Friday, June 12th

 

Fight Science (8-9:30 PM)
Mark Guinn & Jake Guinn
This lecture class is an overview of the development of Unarmed combat in the Society of American Fight Directors. We will discuss and display the evolution of techniques and how we have arrived at where we are today. 

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Saturday, June 13th

 

Warmup  / announcements    (10:30 - 11 AM)
Led by Alli Green
A quick energetic start to the day including some simple bodyweight exercises that can be scaled up or down depending on your comfort and experience.

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Session 1  (11 AM - 12:30 PM)

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• Geometry of Unarmed
  k. Jenny Jones
  Learn the Magic! Unarmed techniques for thrust and in the round staging plus setting up open proscenium attacks. Translate conceptual 2D understanding to 3D practice in your own space and kinesphere.
   

• Foundations of historical african martial arts  
  Da'Mon Stith
  This experiential class will introduce you to the foundational principles of training and the traditional weapons of Ancient and Medieval Africa. Through a variety of drills designed to refine your footwork, offensive striking and defensive evasions; you’ll lay the groundwork for training strength, agility and balance. Expand your awareness and knowledge base in body and mind as you begin...or continue your study of the Historical African Martial Arts. 
  *Note: While not required, your experience may be enhanced if you are able to collect a few training weapons or appropriate facsimile. The following items are recommended.
  - Short Staff (4' t0 5' in length, broomstick, PVC pipe, stick from outside)
  - Sword (approx. 3' in length, polymer, aluminum or steel training weapon - NOT SHARP, escrima stick)
  - Machete (approx. 2' in length, polymer, aluminum or steel training weapon - NOT SHARP, long handled kitchen spoon)
  - Shield (optional, but potentially informative, large pot lid, square or circular cardboard 12-16" across with affixed handle)

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Session 2  (1 - 2:30 PM)

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• Developing a Personal Practice Form 
  Dale Girard
  In martial arts the kataor poomse (Kata is Japanese for “form” and poomse Korean for “pattern”) are a number of detailed choreographed drills which studentspractice alone, in groups and in unison when training. This class focuses on the development of a form, like a kata or poomse, for personal practice.
   

• #GetYourOwnClass
  Mark "Rat" Guinn
  This class is an opportunity to investigate your call to teaching and to consider best practices for aiding others in development. To choose the path of the instructor is to assume a responsibility to listen, observe, guide, and ultimately consider your voice in the room. Whether you're beginning your teaching journey or invested in continuing to grow with your students; this class should present you with questions to ask yourself and methods to consider.
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Session 3  (3 - 4:30 PM)

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• the red nose marks the spot - exploring the comedy fight   toolkit
  Enric Ortuño and Yarit Dor
  Join us for a class of fight & fun where we will explore some basic tools to enhance comedy performance and fight choreography. The class will include fundamental vocabulary and practical exercises as well as demonstrations and analysis of visual material in order to build up a preliminary toolkit for comedy fights.

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• Handgun Competency for Performers
  Kevin Inouye
  This will be a combined literacy/practice class focused on performer-specific information and skills for handguns. Actor 'business', safety, tactical considerations, grip, stance, reloads, draws, controls, and more will be covered, as well as a basic 'kata' for solo at-home practice. Please have something you can use as a practice gun: Either have an airsoft gun, blank gun, or other training replica, or if you have more time than money right now, A template for making a cardboard version with extra boxes and some glue or tape will be provided, but that will require some advance planning. Come with questions! Anything you've wondered about for film or theatrical firearms is fair game.
  *Note: For video instructions to create your own cardboard training replica, please visit the following link: 
  https://youtu.be/M0lPwlQYv9o
   **UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you use an actual firearm for this class.

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Session  4  (5 - 6:30 PM)

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• Fight Coordinating for Film & TV
  Michael Lehr
  We've all heard of the stunt coordinator, but how does that differ from the role of the fight coordinator? This open discussion and Q&A with seasoned stunt performer and Fight Coordinator from the recent Netflix release, Extraction; will help to clarify the role through all phases of production and highlight collaborations with actors, camera team, and the rest of the stunt crew.
   

• Time: We Have More than we Think
  Scottie Witt
  This class is dedicated to exploring time. What is time?  How do we manipulate it to our advantage even at operational tempo? You will need an open space, large enough to be able to move with a sword near a wall.  You’ll be provided with a basic image which you’ll be able to copy and draw on to larger piece of butchers paper or similar. You’ll need to be able to put it up on a wall in order to cut and thrust towards it. Not to worry: you won’t be hitting your wall. Students should know basic cuts and parries with a sword.
  *Note: Students will need the following: 1. A simple sword such as a small sword or basic theatrical sabre. You may also use a ruler, stick or long kitchen spoon - something light.  2. A bouncy ball.  3. A table or other hard surface on which to bounce said ball. 4. Please view the attached file and plan to recreate in some way a similar diagram on your wall. (Masking tape, painter's tape, string and scotch tape, or otherwise affixed enlarged printouts of the target indicators). Any facsimile for indicating approximate head, arm and leg targets on a human sized scale will do.

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Cooldown (6:30 - 7 PM)
Led by Joz Vammer
An opportunity to decompress after moving or sitting all day with a quick stretch and a short yogic flow. A bit of closure for your training time.

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Sunday, June 14th

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Warmup / Announcements    (10:30 - 11 AM)
Led by Alli Green

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Session 1 (11 AM - 12:30 PM)

 

• Solo Knife Drills for Practice @ Home
  Jake Guinn
  This active class will get you on your feet and give you a series of practice drills to help with your knife work! We'll focus on good form and developing fast hands in these fun exercises.
  *Note: Students will need a dull training knife and a suitable space for movement.
   

• To the Pain!
  Roger Bartlett
  A sharing of techniques and ideas you can use to make your character’s pain and injuries more believable and interesting for the audience. This is a lecture and discussion. You will not need anything except your computer/tablet/device and maybe some means of taking notes. I may invite you to share your own efforts or ideas.

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Session 2  (1 - 2:30 PM)

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• Cue & Reaction: Simplifying the Equation
  Rob Aronowitz & Jason Paul Tate
  Join Neutral Chaos Co-Founders in an investigation of their prioritized approach to stage combat. Learn to manipulate cues throughout the body for different levels of focus and explore a layered-isolation approach to improving reactions. Emphasizing the role of the victim is key to our aesthetic and provides excellent opportunity for self-improvement outside of partnered exercise.
   

• Dissecting Dialogue & Action
  Sam Kahn
  This class will focus on the task of linking lines to the fight without making it obvious. A necessary skill for both actors and fight directors; participants to this class will need to download the following 5 scripts, accessible via Google Drive, to refer to throughout class. 

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Session 3  (3 - 4:30 PM)

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• Get out of Your Head & into Your Body
  Ashley White
  Overthinking every move you make on stage? Don't know what to do with your hands? Get out of your head and into your body! Join award-winning intimacy & fight director and Artistic Director of  Dallas' Imprint Theatre Company  as she guides you through her approach to making and motivating physical choices. Exercises will help actors/combatants/directors of all kinds to play with the absence of  tension and develop an increased emotional awareness; all in service of a broader range of motivated physical expression. 
   

• A Double Take
  Jess Durham
  This class is your guided tour to the ins, outs, ups and downs of working as a female stunt double in today’s film industry. From contract to execution, the job can and will include a wild variety of responsibilities. We’ll tackle as many as we can; taking time to understand the difference between doubling and other (ND) nondescript stunt roles. You'll also be provided with first-hand insight into the experience of doubling the same actor on multiple projects, multiple actors on the same project, or a new actor for the very first time.
   

Session  4  (5 - 6:30 PM)

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• Live Stunt Performance: Balancing Risk with Consistency 
  Multiple Instructors
  This panel discussion and Q&A will dive into the challenges of training for and performing in live stunt shows. Many of our talented staff have performed, choreographed and coordinated for these hybrid entertainment experiences that blend the precision work of "high-risk" stunts with the endurance and consistency of performing multiple times a day or week.

 

Cooldown (6:30 - 7 PM)
Led by Joz Vammer

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