Articles

Written by Richard Buswell

NEW!

Read a chapter from my book:

Fighting For Fun
A Set of Helpful Reminders About Fighting for Film and Stage

I was never very good at rote memorization. Whenever I learned something new, the instructor would say "Do it this way." My first question would always be, "Why are we doing it that way?"

Understanding the principles of how things are done has allowed me to find new and better ways of doing things. It also allows me to determine whether or not the old ways are still the best. When I learned the art of fight choreography, I translated the specific "Do this, do that" into fundamental principles based on the WHY we do this and do that. Understanding those principles has allowed me to create stage combat moves that I was not specifically trained to do.

By adapting those principles, fight choreography has blossomed to the limits of my own imagination and the imagination of the people I work with. This book is an attempt to approach stage combat from the concept of fundamental principles and putting those principles into practice. The specific moves contained here are the most common ones I've used for fight choreography and they demonstrate those principles in practice.

This is not a complete and comprehensive list of fight moves, but the basic building blocks from which almost all fight moves have been adapted; understanding how and why these moves are performed, the way I learned to understand them.

Stage Combat Articles

The Fight Choreographer's Manifesto
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Combat Choreography
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine
(Read a response to this article in the Letters to the Editor.)

Getting In Shape for the Fight
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

The Mind of the Choreographer
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Fighting on Film: Rigged Memories
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Choreographing a Fight: The Approach
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

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General Theatre Articles

Making Publicity Work for You
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

How to Advertise Effectively
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Casting Outsiders
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Developing a Marketing Strategy - Part 1
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Developing a Marketing Strategy - Part 2
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Developing a Marketing Strategy - Part 3
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Dialogue vs. Monologues
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Stagecraft: You Say Acting is Easy?
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

True Tales of Backstage Romance
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Career Tips for Beginners
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Dealing with the Show from Hell
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

The Art of the Understudy
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

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Editorials

Censorship: Censorship and Suitability - an editorial
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Some Thoughts On Auditioning - an editorial
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

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Book Reviews

Book-In-Hand: Swashbuckling - A Step-By-Step Guide to the Art of Stage Combat and Theatrical Swordplay - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Book-in-Hand: Audition - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Book-in-Hand: An Actor's Guide: Making It in New York City - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Book-in-Hand: Movement for Actors - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Book-in-Hand: The Stage Producer's Business and Legal Guide - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Book-In-Hand: Acting is a Job - Real-Life Lessons about the Acting Business - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

Book-In-Hand: The Actor's Way: A Journey of Self-Discovery in Letters - a book review
Originally published in KC Stage Magazine

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