Tips on Choreographing and Filming Action Sequences for Your Next Awesome Indie Project. Chapter 3-t
Based on my experience as an action actor and choreographer from my recent collaborative experience with Steven Michael, a creator of a sci-fi action drama The Omega, I am happy to give you this last chapter of my blog trilogy on Choreographing and Filming Action Sequences for Your Next Awesome Indie Project.
Tip #1: Choreographer: Encourage your actors to share their ideas. Some of those ideas will be crazy, but some of them can actually be spot on. It also keeps your actors engaged. When nobody gets paid to be on set for 12-14 hours, it is really helpful to keep your actors involved and excited. Otherwise, the energy will die, and when it is time to film, your fighters look like punching bags with no energy left in them. Be proactive. Director: Introduce your action choreographer and make it very clear that he is the one in charge of coaching and choreographing. There is sometimes a little bit of chaos going on when working with inexperienced actors. Some of them will even start training other actors how to do this or that. Actor: Take care of your own choreography and do not try to be very helpful by teaching other actors how to be an action hero. Just because you heard a choreographer saying certain things about movement and choreography does not mean you can teach it to someone else. Teaching movement takes years of experience and a lot of special knowledge, so let your choreographer take care of that. Plus, not all actors enjoy being taught by a fellow actor. Trust me :)
Tip #2: Director: It never hurts to ask your choreographer if this or that actor is suitable for the part that requires fighting. No matter how much you might like his/her look, it is crucial to hire someone with at least some skills to move. We had an actor who was cast as one of the main characters that could not lift his leg higher then his knee level. However, he kept saying to me that my choreography was "easy", and that he just finished filming an action film with some "really cool ninja guys". Good for him. Steven asked me if he was real. I said no. Steven was smart enough to recast this ninja associate. To spot a mover is a skill. To spot an actor who can move and is willing to work hard and to learn is even a harder skill. That's why the director and choreographer need to share as much information as possible during the casting sessions.
Tip #3: COLLABORATE!!!! Yes, that's all I can say. Whatever your part in this production is make sure you listen, learn, offer, and execute. Be a real ninja!
P.S I hope you have learned something about the mystery of action film-making. Although, I have to add that only people that you surround you with during any project will truly determine the quality of your project. Hopefully, your team is as awesome as The Omega Team. Good luck with your endeavor and feel free to contact me with any questions about anything you see on my blog or website.
