The Screen Combat Handbook is an essential guide to navigating the unique challenges of putting combat on screen. Explore the process from the early stages of preproduction planning all the way through to editing and sound design, and everything in-between. This book uses practical instruction, examples, interviews, and illustrations to show how to plan, shoot, and assemble safe and effective fight sequences. It includes sections on thoughtful and practical design choices in set, wardrobe, props, and effects, preproduction planning, on-set protocol, fight choreography and coordination, shot planning and technical tricks, acting choices, effective cinematography, and impactful editing and sound design. It provides an invaluable resource for all those involved including directors, fight coordinators, actors and stunt players, and any filmmaker attempting to shoot an exciting action scene safely. Whether working on a no-budget indie production or on a professional set, this is your ultimate guide to screen combat and fight choreography.
Stage combat is a constantly evolving craft, responsive to the growing demands of an ever changing industry and an ever more perceptive audience. Experienced fight director, teacher and examiner Philip d'Orleans shows how to respond to this challenge through innovative techniques and original choreography. Unarmed Stage Combat explores the fundamental performance principles of violence on stage, before a dedicated series of chapters focus on over forty specific unarmed combat techniques, including non-contact slaps, punches, kicks and chokes as well as controlled contact and the illusion of falling. Each technique is beautifully illustrated with step-by-step photos and detailed practical guidance through the preparation, action and reaction to the movement, as well as the key safety principles, common pitfalls and staging variables. Supported by stunning fight photos from professional productions, this indispensable handbook is equally as valuable for beginners at the start of their career or preparing for their fight performance exam as it will be for seasoned professionals seeking to refresh their knowledge.
The Art of Unarmed Stage Combat is a guide to the principles and techniques of theatrical violence, combining detailed discussions of the mechanics of stage fighting with the nuances of acting decisions to make fighting styles reflect character and story. Expert Fight Director Robert Najarian offers never-before-published games and exercises that allows actors to develop the skills and concepts for performing violence for stage and screen. This title utilizes a unique system of training techniques that result in stage violence that is both physically engaging for the performer, while remaining viscerally engaging for the audience. This book is written for the actor and fight director.
This book is an introduction to the basics of stage combat in the area of unarmed combat. It holds enough information to give students an understanding of the subject, as well as how to perform some of the more simple "tricks of the trade." The importance of the safety involved in performing stage combat is also discussed.
This is a practical manual covering all elements of stage combat - armed and unarmed - which lead up to Stage Fight Performance certification. The perfect supplement to all courses, workshops and classes, The Stage Combat Handbook is also the perfect aide memoire for anyone who has ever taken a class in stage combat. Starting with a detailed warm-up section and working through the most fundamental techniques, such as Reversal of Energy and Footwork the Handbook guides you to head-butts and counter-parries. Whatever level you are at you will find something new and informative in its pages.
We are so familiar with fight scenes on our screens that they are almost taken for granted, but how do they come about? This comprehensive book explains the artistic process of creating the fight scene from scripted page to finished performance. Fight choreography is the art of creating scenes of illusionary violence for an entertainment medium. It must tell the story of the fight in a manner that is safe for the performer. To do this, the choreographer has to consider everything that directly impinges on physical movement. Fight Choreography looks at each of these factors and draws on the author's own experiences to illustrate the excitement and range of the genre. * Introduces the fight choreography, the performer, characterization and the director * Looks at working with sets, costumes, lighting and special effects * Advises on the variety of armour and weapons, including photographic reference sections * Explains how to choreograph fights with phrases, logic and rhythm * Gives specific advice on subjects ranging from symbolism to blood effects and from battle scenes to motion capture AUTHOR F Braun McAsh has been a professional fight choreographer since 1976. He has over 120 professional credits in film, television and on stage, with over 400 fights on film alone. He is best known as the swordmaster for the hit TV series Highlander and the fourth Highlander movie Endgame. He has directed fights for every artistic medium including opera, motion-capture and animation SELLING POINTS * A comprehensive guide that explains the artistic process of creating the flight scene from scripted page to finished performance * Aimed at novice or experienced fight choreographers, actors, directors and designers * Superbly illustrated with 86 colour photos * Packed with examples * Author a professional fight choreographer for over thirty years and has over 120 professional credits on stage, in film and on television.
The Theatrical Firearms Handbook is the essential guide to navigating the many decisions that are involved in the safe and effective use of firearm props for both the stage and screen. This book establishes baseline safety protocol while empowering performers and designers to tell their story of conflict in a way that makes the most of both established convention and current tools of the trade. Within these pages are practical instruction couched in the language of theatre and film, making firearms technology and concepts approachable to dramatic artists without any dumbing-down of the subject material. It contains over 100 illustrations This handbook is equally at home within the worlds of academic training, professional performance, and independent or community theatre and video productions, and is an invaluable resource for fight choreographers, props designers, backstage crew, directors, actors, stage managers, and more, at all levels of experience.
'This is a book about how to beat the living daylights out of another human being safely...' Roger Bartlett - professional fight director and Master Teacher for the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat - leads you through everything you need to know in order to create and perform unarmed stage fights that are compelling, realistic and, above all, safe. Starting with the essential concepts, including Victim Control and Reversal of Energy, you will learn how to perform all of the following moves: Slapping Punching Kicking Strangling Pulling and Pushing Falling Locking Blocking Each technique is clearly described, extensively illustrated, and accompanied by online videos demonstrating it in slow motion and at full speed. Also included are chapters on understanding and conveying your character's pain, and creating and rehearsing your own fight sequence. For those already trained in stage combat, it will serve as a comprehensive reminder of what you have learned, and supplement your ongoing training. For amateur, fringe and student companies, the book offers a thorough understanding of the practicalities of staging a fight, but also helps you to recognise when you may need to call upon the services of a qualified professional. Whatever your current level of experience, Stage Combat: Unarmed is the essential book for directors, actors, students and teachers, or indeed anyone looking to incorporate safe, effective stage fights into their productions.