Swashbuckling: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art of Stage Combat and Theatrical Swordplay - Revised and Updated Editi (Limelight) Review

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(More customer reviews)"SWASHBUCKLING" is a well thought out, easy to understand book (lots of clear, step-by-step pictures help). Anyone interested in theatrically-oriented swordplay should buy a copy. As the author of "The Art and Science of Fencing," "The Inner Game of Fencing," "The Encyclopedia of the Sword;" and the editor-in-chief of "Fencers Quarterly Magazine," I recommend this book.

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Product Description:
The ultimate guide to stage fighting technique and basic swordplay, this book covers everything an actor must do to give a dynamic and convincing performance as a stage combatant.

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Creating a Character: A Physical Approach to Acting (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)Once the voice has done its job, how does the body go on from there?How can we make our characters as real as we can?Every actor asks these questions of themself, but there's one question that Yakim asks about every character--Who are they?Boiled down?In two words, even?This book defines the different types of characters as basic archetypes, or "selves":The Vulnerable Self, The Trusting Self, The Instinctive Self.It then goes on to list ways of developing these Selves from a purely physical standpoint.
I have only used parts of this book in developing some of my characters, and already, I feel more confident about my presence on stage.I believe myself now, and that's the hardest audience to convince.

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For over 20 years, Moni Yakim has taught his unique blend of physical training and emotional exploration to a generation of American actors that include Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, and Kevin Kline. Now, for the first time, his acting process is available to every actor and theater professional.

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Sword Fighting: A Manual for Actors and Directors (Applause Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a regular practitioner of Historical European Martial Arts I am usually the one cringing in the back row of the theatre or movie house, shelling out brutal insults at the lack of historical accuracy and good martial sense that is not seen in the vast majority of films and plays. I also have been working in the film and theatre community as both an actor and fight choreographer- so I understand both sides of the coin.
On the whole the book isn't too bad. It's refreshing to see these guys recognize that there are historical manuals and that they contain the real way to use these weapons. I had a few issues with some of the techniques. Avocation of an edge-to-edge parry (though the majority of them are flat to flat or edge to flat- the proper way, especially with longswords and medieval cutting blades). I really think their sword and buckler should be re-evaluated. Find a copy of MS I:33 and study that. Their interpretation of gripping the smallsword is off from a number of historical documents (see McBane, for instance). One of the bigger things I was surprised to see is that they did not show the use of the empty off hand as a parrying device for rapier and smallsword.
The book itself really does not teach you how to use these weapons. It rather shows you a step by step example of a small fight scene with them. I would really like to see more time spent on the various guards and methods of use. Some are present in the scenes they display, but far, far too many are left out.
I think this is a step in the right direction for anyone interested in pushing for more historical accuracy in film and theater. However I feel this is no where close to what could be done. Lots of room for improvement but not too bad overall.

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Product Description:
SWORD FIGHTING; A MANUAL FOR ACTORS AND DIRECTORS is a comprehensive new work on the art of creating realistic and exciting fight sequences for theatre, film and TV.
This book is the product of thirty years research and experimentation into traditional European martial arts by acclaimed fight director John Waller and his associates, and possibly the most wide-ranging and practical book on stage combat ever published.

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