Combat Sources
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Acting
Forum Discription: Q&A about auditions, character development and other aspects of the craft
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2238
Printed Date: 5/15/24 at 11:20pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Combat Sources
Posted By: Hill
Subject: Combat Sources
Date Posted: 1/27/07 at 8:07am
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I'm new at this, so please be kind. Thanks,
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What's a good website or source material for fight scene choreography? I have a student who volunteered to research this, so I'd like to help him as much as possible!Replies:
Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 1/27/07 at 5:36pm
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I don't have any references for you, but I will give you some advice based on a recent experience. If your actors are not trained in stage combat, then don't get bogged down in foot placement and which clock position their swords are at. Just choreograph something they can work with and get used to or else it will be slow and you'll see them remembering where to put their feet. ------------- "If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights." |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 1/29/07 at 11:31am
| I would sugest finding someone who knows what they are doing to do the fights. Those swords may be props but you can still get hurt pretty bad! |
Posted By: dboris
Date Posted: 1/29/07 at 12:43pm
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I have to agree with "Shatcher", try to find someone who has already has fight choregraphy experience, it's not something that can easly be learned by reading a few books or web sites. Try contacting local colleges that have theater programs. You could also try your local chapter of the SCA, Society for Creative Anachronism, http://www.sca.org - www.sca.org .
Dan
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Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 1/30/07 at 12:37am
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You might also try contacting the Society of American Fight Directors. http://www.safd.org - www.safd.org You will be able to contact a certified fight choreographer in your region. The "links" page on their website will also offer many resources. ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 1/30/07 at 9:25am
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You have two choices:
1) Get a real fight choreographer, as others have suggested.
2) Perform the Endless Parry, as described by Michael Green in The Art of Coarse Acting (get it, read it, love it): stand absolutely still, parry high, parry low, repeat until tired, then B holds up his arm, A puts his sword under it, B falls down clutching his bowels.
 Anything else WILL get someone hurt.
Whatever you do, the fight MUST be rehearsed at EVERY rehearsal once it's learned, and before EVERY night of the run. ------------- POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard |
Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 2/02/07 at 12:25am
Those are good sources and I didn't certainly didn't mean to imply you should play fast and loose with the choreography, safety is key. I just meant that I recently did a show where we had a college student in the cast with stage combat training and he tried pretty hard to teach the two actors involved the basics. Unfortunately they had no experience and the fight required them to do slightly fancy stuff like cross the room, get nose to nose, and fall onto furniture. The things he taught them about sword placement and foot positioning were no doubt important, but at show time the fight ended up looking a bit slow and ,well, choreographed. I just wonder if it would have been better to let them slack on the feet a little and concentrate on the sword placement so that it moved more naturally. I don't have any training in this area myself so perhaps someone with the proper wisdom could let us know. I don't want to get someones eye poked out.  ------------- "If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights." |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 2/02/07 at 9:45am
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I was hired to stage a swordfight for a play. Sadly, I got fired after the first run-through.
*buh-duh-boom!* ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 2/02/07 at 1:33pm
 ------------- "If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights." |
Posted By: theGeneral96
Date Posted: 4/11/07 at 10:44am
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Having done fight choreography for a large show, with young actors(11-17 years old) I know how hard it can be. First, you must never ask the actors to do something they are uncomfortable doing with a weapon. It will look awkward and thay will think of nothing else. The easiest thing I can recommend is to choose a series of moves and repeat them a few times. If it is somethimg basic and quick, this works quite well, as the actors will have the same moves ingrained and will be able to perform them fluidly and easily. If you need something more complex, I agree with finding someone with some experience and training. Best of luck. ------------- It's been Surreal! |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 4/11/07 at 11:47am
| Just a quick response to eveh's q. You really can not slack on the foot placement because it effects the sword placement. more practice is the key with this type of thing. |