I meet a lot of filmmakers who want to make action movies and in particular put fight scenes in their film. Fight scenes are an inexpensive way to show off some intense action, if done correctly. I will address a few things in this article to help you get the desired results you want for your film.
In The Beginning...
To start off, treat your fight scene like you treat your whole movie. Your movie has a story and style, so should your fight scene. Decide what type of fight this is going to be. Why are they fighting? What are the personalities of the characters who are fighting? Do they know martial arts or not? What is the goal of each character in the fight? These questions should get you started in making the fight sequence and help you determine what should happen during the fight.
Once you get that together, you’ll begin the physical portion of making a fight. One common thing I see in fights are really slow moving fights with really good technical form. (Martial artists, this is for you.) This happens because you are missing two other parts of the equation of the fight, that’s rhythm and purpose. As a martial artist, we get stuck in technical soundness to appease our brothers in martial arts and forget a movie is to also entertain. Remember, this not a technical demo, but a fight scene with a purpose within the story. It’s ok to make it technically sound, but keep it entertaining.
Purpose for the fight
Next is purpose. Each movement should have an action and reaction. For every punch or kick thrown, there should be a reaction to that punch or kick. Pay attention to see if there are any spaces in between your fight combinations to keep continuous action flowing. If you notice a space, fill it with an action that makes sense from the last action’s movement. If space makes sense or adds dramatic effect in between fight segments, keep it. Do what feels right for the fight.
Move to a Rhythm
Then comes rhythm. Rhythm helps your timing of each movement to prevent painful mistakes that may come in making fights. Begin to look at your fight like a dance and your movements should move to a beat. Once you understand your timing, it usually helps your muscles remember your moves. A helpful hint is to practice to a song with the rhythm you want your fight to move to.
In the End...
To wrap this all together comes performance. What I see in a lot in indie films is the acting stops once the fight starts. The actors do the movements, but don’t act out the pain of the hits being taken. Here’s the truth about fights on film, your fight will look as good as whoever gets beat up the best. If someone throws an awesome kick and the person receiving the kick barely moves, the fight looks fake and tame. The person receiving the kick has to sell the kick to make it look like it has power. And finally practice, Practice, PRACTICE! To get the movements in your muscles’ memory. On film day your crew will thanks you. Trust me.
I hope I gave you some insight on making your next fight scene. Sunday, June 18th, I will be giving a lecture on fights and stunts at the Horror Hotel Film Festival in Hudson, Ohio. Hope to see you there, because I will be giving you even more information. Leave your comments below and share some of your experiences.