketing meeting in Ottawa on behalf of IATSE Local 856 and was part of the marketing team helping to sell producers on the advantages of filming in Manitoba. With a variety of critically-acclaimed movies and TV series under their belts, and a few Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning performances, Winnipeg is now firmly on the map and and is well positioned to play with the big boys in the industry. Chilled in Miami comes to Winnipeg January, 2008 - Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr. and J.K. Simmons put in long hours on the set of the new romantic comedy "Chilled in Miami," and Dave coordinated the safety of the firearms for one hilarious scene. Renée and J.K. were especially grateful that he was there to keep them safe and Dave admits that he loved how Renée treated his name like it was all one word. Dave and J.K. spent some time at the shooting range in preparation for this scene. Career Fair at Red River College January, 2008 - The film industry is one of the most inclusive workplaces on earth, is the message Dave delivered to students at Red River College during a film industry career fair. Representing the many film technicians from IATSE who work in hundreds of positions on a film set, Dave went on to explain that people who work above the line and below the line in the film industry are highly valued for their talent and their skills. They put in long hours in challenging conditions in a career decidedly NOT the typical 9 to 5 job. When asked for practical advice on one of the most important qualities one should bring to a film set, Dave answered, "Good boots." Commercial shoot for a new wine label September, 2007 - Being "shot" by Dave Brown takes on a whole new meaning, as Dave begins photographing models for wine labels and promo posters for a new California wine company. Once it was explained that they would be "shot" with a camera and not a gun, the models were much more relaxed. Dave shot all the labels with the new high-end Pentax K10D digital SLR camera. You Kill Me opens in Winnipeg to rave reviews August, 2007 - The John Dahl-directed crime comedy "You Kill Me" opened in theatres across Canada. The film stars Sir Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni, Luke Wilson and Bill Pullman and the firearms safety and training were all handled by Dave Brown. He is especially proud of the way he set up a tricky close-range gunshot scene with the director and Sir Ben. (In the movie, it is actually Dave who throws a drink in Sir Ben's face, and then gets shot twice for his troubles. Actor Dennis Farina was perfectly willing to do the scene himself once Dave said it was safe but Sir Ben preferred to shoot at Dave instead. Never let it be said that Dave Brown is not willing to stand in front of his work!) Snake River begins filming in Bird's Hill Park July, 2007 - The Joe Novak film "Snake River" begins like any good western with some gun play, and Dave was on set to supervise all the gun handling in this period drama from the same filmmaker who did "Mob Flick." This low budget film proves once again that safety does not have to be compromised in order to save money, and even the lowest budget filmmaker can find a way to make firearms scenes work safely, legally and inexpensively. Shotgun training at the Experimental Lakes Area July, 2007 - It must be a research scientist's dream: hundreds of pristine lakes in a controlled area where they can conduct full-scale experiments on everything from fish stocks to climate modelling. They come from around the world to visit the University of Manitoba/Department of Fisheries and Oceans ELA. Not surprisingly, bears and other wildlife like the area too, and humans are now in someone else's back yard. When people become one rung down on the food chain ladder, sometimes a shotgun is the only thing that can save their lives. Dave once again visited the ELA to conduct a shotgun workshop for the DFO employees on site. "Super workshop!" June, 2007 - Participants rave about the quality of the Firearms Safety and Handling Actors Workshop, and how much they learn over the three days. The next workshop dates are already starting to fill. The Lookout one of the best movies of 2007" March, 2007 - Richard Roeper called The Lookout "one of the best movies so far in 2007." Jeff Daniels and Joseph Gordon-Levitt turned in some phenomenal performances in this crime drama, and Dave worked hard with all the cast and crew to make sure the gunshot scenes all worked safely and dramatically. Dennis Quaid in Horsemen February, 2007 - The Horsemen wrapped principle shooting in Winnipeg. This gritty horror/drama should be in the theatres later in 2008. Sidura Ludwig's book "Holding My Breath" makes the Canadian bestseller list February, 2007 - Author Sidura Ludwig's "Holding My Breath" received critical acclaim for this coming-of-age novel, and Dave was honoured to have been asked by Sidura to shoot her for her book cover and the book promotion. Once Dave determined that the request to "shoot" her was related to his photographic skills and not his firearms skills, the photo shoot went off much smoother. One of the most amusing experiences of his life happened while standing in line at the local bookstore, listening to two ladies in front of him talk about the "very lovely photograph" of the author that was hanging on the wall. House of Commons committee meetings on arming CBSA officers February, 2007 - Dave is asked to appear before the House of Commons standing committee on national security to contribute his expert views on arming Canada Border Services Agency officers. Dave met many of the officers from the agency in Manitoba when he delivered basic firearms safety courses to them in 1999, and has always been impressed by their professionalism and skill while performing a vital and often thankless service. He testified that the people who protect our borders need to be given the proper tools and the proper training to do their jobs. IATSE Local 856 elections December, 2006 - "I would like to thank the members of IATSE Local 856 who have chosen me as their vice-president for the next three years. In my campaign, I explained that my agenda was the safety of my brothers and sisters in the industry and I will work hard towards that goal. The members of 856 has asked me to fill this greater role in the film industry, and I will do my best to work for the benefit of everyone." - Dave Brown Film Training Manitoba workshop December, 2006 - Dave delivered a workshop on Firearms Safety in the Film Industry to an enthusiastic group on behalf of Film Training Manitoba. Participants got to see first hand the hazards of firearms on film sets, and how those hazards can be properly addressed, making the use of firearms no more dangerous than any other prop on the set when handled by experts. Participants also got to try out a variety of handguns on the target range to feel for themselves what movie guns and real guns are like to shoot. Firearms Safety for Actors December, 2006 - It seems like somewhere there are firearms in almost every movie made today. Sadly, if something goes wrong on the set, it is usually the actor who is the first person hurt. Firearms need to be treated with awareness and respect, and a group of working actors got to see for themselves why Dave was once called - affectionately we might add - "the most anal guy in Hollywood." Practical shotgun workshops June, 2006 - Much of Canada is wilderness, and there are people who spend a lot of time in the bush or the tundra who rely on firearms for defense. They KNOW that when you are in someone else's backyard, humans are no longer at the top of the food chain. Dave Brown has been teaching the proper way to shoot a shotgun in high stress situations to both experienced and inexperienced shooters for many years in his practical shotgun workshops. Participants received a day of some of the most intense training of their lives and they all came out of it with a greater understanding of the various skills they can employ when, in remote areas, sometimes tresspassers can get EATEN. Shooting with Sir Ben Kingsley in You Kill Me May, 2006 - The motion picture You Kill Me finished principle shooting in Winnipeg and Dave was on set to handle the firearms and train the cast in this dark comedy. He especially enjoyed working with actors Sir Ben Kingsley, Téa Leoni and Bill Pullman. Bill and Sir Ben even joined Dave for an afternoon of handgun target shooting on the shooting range. Stephen Sondheim's Assassins hits the stage May, 2006 - One has to wonder how THIS pitch meeting might have gone back in 1990: "We want to do a play about all the people who have tried successfully or unsuccessfully to shoot U.S. presidents." "Yeah, and we want to make it this real edgy, dark comedy ... plus there are references to crashing planes into the White House." "Plus, EVERYONE in the play -including, it turns out, the musical director - gets a gun!" "Yeah, and one more thing; we want to make it a MUSICAL!" Audience members who were prepared to take a chance on a dark musical comedy that made them THINK instead of just sitting there, were rewarded by this brilliantly-crafted production from Winnipeg's Dry Cold Productions, plus inspiring performances from some of the most talented actors in Canada. Dave was proud to have contributed a small part to this creative, talented and enthusiastic group. Disney and Spyglass Entertainment conclude production of The Lookout May, 2006 - The motion picture The Lookout, starring Jeff Daniels, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mathew Goode and Isla Fisher, finished production in Winnipeg. The drama focuses on a young man suffering a severe brain injury from a car crash that leaves him with little memory, and how he gets dragged into a violent bank heist. The film shot in and around Winnipeg and the Manitoba town of Hartney for two months, and Dave Brown trained the cast on firearms handling and coordinated the safety of all the gun scenes. Newest Bond girl joins the new James Bond in Casino Royale March, 2006 - Ivana Milicevic joined actor Daniel Craig in production of the latest James Bond picture Casino Royale. Ivana was in Winnipeg recently to film the Clive Barker horror picture The Plague, and even joined the cast on the shooting range for some firearms training and target shooting with Dave Brown. Dave even has some advice for the newest James Bond: "Watch out. This lady can SHOOT!" Awards and nominations continue to pile up for Capote March, 2006 - The motion picture Capote, continues with a long string of awards and accolades, with nominations for five Academy Awards and an Oscar win for Philip Seymour Hoffman as Best Actor. The movie has now won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Actor, Directors Guild of America awards for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director; and a Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Capote was named as one of the Ten Best Movies of 2005 by the American Film Institute. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Clifton Collins Jr. and Chris Cooper and recreates the events leading to Truman Capote's groundbreaking novel In Cold Blood. All the firearms scenes in the movie were coordinated by Dave Brown and he worked closely with the very talented Clifton Collins Jr. to enhance his portrayal of mass-murderer Perry Smith. Dave's obsessive drive for safety and authenticity were even recognized when he was asked by participants at one of his recent Los Angeles workshops how he managed to get those spectacular close-up gunshots. "The Shotgun Speedload" featured in Law Enforcement Technology magazine January, 2006 - Law Enforcement Technology Magazine reprinted an article on police tactics and shotgun reloading written by Dave Brown, originally published in Blue Line Magazine. Law Enforcement Technology is one of the largest circulation police magazines in the world, and this is the second time they have run an article by Dave Brown for millions of readers worldwide. Nobody cares January, 2006 - The film Nobody wrapped principle shooting in Winnipeg, and Dave Brown got a chance to work with a very talented cast of Costas Mandylor and Ed O'Ross on this quirky crime-drama. While movies are often made for the money, cast and crew were all defering their salaries because they cared for the art and for the pleasure of working with some of the top people in the business. Strike! January, 2006 - Composer, playwright and producer Danny Schur wrote the very popular musical Strike! about the general labour strike of 1919 in Winnipeg. To generate interest in a possible feature film production of his musical, he produced a proof-of-concept extended trailer and requested the assistance of Dave Brown in securing period firearms and coordinating the safety of the firearms on the set. The message of safety was especially brought home when an inexperienced pyrotechnician nearly blew his hand off when a special effect he was rigging exploded in his face. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt and production continued with only a slight increase in sensitivity to unexpected loud noises on the set. University of Winnipeg January, 2006 - Dave lectured at the University of Winnipeg on safety in filmmaking, and illustrates how to recognize common hazards on film sets, assess the risks, and control the hazards. The students in Professor John Kozak's filmmaking course are particularly interested in how some of the great effects in action films are achieved while still keeping people safe. He concludes his lecture with a live demonstration of a spark-ball hit, used on film sets to simulate gunshots. Five Days in L.A. November, 2005 - Dave Brown is invited to speak to actors at the prestigious Dee Wallace Acting Studio in Burbank California, and he talked about staying safe in film and watching for the many hazards on film sets. His presentations are hugely successful, mostly because almost everyone there can relate in some way to how actors and crew sometimes have their health and safety put at risk for the sake of "getting the shot." Dave recently worked with Dee on the Clive Barker horror picture The Plague, and she was most impressed by his calm professionalism and meticulous approach to firearms safety. Dave tells Dee's students why he checks a gun three times every time it changes hands - "Once for me; once for you; and once for Brandon Lee." Gemini nomination for The True Intrepid November, 2005 - The MidCanada Entertainment-produced story of the famous Second World War spy William Stephenson is nominated for a Gemini award for excellence in Canadian television in the documentary category. Dave Brown handled the firearms for the film and also appeared on screen as the trainer at the super-secret Canadian spy school "Camp X." Seven Times Lucky DVD released October, 2005 - The film poster and the cover of the DVD of Seven Times Lucky featured an action photograph by Dave Brown. The Gary Yates-directed film stars Kevin Pollak, Liane Balaban and James Tolkan. Seven Times Lucky was an official selection of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival (see the January 2004 review below), the Toronto International Film Festival and the Montreal World Film Festival. It was awarded "Best Feature" and "Best Screenplay" at the Method Fest Film Festival and the CITI award at the Vancouver Film International Festival. Dave handled all the firearms scenes and even played a brief cameo role in the film. Military Police training August, 2005 - Canada's Military Police protects our country and its citizens around the world. Along with that important role comes recognition of the need for realistic training for duty in increasingly hostile environments. In August, top Military Police members from across Canada travelled to Winnipeg for a week of intense training in physical fitness, combat rifle and combat pistol. Dave Brown was asked to provide training to the MPs on advanced pistol skills and tactics, ranging from long-range marksmanship to close-in combat. Dave has trained and coached many members of Canada's Military Police over the years and is honoured to have been asked to work so closely with them once again. “Your professionalism, patience and your unique training approach were appreciated by all. Your contribution to the training camp was certainly evident in the final scores, with all team members markedly improving their shooting skills. While I sincerely hope our members will never have to put what you've taught into practice in real life, I am heartened to know that your training improved their skills - and survivability - should they ever be faced with a deadly force scenario.” - Provost Marshal, 1 Canadian Air Division The Plague begins production in Winnipeg August, 2005 - The Plague is the latest Clive Barker horror flick and began production in Winnipeg with some of the most talented cast and crew in the business. Dave is responsible for handling the many firearms on the set and training the cast on safety and handling skills. Dave has an opportunity to work with actors like John Connolly and Dee Wallace-Stone; James Van Der Beek, Ivana Milicevic, Brad Hunt, Joshua Close, Brittany Scobie and Bradley Sawatzky; Director of Photography Bill Butler; director Hal Masonberg and the the very talented lens work of Paul Suderman. Population 436 to hit theatre screens July, 2005 - "Welcome to Rockwell Falls. Population 436," reads a sign on the road to the fictional Rockwell Falls in the movie Population 436. The only part of that sign that is true is the number, and surprisingly enough, Rockwell Falls has had exactly 436 residents since the late 1800's. This demographic quirk sparks the interest of the U.S. Census Bureau, and they send an investigator to Rockwell Falls to determine why. The investigator, played by Jeremy Sisto, meets the town deputies (Fred Durst, Peter Outerbridge), a strikingly beautiful girl (Charlotte Sullivan) and the other residents of the town ... and finds out the chilling truth about WHY the population has sat at 436 people for so many decades. Acting Camp for Kids July, 2005 - "Keeping people safe on the film set" is the theme for a presentation by Dave Brown at Lois Brother's Acting Camp for Kids at her Childrens Acting Center. Dave used an entertaining mix of video clips and hands-on exercises to show young actors what goes on behind the scenes and how to keep people safe when filming even the most exciting action scenes. National exposure for Firearms Safety & Handling Actors Workshop May, 2005 - The national television network CourtTV Canada filmed a feature story on the latest Firearms Safety & Handling Actors Workshop. They will be the first national broadcast of this unique workshop. CourtTV Canada producer Jeff Thompson interviews students and former students who rave about the course. The footage was broadcast on Court TV Canada through 2006. Pistol Reload Illustrated May 2005 - In a continuing series of articles in BLUE LINE Law Enforcement Magazine, Dave shows how to perform a fast and smooth reload of the semi-automatic pistol from the waist position. IATSE Local 856 presence at the 2005 MFL Health and Safety Conference May 12 - 13, 2005 - Dave attended the 2005 Manitoba Federation of Labour Health and Safety Conference on behalf of IATSE Local 856. His self-introduction earns an applause from the other attendees when he states that his number one goal in life is to some day see a disclaimer at the end of every movie that states, "No human beings were harmed in the making of this picture." The Winnipeg Free Press profiles Dave Brown in "No. 1 with a bullet" April 2, 2005 - Winnipeg Free Press entertainment writer Randall King joined Dave Brown for some target shooting at a local gun club, and a talk about his experiences as a professional firearms instructor and firearms safety coordinator on film sets. He describes Dave as, "... fastidiously careful, but he is also patient and easy going, an invaluable asset when working with actors." He says, "For me, Brown is doubly fascinating," because he is "authoritative on the subject of weapons," and "has cool stories about his encounters with teaching actors how to handle them." Government agencies rely on Dave Brown for effective shotgun training April, May 2005 - The Department of Fisheries & Oceans and Parks Canada once again turn to Dave for training in the defensive use of shotguns in wilderness areas. Participants need to be able to use shotguns quickly, effectively and safely in life-threatening situations, regardless of previous experience. Employees of both agencies carry shotguns 24 hours a day in polar bear country and no employee trained by Dave has ever been injured in a dangerous bear attack. Dave is also asked to help rewrite the firearms policy for the Central and Arctic Region of Fisheries & Oceans. Blue Line Police Trade Show - Toronto, Canada April 26, 27, 2005 - Dave appears for Blue Line Magazine at the annual Police Trade Show where a variety of international exhibitors show off products and services for police agencies, from uniforms and weapons to software and vehicle technology. Ken Leishman: The Flying Bandit features a Dave Brown cameo December, 2004 - The Frantic Films/History Channel documentary about Ken Leishman, the most famous gold robber in Canada begins shooting in Winnipeg. Working under the very talented and award-winning director Norma Bailey was a special treat for Dave. He was entrusted with setting up the critical scene where police in Gary, Indiana engage in a shoot-out with members of the Leishman gang. In a marked departure from his last cameo appearance in Stryker, Dave plays the role of the Gary police detective who drops a member of the gang with one well-aimed (of course) shot. Capote wraps shooting in Winnipeg December, 2004 - The story of Truman Capote and his famous novel "In Cold Blood" finished production in Winnipeg. Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Capote and Clifton Collins Jr. portrays mass-murderer Perry Smith. The movie also features Catherine Keener and Chris Cooper. Dave was on set to coordinate the safety and show the cast how to handle the firearms. Producers, actors and director all express appreciation to Dave for his professionalism and high safety standards. Dave and Clifton spend an afternoon at the shooting range together, and Clifton accompanies Dave to the Onalee Ames Actors Studio to talk about his career in film and what it was like to work on productions such as Traffic and the voice-overs in the video game Grand Theft Auto. A Bear Named Winnie debuts on TV December, 2004 - A Bear Named Winnie is the story of how a bear cub adopted by a soldier from Winnipeg during World War I eventually ended up at the London Zoo and became the inspiration for the much-loved "Winnie the Pooh" books. Winnie is, of course, short for Winnipeg the Bear and it was appropriate that the movie would be filmed here 90 years later. Dave got a chance to work with Gil Bellows again, and to also work with the great British actors David Suchet and Stephen Fry. After a long day of filming, Dave even talked Gil and co-star Michael Fassbender into coming down to the Onalee Ames Actors Studio to talk to the students. Gil talked about his experiences on Shawshank Redemption and Ally McBeal and Michael described his career and his work on the TV series Band of Brothers. Stryker sole Canadian entry at the 2004 Venice Film Festival September, 2004 - The latest film from Noam Gonick is the only Canadian selection at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. Dave not only handled the safety of the firearms and trained the cast, but he also sacrificed his pride for the film when they needed a last-minute double for the movie's transvestite hooker for one brief scene. Dave apparently was the only person on set who fit the fur coat and wig, but flatly denies that he secretly liked carrying the purse. Film Festival Update September, 2004 - The Gary Yates-directed film Seven Times Lucky played before a packed house at the Montreal World Film Festival and was described by the Montreal Gazette as, "... the $2 million movie that looks like a billion bucks." It adds that the Kevin Pollak movie was "... the tightest, smartest, most devious narrative to emerge from the middle of nowhere ..." and, "Every aspect of the production is crafted at an elevated level." Dave is proud to have been part of this wonderful production, and the firearms he supplied were once described by filmmaker Gary Yates as, "... the nicest looking guns this side of the Mississippi." Writing the book on firearms safety July, 2004 - Dave is again asked by the Department of Justice to travel to Ottawa and help advise them on planned changes to the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course. Dave was one of the original subject-matter experts who helped design the two federal safety courses in 1998. He was also asked to travel across Canada to conduct pilot courses and teach new instructors. Accolades continue for Seven Times Lucky June, 2004 - Seven Times Lucky won awards for Best Picture and Best Screenplay at the 2004 Method Fest Film Festival in Burbank, California. The L.A. Times film critic also recommended Seven Times Lucky as the strongest film in the festival which celebrates breakout performances by established actors and newcomers in independant film. Dave coordinated the safety of the many firearms used in the film and also played a brief cameo role as a crime scene photographer. Rock video shoot with Indy Nosebone June, 2004 - Dave coordinated a gunshot sequence in a music video for local rock band Indy Nosebone. Back from Alaska with Robin Williams and Woody Harrelson May, 2004 - Dave is back from the film set of The Big White starring Robin Williams, Woody Harrelson, Holly Hunter, Tim Blake Nelson and Giovanni Ribisi. Filming took place on a mountain summit between Alaska and the Yukon. Dave worked closely with Robin, Woody and Tim in this very quirky crime comedy, slated for majour theatrical release in 2006. Robin Williams even takes a rare day off to spend a relaxing afternoon of target shooting with Dave. 2004 Sundance Film Festival - Park City, Utah January, 2004 - "This is Pollak's best film performance by a long stretch ... ," says Variety reporter Robert Koehler in a Variety review of the Sundance Film Festival selection Seven Times Lucky. "The grifter movie, having had several makeovers in recent years, reaches a level of unprecedented enjoyment and excitement in 'Seven Times Lucky,' an absolute knockout of a feature debut by writer-director G.B. Yates," says Koehler. He adds, "It isn't just that Yates' yarn is suitably intricate, or that the filmmaking package is superbly crafted in every department, but that a full cinematic vision is created with a wonderful set of characters resonating long after the closing credits." Actors workshop - Winnipeg, Canada December, 2003 - Dave teamed with Onalee Ames Actors Studio to teach a series of two-day workshops on Firearms Safety in Film Production for Actors. In this unique workshop, actors got an opportunity to learn about firearms safety directly from one of the foremost experts in the field. Participants experience exactly what it feels like to shoot real handguns loaded with blanks and then an afternoon target shooting with live ammunition. Can electronic sights survive the ultimate torture test? December, 2003 - Electronic sights are appearing on top of assault weapons carried by specialty police teams and military special forces around the world, but are they tough enough to take the abuse of general patrol officers? Blue Line Magazine answers that question in the December issue and points out that the mountains of Afghanistan and the sands of Iraq are NOTHING compared to the stress of a Dave Brown gun test. Ceramic body-armor article read by millions September, 2003 - Law Enforcement Technology magazine, one of the largest police publications in North America, reprints an article and photographs by Dave Brown for their September issue titled "Ceramic Armor: The Bullet Stops Here." Dave has received comments and requests for more information from as far away as US military resources in Iraq. Applause for cast and crew August, 2003 - Dave was on the set of Zeyda and the Hitman with actors Gil Bellows, Judd Hirsch and Danny Aiello. In a scene reminiscent of an old time gangster movie, Danny comes out with guns blazing and 'shoots' Gil. Director Melanie Mayron is very happy with the footage, and cast and crew even receive a rare ovation from the spectators gathered to watch the action on the streets of downtown Winnipeg. (Photo by R. Alms) Special Agent: FBI on Lifetime Network June, 2003 - Jean Smart played FBI agent Candice Delong in a made-for-TV movie about the first female profiler in the FBI. Jean specifically asks for Dave to help her portray authentic techniques. The movie has now been titled Killer Instinct: From the Files of Agent Candice Delong and has been shown many times on Lifetime Network. Manitoba Theatre Centre production of Richard III April, 2003 - Performances began of a much-anticipated Richard III with William Hurt playing the lead in this modernized version where gun fights have replaced swordfights. A-Channel's Big Breakfast Show February, 2003 - Dave appeared on TV during a profile of the Northwest Law Enforcement Academy. Dave discussed the firearms safety and handling program that he developed for Academy students. Rob Lowe and Sam Neill in Framed on TNT January, 2003 - The TV movie Framed debuts on Turner Network Television and Dave helped coordinate an exciting action sequence in the film. Dave taught an authentic reload drill to Rob Lowe at the gun range and director Daniel Petrie Jr. incorporated the scene into the final cut of the movie, much to Rob's delight. Rob Lowe later told a Hollywood reporter that he was impressed by Winnipeg and the quality of the crews in Manitoba. With Diane Keaton on the shooting range November, 2002 - Production began on Defending My Children (also known as On Thin Ice) and Dave got an opportunity to work with actor Diane Keaton at the shooting range and on the set. When not helping Diane, Dave was often found debating the merits of various handguns with long-time target shooter and actor Michael Rooker. The bullet stops HERE! October, 2002 - Dave traveled to Calgary where he tours one of the world's foremost manufacturers of ceramic armour plate. He saw first hand the effectiveness of high-precision ceramics in protecting police officers around the world and he related the story in an article for Blue Line Law Enforcement Magazine. Manitoba Opera production of Carmen April, 2002 - Performances of Carmen began and Dave coordinated the safety of the firearms used in the show. He even appears briefly onstage as 'Don José' for the gunshot scene. Subsequent newspaper reviews rave about the show but fail to mention Dave's performance even once. Conference on Safety in the Film Industry - Halifax, Canada March, 2002 - Dave was keynote speaker at this Halifax conference sponsored by the Moving Images Group. He spoke on the topic of "Risk Assessment in Film" and emphasized how we must all be responsible for our own safety through greater knowledge and understanding of safety issues. CERU Team Training continues February, 2002 - Dave completed a firearms safety course for Manitoba Corrections Emergency Response Units, part of an intense tactical shotgun training program he developed for the teams' intermediate force projectile weapons. 7th Annual International Police Shooting Competition May 2000 - Dave lead the Military Police from CFB Shilo to an unprecedented 3rd Place trophy against some of the top police shooting teams in Western Canada. As team trainer, Dave also took home an individual award for 2nd Place and was the only civilian invited to the competition sponsored by the German Military Police.
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