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.

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.

The Art of Broadsword Fighting for Stage and Screen provides historical and contemporary techniques and styles for the safe training and use of the European broadsword in a theatrical setting. This book starts with a brief breakdown of the history of broadswords, the time periods associated with their use, and the influences of historical masters and their manuscripts. After the brief history section, this book presents the basic techniques of broadsword fighting, starting with grip and body postures. Readers will then move fluidly into the basic actions of cuts, parries, blocks, and disarms. During this process, actors explore the connection between body and weapon and start learning the elements of storytelling through choreography. Special attention is given throughout the text on techniques which need to be approached in a physically and/or mentally safe way by directors, choreographers, performers, teachers, and students. The final chapter focuses on choreographing a fight and utilizing all the material previously covered in this book, with special notes for actors, directors, and teachers about what makes a good fight, how to keep it safe, and how to create the "wow factor" in choreography. The Art of Broadsword Fighting for Stage and Screen is intended for directors, choreographers, actors, students of acting, martial artists, and enthusiasts of stage combat and historical martial arts.

Authored by professional fight director J. Allen Suddeth, all the aspects of brawn, brawl, and broadswords are covered.

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.

The Art of Knife Fighting for Stage and Screen: An Actor’s and Director’s Guide to Staged Violence provides detailed information for the safe use of knives and daggers in a theatrical setting and an in-depth understanding of safe theatrical weapons. The book starts with an extensive safety review, then moves on to the basic techniques of dagger fighting, starting with grip and body postures. Readers will then learn about the basic actions of cuts, parries, blocks, and disarms. During this process, they will explore the connection between body and weapon and start learning the elements of storytelling through choreography. Special attention is given to suicides, threats, and murder and how directors, choreographers, performers, teachers, and students can approach these techniques in a way that is physically and mentally safe. The book also covers the use of throwing knives, knife flips, and other tricks to help add a little flair to your fight. The Art of Knife Fighting for Stage and Screen teaches the safe theatrical use of the knife for directors, performers, educators, and students of stage combat.

PREFACE By enrolling in this self-study course, you have demonstrated a desire to improve yourself and the Navy. Remember, however, this self-study course is only one part of the total Navy training program. Practical experience, schools, selected reading, and your desire to succeed are also necessary to successfully round out a fully meaningful training program. COURSE OVERVIEW: In completing this nonresident training course, you will demonstrate a knowledge of the subject matter by correctly answering questions on the following: History and Organization of the Seabees and Laws of War; Special Clothing and Equipment; Service Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship; Combat Maneuvers, Formations, Patrols, and Ambushes; Land Navigation; Evasion, Survival, and Escape; Individual Protective Measures; Entanglements; Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) Defense; First Aid and Field Sanitation; Grenades, Land Mines, and Booby Traps; Organic Support Weapons: M203 and Machine Guns; and Organic Support Weapons: 60-mm Mortar and AT4. THE COURSE: This self-study course is organized into subject matter areas, each containing learning objectives to help you determine what you should learn along with text and illustrations to help you understand the information. The subject matter reflects day-to-day requirements and experiences of personnel in the rating or skill area. It also reflects guidance provided by Enlisted Community Managers (ECMs) and other senior personnel, technical references, instructions, etc., and either the occupational or naval standards, which are listed in the Manual of Navy Enlisted Manpower Personnel Classifications and Occupational Standards, NAVPERS 18068. THE QUESTIONS: The questions that appear in this course are designed to help you understand the material in the text. VALUE: In completing this course, you will improve your military and professional knowledge. Importantly, it can also help you study for the Navy-wide advancement in rate examination. If you are studying and discover a reference in the text to another publication for further information, look it up. CONTENTS – Volume 1: CHAPTER PAGE 1. History and Organization of the Seabees and Laws of War 1-1 2. Special Clothing and Equipment 2-1 3. Service Rifle and Pistol and Marksmanship 3-1 4. Combat Maneuvers, Formations, Patrols, and Ambushes 4-1 5. Land Navigation 5-1 6. Evasion, Survival, Escape 6-1 7. Individual Protective Measures 7-1 8. Entanglements 8-1 9. Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) Defense 9-1 10. First Aid and Field Sanitation 10-1 11. Organic Communications Equipment 11-1 12. Hand Grenades, Land Mines, and Booby Traps 12-1 13. Organic Support Weapons: M203 and Machine Guns 13-1 14. Organic Support Weapons: 60-mm Mortar and AT4 14-1 APPENDIX I. Glossary of Common Military Terms AI-1 II. References used to develop the TRAMAN AII-l INDEX INDEX-l CONTENTS – Volume 2: CHAPTER PAGE 1. Organization and Operation of the Combat Operations Center 1-1 2. Organization and Operation of the Company Command Post 2-1 3. Setup and Control of Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) 3-1 4. Planning and Development of Defense Tactics 4-1 5. Counter Ambush Techniques 5-1 6. CBR Decontamination 6-1 APPENDIX I. Glossary of Common Military Terms AI-1 II. Overlay Techniques AII-1 III. Characteristics of TOA Weapons for an NMCB AIII-1 IV. Decontaminants AIV-1 V. Decontamination of Specific Items AV-1 VI. Work/Rest Table AVI-1 VII. Acronyms AVII-1 VIII. References Used to Develop This TRAMAN AVIII-1 INDEX INDEX-1

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.