As the demand for more intense, action-packed, and crime-driven TV shows grows, actors need to be equipped with various skills, and firearms handling is becoming one of the most important. If you’re an actor looking to stand out in the competitive industry, here’s why firearms training could be your next big career move.
Safety First: Protect Yourself and Others on Set
On set, actors may occasionally need to use prop firearms or, in some cases, real firearms. Knowing how to safely handle these weapons is crucial for your safety, as well as the safety of your fellow cast and crew. By attending firearms training, you’ll learn the key components of a firearm, how they function, and the safest ways to handle them during a scene. When you’re confident in your firearm safety knowledge, you not only protect those around you, but you also become a trusted professional in the eyes of directors and producers.
Confidence on Set: Look the Part, Act the Part
One of the biggest challenges actors face when using firearms is making their performance believable. Whether you’re playing a law enforcement officer or a civilian, the way you hold and handle a firearm says a lot about your character. Someone trained in firearms, like a police officer, will handle a gun very differently from a civilian who has never touched one. Firearms training allows you to confidently portray these nuances on-screen, making your character more believable and your performance more compelling.
Crime Dramas Are On the Rise: Stand Out in Auditions
The UK has seen a surge in crime dramas over the past decade, with shows like Line of Duty, Luther, Bodyguard, Peaky Blinders, and Slow Horses drawing in millions of viewers. The success of these shows has opened up a wealth of opportunities for actors, but it also means the competition is fiercer than ever. One way to stand out from the crowd is by having formal firearms training on your resume.
Producers and directors love actors who come prepared. If you’ve already received firearms training, you save production time and costs, making you a more attractive hire. Plus, knowing how to handle firearms can give you a competitive edge in auditions for roles that involve weapons handling, which is becoming increasingly common in these types of shows.
If you’re an actor looking to add firearms handling to your CV, unlocking a broader spectrum of work in a highly popular market, check out our Lock, Load, Act – Tactical Firearms Training Course coming in 2025:
Top UK Crime Dramas Which Include Firearms
- Bodyguard
- Luther
- Line of Duty
- Peaky Blinders
- Slow Horses
By investing in firearms training, you not only enhance your safety and performance, but you also make yourself a more marketable actor in the evolving world of TV and film. If you’re serious about advancing your career, this skill could be the key to landing that next big role!
