(photo by Mistress Wanderer)
Braun McAsh
I'm sitting there, knowing I have to soak in the last of the HL experience before catching my plane. The schedule didn't have this event listed, but McAsh suggested that since the Q/A after the display of sword work was cut short that he fill in this time. I really loved this, and it made me want to go back and watch half a dozen fight scenes in slow motion to catch things he mentioned. It is so great to see the quality they put into HL.
Q: Do sword-fights last that long in reality?
A: We are using them in a dramatic sense, to tell a story. I try to use four phrases, it is a dialogue without the words. Besides, no one wants to hear the story of 'well, he was a poor swordsman' about the guy that lasted 3 seconds.
Q: How do you decide what sword to use?
A: First I look at the script to see the age and culture of the
immortal. Methos for example used a sword from the Middle Ages. It is two-sided
and heavy as he doesn't like to fight, but because it's two sided it kills
easily.
Second I look at the experience of the actor and see what they've learned.
No use giving them something completely new if there are some skills I can work
with.
Third I look at the set, for example you can't use long blades in a narrow
hallway.
Q: ?
A: In TV there is no storyboarding for our fights. The director gives the place of beginning and the place of ending, and some of the middle. I'm currently writing a book on film technique.
Q: Something about originally being asked to swordmaster in Canada only.
A: The first episode I was involved in was the Samurai, and I've traveled to both Canada and France throughout the series.
Q: Why does Methos use the backhand stroke, doesn't it leave him open?
A: In Chivalry he used it (to kill Kristin) as it was the same move Duncan had beat him with in the Dojo. A 'look, I can learn' statement.
Q: Is it hard to find women with experience?
A: It's hard to find anyone! 75% have never touched a sword before.
Q: Can a kitana break a sword (in reference to the end of Finale)?
A: Kallas's blade was presented flat on a rail, so yes that was very realistic. It depends on the type of sword, it's quality, metal and construction. Could a kitana break a kitana? No.
Q: What is your favorite weapon?
A: Colt 19-11A
The knife/dagger fights are very dangerous as they are at a very close
range. So much of it is the feet and the off hand. You have problems putting
that to film, you miss scenes and it's like missing chunks of dialogue.
No weapon is all encompassing. For a sword I'd use a kitana or rapier or a
dagger. Ax's were mainly created for horseman.
Q: Who was the swordsman that played 'Death' in Shadows?
A: "I was. With a fever of 102 and the costume from hell"
He then put in a video of fight clips that he uses when he presents himself to people. It pulls from some of the best fights, to some of the whimsical ones. He would throw in bits of info, and I jotted them all down as most of them were quite interesting.
-The most realistic fight scene he's ever scene is when Charlie dies. Of course the (imitates Charlie's twirling of the knife in front of him) was purely Charlie's own invention.
-The fight scene with Axel was done in all one shot and was not sped up at all. The actor had never touched a sword before and they had to wait for the tide to come in to film the fight sequence. (so the stunt doubles didn't have to fall into 1 ft of water)
-For the battle with Ceirdwyn in flashback he was given 50 men and two hours to choreograph! Every move was choreographed, and the man Ceirdwyn talks to is using his left hand as his right was broken and in a cast (not from the show). Ceirdwyn had no previous experience.
-The fight with Anthony De Longis in Blackmail was in a million dollar house, they fought in front of glass worth $15,000!!! McAsh in a sarcastic note to the producers: "Thanks guys!"
-You really can grab the sides of small swords as they're dull, but they have sharp points.
-Stunt doubles were used less than a half dozen times in four years.
-In Timeless the fight scene (between Walter and Adrian) was done in one take. It was very interesting to choreograph as each was trying to make a point and neither wanted to kill the other. If you watch they will repeat the moves of the other.
Two last questions were fit in before time was up.
Q: What is the worst thing you can do?
A: Underestimate your opponent, that happens often with women and gives them the advantage.
Q: In Leader of the Pack, how realistic was the beheading?
A: Well, we were already levitating a house, so why not?
Actually, the flip isn't real, it was the national trampoline champion. But
Kanis is running down a very steep hill, and there is a point in the flip where
you could make a level stroke, so really it was a possibility.
They ended and as I had to catch my plane I didn't stay for the writer's Q/A. I walked around saying by to people, and held preciously tight to the pictures I had splurged and bought just before the Q/A's of the day had begun. Personally I think I did pretty well. I walked away with the Jim Byrnes CD, two PW pict's and one Valentine pict, but most importantly I walked away with more memories than I could ever write out. I was silent and in thought the whole way home, then tried in vain to call Crom (somehow it slipped my mind that he was also away from home). Oddly enough, as I drove back up to school my radio station talked about Elizabeth Gracen and how lame it is that she's being hounded so badly. I flipped my Queen tape in after a while, and just as my car rolled to a stop in front of my apartment the last few strains of 'Who wants to live forever' played out and hung frozen in the air.
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