we who are about to die...part 2

"OK Mr. M., this is just a dry run, just relax, and we'll do this by the numbers. QUIET ON THE SET, QUE LIGHTS...QUE SOUND...ROLL FILM, (ROLLING FILM!)... AND....ACTION!
Hope I get this right...scan this paper...put here, take a sip, look at this one put it there,
(door opens, dude in long coat walks in.) pause, look up..."can I help y-- (Guy pulls up gun and pulls trigger, 'CLICK' I fall out of chair sprawled on floor. Guy walks over to me,) 'KACHUCK, CLICK. ( I jerk violently). KACHUCK, CLICK. ( I jerk violently again, my leg spasms, kicking the desk.) KACHUCK, CLICK. KACHUCK, CLICK. ( I twitch involuntarily)
"CUT!" total silence. Dude with the gun reaches down to me, helping me up. We look
at each other, grinning. my leg hurts a little where I banged the desk. I can feel the heat
from the lights, the air is still, I am looking around, it felt weird. "Hey man, you looked scary
pointing that gun at me, can I check it out? The prop master walks up to us, taking the gun.
"is that a real gun?" i ask. " This is a 12 gauge Remington Model 870 pump action shotgun,
the stock has been replaced with a pistol grip for easier concealment, capacity, one round in
the chamber, four in the tube, barrel has been shortened, choke's modified, and YES, its real.
"Hey, Mr. M., Steve, come take a look at this." The prop master walks off with the gun, as
Steve ( the shooter and I walk over to the director. I'm still nervous. It's not that I'm not confident, for me I'm still getting used to all this, I've only been doing this about 4 years now, and this is."You guy's meet each other? Steve, this is Mr. M, your third victim." "Cal me Vic, as in Victor." we chuckle as I extend my hand. "This is what the camera sees. We look at the monitor and it feels strange seeing myself. I hope I don't look as self-conscious as i felt.
"Hey, Vic, you need to loosen up a little...you look a little tense here, see what I mean?"
as he points to me looking at a paper in my hand. "Other than that, you did good, just remember, you're dead, lay where you land, try not to 'see' where you're going to hit the floor.
Let the blast from the gun blow you away. you follow? Try not to anticipate the physics involved." After another couple of dry runs, we seem to be making progress.
"OK, EVERYBODY LISTEN UP! BREAK FOR LUNCH, WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS FOR REAL!" The lights shut off, everybody goes of to eat, or whatever...I like the lights because I can't see anybody behind them. "Hey Vic, c'mere, I want you to meet these guys. This is Marty, the prop master, and this is John, Chuck, and Joey, the special effects crew, Pay attention, this is IMPORTANT! We don't want any mishaps, or injuries. "Hey, I'm Marty, This is what you need to know. The gun is REAL.
the ammo we're going to use is a special pyrotechnic round specially developed for
the movie industry. It produces a bigger flash, with absolutely no projectiles, or wadding, or anything coming out of the barrel at you. Distance is a key factor."
"On the first shot, the distance from the end of the barrel, is exactly 11' 7 1/2" from where
you are sitting. You will hear a 'POP', and there will be a big flash, at the same time. you are going to be about 7' from the flash. any closer, and you could get burned..." The remaining 4 shots will also be 'POP's but the flash will be strobe light effects because of the close quarters. the strobes are going to be mounted on your side of the desk,and the special effect guys will be setting those off. think of a camera flash, or disco lights." The sound effects will replace the "POP" with a "BOOM" to make the sound more realistic during the editing, and post production." "Go grab some chow, Jane will take you to the Special effects trailer, after lunch."