Stage Combat Masterclass - 'Hollywood Swashbuckling'
Thu, 7 June 2007, 12:15 pmLabrug12 posts in thread
Stage Combat Masterclass - 'Hollywood Swashbuckling'
Thu, 7 June 2007, 12:15 pmEver wanted to do those flashy swords fights of classic cinema? Even recreate some of those fantastic sequences from mives like The Court Jester, and The Princess Bride? Was Errol Flynn a role model for you?
Well, those of you who said yes to any of these, you missed out. I attended and had a ball. Andy Fraser, Perth's only Registered Stage Combat Trainer of any importance hosted a wonderful two hour session on flashy (if a little unreal) sword combat.
Early film combat sequences as anyone in the industry will tell you, had more focus on flash and dash then realism or potential threat. With strong influences from the established sport of Fencing, many movies the standard straight line, to and fro combat sequences that are so associated with 'Swashbuckling' today. It is nothing like the grunt and sweat, blood and tears style of stage combat you see on most modern day films, and yet there is something so very dashing and wonderful about it. The tinging of the swords, the fancy foot work and the way the fighters would seem to glid around their battle fields, all-be-it back and forth along a straight line.
How would you expect to learn in two hours? Not a lot one would think. This is not so. Within the two hours, Andy was able to instruct us in severl fancy techniques as well as explain the theorised origins for the term 'Swashbuckling'.
Most of all it was fun. Next month, it's historical sword fighting and I plan to be there again.
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ANDY FRASER is a fully certified Fight Director and Stage Combat Instructor who has been living and working in Perth since 2001. He holds accreditation from both the Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. (SAFDI), the British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC) and he serves as the SAFDI’s West Australian Representative.
Andy has choreographed fights for many companies in Perth including Black Swan Theatre Company (The Crucible, The Carnivores, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, Zastrozzi); Deckchair Theatre (Love, Prayer To An Iron God); Shakespeare In The Park (The Comedy Of Errors, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet); Happy Dagger Theatre (Oleanna); Perth Theatre Company (Hamlet, Talk About The Passion); Barking Gecko (Trains Of Thought); West Australian Opera (Carmen, Don Giovanni). Screen credits include Teesh & Trude, The Shark Net, and Lockie Leonard.
Andy also regularly teaches Stage Combat at institutions including WAAPA, Australian Opera Studio and Total Theatre Training. (Taken from the Black Swan Web Site)
Ever wanted to do those flashy swords fights of classic cinema? Even recreate some of those fantastic sequences from mives like The Court Jester, and The Princess Bride? Was Errol Flynn a role model for you?
Well, those of you who said yes to any of these, you missed out. I attended and had a ball. Andy Fraser, Perth's only Registered Stage Combat Trainer of any importance hosted a wonderful two hour session on flashy (if a little unreal) sword combat.
Early film combat sequences as anyone in the industry will tell you, had more focus on flash and dash then realism or potential threat. With strong influences from the established sport of Fencing, many movies the standard straight line, to and fro combat sequences that are so associated with 'Swashbuckling' today. It is nothing like the grunt and sweat, blood and tears style of stage combat you see on most modern day films, and yet there is something so very dashing and wonderful about it. The tinging of the swords, the fancy foot work and the way the fighters would seem to glid around their battle fields, all-be-it back and forth along a straight line.
How would you expect to learn in two hours? Not a lot one would think. This is not so. Within the two hours, Andy was able to instruct us in severl fancy techniques as well as explain the theorised origins for the term 'Swashbuckling'.
Most of all it was fun. Next month, it's historical sword fighting and I plan to be there again.
------
ANDY FRASER is a fully certified Fight Director and Stage Combat Instructor who has been living and working in Perth since 2001. He holds accreditation from both the Society of Australian Fight Directors Inc. (SAFDI), the British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC) and he serves as the SAFDI’s West Australian Representative.
Andy has choreographed fights for many companies in Perth including Black Swan Theatre Company (The Crucible, The Carnivores, Accidental Death Of An Anarchist, Zastrozzi); Deckchair Theatre (Love, Prayer To An Iron God); Shakespeare In The Park (The Comedy Of Errors, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet); Happy Dagger Theatre (Oleanna); Perth Theatre Company (Hamlet, Talk About The Passion); Barking Gecko (Trains Of Thought); West Australian Opera (Carmen, Don Giovanni). Screen credits include Teesh & Trude, The Shark Net, and Lockie Leonard.
Andy also regularly teaches Stage Combat at institutions including WAAPA, Australian Opera Studio and Total Theatre Training. (Taken from the Black Swan Web Site)
What's the e-mail address
Andy is a Registered Member
Look here http://www.theatre.asn.au/member/andy_fraser
And the email address I think is correct as you stated. Good memory.
Absit invidia
Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Honesty is such a lonely word
Just being truthful. While I believe I am competent and quite skilled as a combat choreographer, I am not registered with any agency such as Andy is. Mind you, there is no legal requirement to BE registered as such in Australia ... (it helps)
Also, Andy has been doing it far longer than me. ;-) I would consider myself 'second best'.
(I'll just shove my Brag doll back in its box now :LOL:)
Absit invidia
Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
Was Errol Flynn a role model for you?
They would be awesome
Errol was great
but not as much a role model for as the Dread Priate Roberts in The Princess Bride!
Swashing a buckle. Well, early swordsmen carried a small, hand-held shield called a buckle. Young gentlemen would make a habit of calling out their opponents by hitting the hilt of the sword against the buckling known as swashing your buckle.
Additionally, some men would adopt a swagger in their walk. As they would holster both their sword and buckle on the same side hip, this swagger would result in the sword knocking against the buckle, or swash-buckling.
Absit invidia
Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
Fishing
Drop Andy a line and find out more. The next session - 4th July. See you there. ;-)
Absit invidia
Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
Perth is a little far away
Good point
However, Andy is registered with a nation wide organisation and I am sure he put you in contact with others closer to home.
Absit invidia
Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director
Ah, now that is a different