Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Fight Master Magazine The Society of American Fight Directors Fall 1992 The Fight Master, Fall 1992, Vol. 15 Issue 2 The Society of American Fight Directors Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/fight Part of the Acting Commons, Other Theatre and Performance Studies Commons, Performance Studies Commons, and the Theatre History Commons ~r-~1lv r, \ c~ ~ -"-_/ JOURNAL 0o FF TTHE H E SOCIETY 0o FF AMERICAN FFIG I G HT H T DIRECTORS FAF ALL L L 1 9929 9 2 VOLUME XV NUMBER 2 The \ /@yi&I>,_ :ii, -~' :@ ight ···•.. a ,,,.... ·•.· ... ).·. .,.·.·.;..) ...•.:.. ... ·.·.•.···....... ····.·•....-., .... ··...··.. •.. ·• .. ·-~,~;/-· isis a publication ofof the Society of American FightFight Directors,Directors, a national non-profit organizationorganization dedicated to the art of stagestage combat.combat. This journal printed entirely on recycled paper. ~rq,lette Tired of Plain, Boring, Period (\Ollll,ICtition SWOl<DS&SWOl{OS& DAGGARS? Jrn,a Well, we here at good old LUNDEGAARDLUNDEGAARDARMOURY ARMOURY ** ~quipmetttfnr~quipntent fur 4';!!::' ).' are too, skowe now l 'j:_' ~'t ma e our own fq£tq£ ~pnrl nf nfJtf Jtfmcittgtttcing ~'j. .' .~;;.. • Rapiers, Daggers & Long :\,~ .f1l Swords with unique Triplette Competition Arms '" (some say deranged ...) 162 West Pine Street '\ ~ hilt-work and combat- Mount Airy, NC 27030 " worthy blades. See for ~ ~ yourself by sending Free Catalog . $1.50 for a catalog to: . 919-786-52194 Lundegaard AnnouryArmoury P.O. BoxBox287 287 1 I Crompond, N.Y. 10517 If you would like to receive our newsletter, FortesFort~s &.& Foibles, for 12 months, please send $6 to: MASCS 472412th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407 David "Pops" "Pops· Doersch Jim "Stubby""Stubby· Chlebecek Joe Manussier Erin P. Kenny "Fightin' Minnesota Style!" ••. Year-round classes and workshops in •.• Large private studio with fully all SAFD SAFDand and many non-SAFD non-SAFDstyles. styles. stocked armoury ••. Conservatory atmosphere provides •.• Reasonable pricing structure classes for students of all levels, levels. from ••. Private study available beginners to highly advanced •.• Discounts for group rates ••. At least four Actor/Combatant Tests per year ••. Inexpensive housing available ~ Fight masters teaching master classes four-to-five times per year FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 612-823-8028 vVOL. o L. xvX V No. NO. 2 Contents FALLFA LL 11992 9 9 2 The 17 31 LOOKING BACK: THE FIGHT DIRECTOR THE SAFD FIGHT TEST As DESIGNER BY J. ALLENALLENSUDDETH SUDDETH BYBYDEBBIESAIVETZ DEBBIE SAIVETZ This final installment in our year-long celebration of the This excerpt from an interview with David Leong regarding SAFD's 15th anniversary examines how that venerable his long association with acclaimed director JoAnne Akalaitis institution, the SAFD fight test, got its start in July of 1979. sheds some light on how he approaches fight direction, both Written by the man whose students were the very first to be practically and philosophically, as a member of the design team. tested by the SAFD. DEPARTMENTS 10 FALLING 7 FROM fROM THE PRESIDENT-BY J. ALLEN SUDDETH FOR LIVE THEATRE The president's "State of the SAFD" report. BYBYLINWOODHARCUM LINWOOD HARCUM "Flinging one's self from a building takes a special kind of 9 THE NSCW REPORT person," writes Linwood Harcum. No duh! Nonetheless, he A look at the record-breaking 1992 National Stage makes a high fall seem both sane and sensible through this Combat Workshop held in Las Vegas this summer. careful account of the training, planning and special considerations that go into this exacting, exciting theatrical skill. Come and experience, vicariously, "the magic of offlying." flying." 13 SPOTLIGHT-BY DAVID '"Pops• "POPS" DOERSCH A profile of the SAFD founder, David Boushey. 14 37 NUTS AND BOLTS-BY DENNIS GRAVES Welded tangs: safe or not? Here's the straight story from THE FIGHT CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN: someone who knows. The answers may surprise you. UNSUNG HERO BYBYRICHARDRAETHER RICHARD RAETHER 40 FILM FIGHTS-BY MARGARET RAETHER The fight captain is the one responsible for holding the fights The focus is on boxing movies-one of Hollywood's together, watching out for everyone's safety, and maintaining favorite genres. Movies that take their best shot, don't the weapons for the run of the show. Here's a primer on what pull any punches, and go the distance. to do and what to expect if you are the one stuck with this no­ no- glory, little-or-no-money, lots-of-responsibility job. 43 THE SAFD GLOSSARY OF TERMS What is a prise de fer anyway? Here are the answers. 16 48 PUT To THE TEST "A THOROUGHLY NICE Guy" GUY" Results of SAFD certification fight tests from around the AND THE BEST OF VILLAINS country. And the winners are ... BYBYELIZABETHSHIPLEY ELIZABETH SHIPLEY Basil Rathbone is best remembered by a series of definitive MISCELLANY villains in some of Hollywood's best films. On screen, he crossed swords with Errol Flynn, Leslie Howard, John Barrymore, Tyrone Power, and Danny Kaye, just to name a 4 EDITORIALLY SPEAKING few. Off screen, he grew increasingly weary of tinsel town type­ type- casting. Here is a loving tribute to a memorable actor and the silver screen's best fencer on the centennial of his birth. : ~::::·THE COVER ._:,:_:_=,.-,:_:,:_·_:_.:_"~~y;,\\: l:Jfi1J::,,_::t- ...•.i;J ...: .... : . '.:.,_:.·ft-_l_,i_::. 46 DIRECTORY .;: ... :•· :: l~f :::::. :-:• lre~ FightF~ighJt: MasterM,olster EDITORIAL STAFF FIGHT TESTS ARE Editor FASCINATING ... Margaret Raether --------------------------F~~~~j~E}f-rN-~~.~- ---- - ------- -----------------------------~-------- Associate Editor THAT'S EASY TO SAY Richard Raether -------------------------------------- Contributing Writers WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN Elizabeth Shipley, J. Allen -------------------------------------- Suddeth, David "Pops'"Pops" Doersch, DebbieSaivetz,Debbie Saivetz, Richard Raether, FRONT, WATCHING. LinwoodHarcum,Linwood Harcum, Dennis Graves It's a different experience when you are Layout & Design Margaret Raether about to take the test and can't call to about to take the test and can't call to CoverCO'(er Design MARGARET RAETHER mind more than the first two moves. Margaret Raether EDITOR Continuing our look back over the Special thanksthan ks to THE FIGHT MASTER past 15 years in the SAFD, J. Allen Suddeth writes about the beginnings of CAIN £:g COMPANY the fight test. He should know; his students were the first ones to ever test SAFD OFFICERS under the auspices of a fledgling SAFD. President Speaking of fight tests, this issue J. Allen Suddeth also contains an account of the summer's Vice-President record-breaking NSCW, plus an account Drew Fracher of test results there and across the U.S. Secretary and TreaslrerTreasurer in "Put to the Test." Richard Raether And speaking of SAFD history, the Workshop Coordinator spotlight in this issue is on-could only David S. Leong be on-founder David Boushey, who BOARD OF DIRECTORS was once skeptical as to whether the Chainnan group would holdho] d together even one year. Jeffrey Koep Besides the 15th anniversary of the Members of the Board SAFD, 1992 also marks the centennial Kim Zimmer, Robert L. Hobbs, of Basil Rathbone's birth. Elizabeth J. Allen Suddeth Shipley's delightful tribute to the screen's HONORARY MEMBERS best villain (and best fencer) salutes this memorable actor. RodColbinRod Colbin CkttingGetting the job done and done right Patrick Crean, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is the subject of two diverse articles in Richard Gradkowski this issue. The first article is a primer on Stewart Granger how to handle the job of fight captain. Dale Kirby The second article delineates how Fight Submissions to the Fight Master Master David Leong approaches his work should be sent to: as a fight director. 1834 Camp Avenue And last, but far from least, stunt Rockford, IlIL 61103 coordinator Linwood Harcum writes in Submitted material may be edited detail on how fall from tall buildings forfor clarity and length. and live to tell the tale. ~,,\tritillt It has been a memorable 15th year ~ ~- for the SAFD. Here's looking forward to ~ ~ .~ ~ llienext~~fuenext~~ 1 ~. ~ s-t"i ~ ~~ THE FIGHT MASTER MASTER. • FALL 1992 4 R E A D E R R E S P O N S E----------------- LETTERSLETTERS REFERRALSREFERRALS squeeze these additions into the next edition, I'd be grateful. II WOULD WOULD LIKE LIKE TO TO THANK THANK THE Fight Master edition, I'd be grateful. a wonderful band of SAFDSAFD for for recommending recommending me to a You are a wonderful band of fighters in the SAFD and it makes theatrein in Texas Texas that that was looking looking fighters in the SAFD and it makes theatre to be an honorary forfor a a fight fight director. director. They They contacted me very happy to be an honorary member of the Society. me,me, and and although although it it didn't didn't work out member of the Society. Very best wishes-and thanks becausebecause of of my new location location I was Very best wishes-and thanks surprisedsurprised and and excited excited to to be 'consid­ 'consid- again. Paddy Crean ered.ered. I I am very impressed impressed with and Stratford, Ontario pleasedpleased to be a member of the SAFD. Ferrell Barron THREE CHEERS FOR THE NSCW Los Angeles, GA Los Angeles, CA THE WORKSHOP WORKSHOPWASMORETHAN WAS MORE THAN W<reW<repleased pleased that you're pleased, but anything I could have dreamed of. I aa little lLttle clarification is in order here. an_iafl.!still still trying to assimilate every-every­ Ernest as an actor and an actor/ thmgthIng I learned and everything that Anyone interested in a list of SAFD combatant, buthe will be the first combatant, but happened. I feel like something inside members in a specific geographic to tell you he'snot a fight choreo­ choreo- to tell you he's of me has been awakened, and I are!1are~ may call the SAFD secretary.