{"id":3083,"date":"2011-02-07T21:42:29","date_gmt":"2011-02-08T02:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.playfighting.ca\/?p=3083"},"modified":"2012-02-16T08:56:50","modified_gmt":"2012-02-16T08:56:50","slug":"dueling-practice-at-the-bag-encore-squamish-chief-squamish-bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/playfighting.ca\/combat\/stage-combat-2\/dueling-practice-at-the-bag-encore-squamish-chief-squamish-bc\/","title":{"rendered":"Dueling practice at the BAG | Encore | Squamish Chief, Squamish, BC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s an excerpt from a write-up on my recent work in Squamish on the Princess Bride they’re mounting there:<\/p>\n

Dueling practice at the BAG | Encore | Squamish Chief, Squamish, BC<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sword fighting needed to look good because it\u2019s such an essential component of the production,\u201d said Fuhre, \u201cAnd of course we need make sure the actors are safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

David McCormick, the stage combat instructor for Vancouver-based Academy Duello, came for an eight-hour session with seven Princess Bride actors to teach them swordplay techniques, footwork and to choreograph all the sword-fighting scenes.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He also choreographed the scene when Westley strangles Fezzik the giant.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

McCormick said after eight hours the actors did well, but the more fight combat training people have, the better.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFight choreography is generally done with people who have some experience,\u201d said McCormick. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy to take people who have never picked up a sword before and take them from zero to performance ready in a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For those who wonder how one can take actors who have never held a sword to performing choreography on the level of Princess Bride, here’s a few hints:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Rolling 5’s, “Baronial Hall” (rolling 4’s), and Churchbells (1-2) are simple to learn and generally look dynamic to the audience<\/li>\n
  2. The Canadian Shuffle (4-2-3-7, repeat) is an excellent way to move actors across the floor<\/li>\n
  3. This may sound harsh, but really examine the Princess Bride… it’s a Basic Actor-Combatant level fight. Apart from the acrobatics, any Basic can perform it<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The hardest part? The two main actors had to learn everything twice to have sequences with left and right hands. What a day!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Here’s an excerpt from a write-up on my recent work in Squamish on the Princess Bride they’re mounting there: Dueling practice at the BAG | Encore | Squamish Chief, Squamish, BC. \u201cThe sword fighting needed to look good because it\u2019s such an essential component of the production,\u201d said Fuhre, \u201cAnd of course we need make […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-3083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stage-combat-2","tag-stage-combat-3"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t