Genrification

Today's Vocab Word is one I made up. I also invented this two-tiered categorization system for fight choreography.

Those of you lucky enough to have seen my presentations wayyyyyy back in the day (like, 2012-2014) at Denver Comic Con, or who’ve taken my college level stage combat class, have heard about this classification system for fight scenes that I invented. For that ancient lecture, I added several clips from movie fights illustrating each of the sub-genres, in a Prezi. Remember Prezi? Ahh, good times with old tech. And: yes, several of these clips are now unwatchable, and, no, I can no longer sign in to that old account to fix it. But eh, what can you do.

Here is the essay on which that presentation and school lecture was based.  

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GENRIFICATION: stage combat style categories

Part of being an effective fight choreographer (or performer, for that matter) is knowing what the feel and style is of the show in which your fights appear. The type of movement, the weapons used, the style of combat, and the mood of the fights all need to match what’s happening in the show as a whole. I have constructed a two-column structure that is useful when diagnosing the genre or style of fights you’re looking at. Here’s how it looks, sans explanation:

1 realistic                         a comedic

2 expressionistic              b dramatic

3 stylized / dance            c swashbuckling

Combinations between the two columns can be made ad infinitum. For example, a fight that’s 2a would be the big group fight in Anchorman. 3b would be the opening rumble in West Side Story. 1c would be the Ballad Duel in the Depardieu Cyrano.

Here is what all six of these “genrifications” mean:

1: Realistic

-the fight sounds and looks realistic or physically plausible. Note: I did not say “real” but “realistic.” no theatrical fight actually looks real–fights are far too small and fast for an audience to be able to follow the action. We’re talking reaLISM, not reaLITY. So a realistic fight has plausible physics, fatigue/pain is acted the way a real person would be feeling, according to what’s happened to her.

Example: fight scenes in Fight Club

2: Expressionistic

there are some over-the-top moves, fights may be a little longer and/or prettier. It’s still violence, but maybe the pain/fatigue factor isn’t there.

Example: the famous sword fight in The Princess Bride

3: Stylized

–movement is abstract, symbolic. Movements are not fighting moves, but dance moves that symbolize violence.

Example: Ballet versions of shows like Romeo and Juliet. Also the opening sequence in West Side Story: what does the snapping represent?

a: Comedic

–the fight is meant to cause laughter. Actors shouldn’t indicate pain in a way that will cause the audience to feel sympathy; that’s when it’s no longer funny.  (Famous Jenn quote from class: “big men, falling down = funny.”)

Example: Three Stooges, Looney Tunes, Anchorman

 b: Dramatic

–the fight is meant to cause tension, be a serious conflict between characters. There should be real fear of pain/death, real fear of harm.

Example: Shakespearean drama (RnJ, MacBeth), Rob Roy

c: Swashbuckling

–this is the attitude I call “La!” It’s not funny necessarily, though it may cause delight. It’s not heavy or serious, either, though a sense of danger may be present. The characters are actually having fun fighting, though they still have a strong objective, or need to win. Think of the shift in attitude from c to b in the final Laertes/Hamlet duel.

Example: Zorro, Three Musketeers, The Matrix 1 dojo training scene

Brick killed a guy.

Think of your favorite fight scenes and pick one of these characteristics from each column, to pinpoint the fight’s style. It’s a fun exercise, and allows even a stunts layperson to get a bit more nuance from the fight scenes she enjoys.

Whenever I pick up a new fight direction/choreography gig, this is the first thing I do, as I read the script–I make sure I have a precise idea what direction I should be going in as I begin the fight designing process. Talking with the director about their concept of the overall show also helps with this: I can decide what style the fights should be most clearly when I have an idea what style the whole show will be in. It’s part of how best to have the Fight [be] The Story.