Black List Glocks

[sbbn]

I'm now on my second 2010 BL script in which one character talks to another about switching on and off the safety on a Glock handgun. I realize that there will always be factual errors in screenplays but... wtf?? The LACK of a manual safety is one of the most defining and most well-known features of Glock as a brand.

Does anyone give a damn about minimal research anymore? Very minimal research. I'm just stunned that before writing these scenes that the writers didn't just google "glock" and "safety." If this were some obscure fact I wouldn't be carping on it but this is comparable to writing about how BMWs are very famous Filipino cars.

Anyone else pick up on that reading the BL scripts or have any reaction to this sort of thing?

[NikeeGoddess]

Re: Black List Glocks

people who are obsessed with guns and how they work scare me.

i'm sure whatever the writer doesn't know about the glock will be fixed during production. no one would toss out a great script for an error like that b/c it doesn't effect the story.

[sbbn]

Re: Black List Glocks

people who are obsessed with guns and how they work scare me.

Umm, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here but... thank you? I guess, for sharing that about yourself?

i'm sure whatever the writer doesn't know about the glock will be fixed during production. no one would toss out a great script for an error like that b/c it doesn't effect the story.

I would hope that they fix the issue if these two particular movies are made but my point is more about the research about the amount of research that is or should be done when writing than it is about what may or may not happen down the road. Glocks are very, very well-known guns and the lack of manual safety is a very, very well-known feature -- this isn't some obscure Chinese military weapon from the 1940s.

If the writer says "handgun" then non-issue. But when the writer picks out a very specific brand is it completely unreasonable to expect that a writer at least skims the wikipedia page for the brand they chose?

[Ravenlocks]

Re: Black List Glocks

This is a really common mistake in novels, too. Glocks seem to be *the* cool handgun for protagonists to carry, so where a writer would write "gun," they plug in "Glock" and don't think much about the details.

[AnotherCaucasianGary]

Re: Black List Glocks

A google search indicates that there are several aftermarket safetys that can be added to your Glock. Here's one: http://www.tarnhelm.com/GlockSafety.html

I don't know the context of the fictional gun in question, but it seems a silly thing to be upset about.

[sbbn]

Re: Black List Glocks

This is a really common mistake in novels, too. Glocks seem to be *the* cool handgun for protagonists to carry, so where a writer would write "gun," they plug in "Glock" and don't think much about the details.

Completely agree.

A google search indicates that there are several aftermarket safetys that can be added to your Glock. Here's one: http://www.tarnhelm.com/GlockSafety.html

No disagreement about the aftermarket safeties. If you want to put it all on the table, Glock has also made some with manual safeties - such as for the Tasmanian police force. BUT - these are anomalies, rare exceptions to the standard. Glocks are known for NOT having manual safeties as a rule.

I don't know the context of the fictional gun in question, but it seems a silly thing to be upset about.

It's not about the gun. The gun gets us to the issue but it's not the issue. The issue is what can a writer get away with before people start to notice how sloppy the research and writing is?

I'm curious if anyone else picked up on it when reading through BL screenplays or not. I guess mostly because I'm curious to what extent the writing community reflects the larger community, which I think (at least in the regions I've lived) would catch this mistake in a second. I read the lines about the glock from the screenplay to my girlfriend, who is not a writer, does not own any guns (nor does anyone in her family), and isn't by any measure a gun fanatic -- I've never seen her handle or shoot a gun -- and she smirked when I got to the part about turning on and off the safety.

[AnotherCaucasianGary]

Re: Black List Glocks

I think you can get away with being a little sloppily researched if A) the mistake doesn't impact the larger dramatic structure and B) you're entertaining your audience despite the mistake. Which this script probably did if it's on the list.

The second point means the precise amount of sloppy you can get away with will vary from script-to-script, even for the same writer.

And obviously it's always preferable to know as much as possible about your subject matter, becuase who knows when what you miss will be so essentially wrong that it disrupts the story...I'm not suggesting that people don't research their firearms or anything.

[sbbn]

Re: Black List Glocks

The second point means the precise amount of sloppy you can get away with will vary from script-to-script, even for the same writer.

And obviously it's always preferable to know as much as possible about your subject matter, becuase who knows when what you miss will be so essentially wrong that it disrupts the story...I'm not suggesting that people don't research their firearms or anything.

That's a very good point. Between the two scripts I read, one was apocalyptic and firearms were secondary to the drive of the story; the other one was about an assassin and so the relevance of getting the guns right becomes (in my opinion) much more pertinent.

[emily blake]

Re: Black List Glocks

Everybody has little errors like that in their scripts. I imagine most people assume all handguns have a safety - I know I did until I started dating someone who knows guns. Now my research is easy - I just ask him what gun I should use and how it works.

But unless you're absolutely perfect in all things, I'd let this go.

[Tochirta]

Re: Black List Glocks

I didn't know Glocks came with/without safeties. In fact, I think I've touched a gun like once in my life.

So I'm not sure it's common knowledge.

people who are obsessed with guns and how they work scare me.

ditto

[spacefarer]

Re: Black List Glocks

I'm now on my second 2010 BL script in which one character talks to another about switching on and off the safety on a Glock handgun. I realize that there will always be factual errors in screenplays but... wtf?? The LACK of a manual safety is one of the most defining and most well-known features of Glock as a brand.

Does anyone give a damn about minimal research anymore? Very minimal research. I'm just stunned that before writing these scenes that the writers didn't just google "glock" and "safety." If this were some obscure fact I wouldn't be carping on it but this is comparable to writing about how BMWs are very famous Filipino cars.

Anyone else pick up on that reading the BL scripts or have any reaction to this sort of thing?

It seems you didn't Google it too hard either:

from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glock_pistol

Safety
Glock pistols are designed with three independent safety mechanisms to prevent accidental discharge. The system, designated "Safe Action" by Glock, consists of an external integrated trigger safety[34] and two automatic internal safeties: a firing pin safety[35] and a drop safety.[36] The external safety is a small inner lever contained in the trigger. Pressing the lever activates the trigger bar and sheet metal connector. The firing pin safety is a solid hardened steel pin that, in the secured state, blocks the firing pin channel (disabling the firing pin in its longitudinal axis). It is pushed upward to release the firing pin for firing only when the trigger is actuated and the safety is pushed up through the backward movement of the trigger bar. The drop safety guides the trigger bar in a ramp that is released only when direct rearward pressure is applied to the trigger.

But I give you this:

The three safety mechanisms are automatically disengaged one after the other when the trigger is squeezed, and are automatically reactivated when the trigger is released.[13][37] This passive safety system omits the manipulation of traditional on-off levers, hammers or other external safeties as found in many other handgun designs.

In 2003, Glock announced the Internal Locking System (ILS) safety feature. The ILS is a manually activated lock that is located in the back of the pistol's grip. It is cylindrical in design and, according to Glock, each key is unique. When activated, the lock causes a tab to protrude from the rear of the grip giving both a visual and tactile indication as to whether the lock is engaged or not. When activated, the ILS renders the Glock unfireable as well as making it impossible to disassemble. When disengaged, the ILS adds no further safety mechanisms to the Glock pistol. The ILS is available as an option on most Glock pistols. Glock pistols cannot be retrofitted to accommodate the ILS. The lock must be factory built in Austria and shipped as a special order.

[Knaight]

Re: Black List Glocks

Spacefarer, that has nothing to do with the OP's post. He was referring to traditional safeties that are switched on and off. Yes, Glocks have a trigger safety. The OP most likely knew that.

I agree wholeheartedly on this, by the way. I'm not an enormous researcher, but any time I name something specific, I'll at least research it enough to give it a bit of authenticity. Very minimal research would have brought up the fact that Glocks don't have traditional safeties -- which is a fact I've used to my benefit in a past screenplay.

They have some other cool features, which I won't reveal, since those are also in that same screenplay. But minimal research would uncover them.

[instant_karma]

Re: Black List Glocks

Is there a little flag that comes out with BANG! written on it when you run out of bullets?

[BattleDolphinZero]

Re: Black List Glocks

I'm now on my second 2010 BL script in which one character talks to another about switching on and off the safety on a Glock handgun. I realize that there will always be factual errors in screenplays but... wtf?? The LACK of a manual safety is one of the most defining and most well-known features of Glock as a brand.

Does anyone give a damn about minimal research anymore? Very minimal research. I'm just stunned that before writing these scenes that the writers didn't just google "glock" and "safety." If this were some obscure fact I wouldn't be carping on it but this is comparable to writing about how BMWs are very famous Filipino cars.

Anyone else pick up on that reading the BL scripts or have any reaction to this sort of thing?

No one cares if the story is good.

Bottom line.

No need for discussion.

[BattleDolphinZero]

Re: Black List Glocks

I didn't mean "no one cares if the story is good", I mean, if the story is good, no one cares.