Question for Actors and Directors alike

Doc Bernard

Doc Bernard

Indie Arms Member
Here's the deal.....

Directors: What would you want your actors to have under their belts for an action film.

Actors: What classes would you want to be present in an Action based workshop?

This will be a 2 week course I am in the process of developing. So far I have:

Weapons and Tactics (most hands on will be with props, but there is a live fire excercise as well, with one-on-one instruction)
Intro to Stunt Driving
Physical fitness
Intro to Military Bearing (How to "look" military)
Safety
Mini-Acting (Action-related) Modules
Stunt Fighting/Bull-dogging
Falls/rolls with and without weapons
Western Gunfighter/Speeddrawing


I have thought about some behind the camera instruction for action film-making........but most actors really aren't interested in that aspect I have found.

The location is locked and quite a number of professional instructors to teach their respective areas have signed on. I just need to flesh out a few areas.

Thought on other courses?
 
Doc, what about 'action in water' above and below the surface, done in a local swimming pool. Plus courses for women.
Also 'how to make an electrical connection safely? :)

Cheers.
 
Hmmm. action in water..... The facility does not have a pool. But intriguing.

This course is for both men and women, nothing in the course seperates them. The way I am looking at doing this is NOT a "Boot Camp", more like advanced training afterwards. It won't be easy, but none of that BS yelling at the "trainees". Just high expectations. No uniforms or anything, just high level professionals training professional actors

LOL, something tells me the Electrical connection thing is something I posted on?
 
Doc Bernard said:
Hmmm. action in water..... The facility does not have a pool. But intriguing.
Click to expand...

I've always thought that field stripping your camera over your head, while treading water, was apropos training for future wedding photographers...

But given the Wife's experience with underwater photography with brides or models in full wedding gowns... waivers on liability should flow like... water... We also had spotters in the water and outside for any problems. Fortunately we never had an mishap.

While 'action underwater' may not involve a soggy wedding dress, I'm sure scuba equipment would be required for practicing 'longer takes'. The way the Wife worked was pretty much 'bobbing' and quiet 'action' to minimize surface ripples... quite the opposite from an 'action scene'.
 
Doc Bernard said:
I have thought about some behind the camera instruction for action film-making........but most actors really aren't interested in that aspect I have found.

The location is locked and quite a number of professional instructors to teach their respective areas have signed on. I just need to flesh out a few areas.

Thought on other courses?
Click to expand...

While I don't discount the need for actors to learn 'bearing' and 'movement'... when I view someone's 'first efforts at hand-to-hand action'... the camera work is pretty lousy... These days I think a 'steadicam' rig is sort of required. If one does in fact does actual handheld work... I think suiting up in a hockey goalie outfit and same for the camera is in order... A while back I was thinking about shooting some of the Society for Creative Anachronism 'battles', and was thinking about how to protect myself from the 'fake' swords, and the like... as the camera operator.

While one may not ever use that 'close in' sort of action... most of the shots from those 'first efforts' look like shots of football from the sidelines... and a fixed position on the sidelines...
 
No doubt. But offering classes for the other side of the camera, right now, is a bit much for me. Is it do-able? yes it is. And we may offer that at a later date. Already know a combat photographer that does vid. This would be a perfect thing for him.

But just the logistics of focusing on actors is a sizeable thing. Plus, I have access to a PR machine that is going to be financially assisting on the first class for actors and helping get the word out.

Normally I like to start with baby steps, and have done numerous training courses for actors already (though on a smaller scale of a weekend). But with most of the aspects already in place and agreeing, this is a logical step for me to take.

Plus there is a lot more I cannot even talk about yet.
 
Doc, thought about putting it all on line, with the usual log in keys? It'd be 'different' but someone will eventually do it, may as well be you mate.

Or maybe a set of DVDs? You can install widgets that stop pirating, not pro hackers, but consumers.

Even though foreign actors would have different rules and regs, imo once you got up and running, many would be interested. Also franchises?

Cheers.
 
dancing. nice way to limber up in a fun way. also clear about what someone can and cant do with their body and how in touch an actor is with their instrument.
 
Hello Doc:

I think I posted this thought already, but mistakenly burned it. Anyway... I shoot a lot of action shots in the wild (woods, forests, mountains, desert, raw beaches, etc.) Getting some actors comfortable with that can take come doing. I find showing them the locale in advance can help a lot. A tutorial that showed some setups and some of the pitfalls (pun unintended) could help.
 
Please teach them the basics of blocking to camera. How to cheat an angle so they can add more space to a punch, how to move just out of shot on a fall instead of caroming into the crew, how to find your light, and not block your co-star's light. I hate working with athletic actors who have no clue about how the camera fits into their action.

Also, teach them some techniques about repeatability. Nothing is better than an action actor who knows which hand he used to pick up the gun on which word of which line of dialog.
 
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