Hi,

we had 2 fight scenes in our 30 minute comedy that we shot over 2 years (the fact that it's only 70% edited because the editor couldn't be f..., sorry I've calmed down). Where was I? Oh yes the fight scenes.

We had a dream sequence that involves a guy running up a marble staircase chasing after the guy who has stolen his girlfriend. Anyway they both have swords and they fight on the stairs. After much editing and messing about with the music we got it looking pretty good. We might have added the sound effects if the editor had stuck around long enough to...sorry I digress. Okay here are the lessons we learned for this scene:

1. You can always use Latex swords - quite nice looking replicas can be bought for around ?30 each.

2. Script out the fight scene in detail. For example our original screenplay would have described the fight as such...

"Sir Flurry bounds up the steps and engages the evil Baron. The Baron parries and thrusts, driving Sir Flurry back down the steps. Blah, blah, blah."

We learned to our cost that this just isn't good enough. You have to write down each action as an action line. For example...

"Sir Flurry runs up the steps.

The Baron jumps down to meet him.

Their swords CLASH.

Sir Flurry swings at the Baron.

The Baron parries etc.."

Even this wasn't good enough...we found that our fight scene was too short so we had to do some clever editing to extend the fight using different angle shots of the same actions. Our director of that scene extended the fight by 10-20 secs and that's a lot. Therefore remember to script a lot of pages for the fighting. Also if you've got your music decided before hand, then make sure the number of script pages matches the length of the music. It's easier to edit images than a completed music track (well if you're amateurs "like wot I is").

3. Our editor let us down badly and that really pi... sorry off topic again. Um I think that's it. Of course try and do some rehearsals - very important for allowing the actors to generate their own ideas, which usually enhance the fight and brings it to life.

Good luck with the sound effects, we never got that far because someone let us down badly, not that I'm bitter about it or go on about it *continues muttering to himself long into the holidays*

regards

Ray

serious about nothin' 'cept film

Thanks Ray,
We only need to find horses for free.... perhaps we could try coconuts.... hehehe

Thanks again.
Mike