Layover in Paris
First flight done. Quick layover... Just enough time to buy some cheese and food gras! Oooo! And some smoked duck breast, too! Travel tip: I'm told that one of the best ways to overcome jet lag is to eat lots of protein. I will have no problems there. Also, get...
Outlet!
Ha HA!! I can charge my phone! I'll need it so that I can listen to my...
Waiting to board
I am checked-in and ready to go. A little early, but you never know when you need extra time. Once when I was flying out of Buffalo, the border crossing took about two hours longer than anticipated. Luckily, I'd planned to be a few hours early so I still made my...
Don’t leave your bag on the bus
Last night I had a dream that I left my hand baggage on the bus. In order to try to get it back, I had to describe my bag to the general public over the loudspeaker, but I couldn't because it's a new bag, and I couldn't remember what it looked like. The last part is...
Finally packed
Usually, I pack about a week ahead of time and then spend a week second guessing my packing. So this time I thought, "no way! Just take a couple of days and poof! Done!" Didn't quite work out. Actually, I'm done packing now, but felt rushed. However, it only took...
November 2012:Teaching Tour of Europe Begins
Well, it's been an excruciatingly long time since I last wrote a post, but the exciting existing events behoove broadcast! I started this blog almost 3 years ago when I received a Chalmers Arts Fellowship from the Ontario Arts Council in order to study acting and...
Bob Anderson – Fencing Master Stunt Performer & Fight Director – YouTube
We have lost one of the greats. Rest in peace, Bob Anderson. ...
Smallsword/Time
Matt and I have been working the smallsword fight that I used in Estonia to see what we can discover. Like the Longsword fight, we’re finding many nuances in the kinds of attacks and responses we’re making, not to mention how important it is to be specific in the time...
The Hobbit is closing
Tomorrow, Thursday May 25, 2011, is closing night for The Hobbit in London, Ontario. I had the distinct privilege and pleasure to be fight director on this show. Director Susan Ferley brought together a fantastic group of people, and made my job much easier (and I...
Back in Toronto
Epic fail on the blogging this time around! I have lots of notes though, so I'll get to posting tidbits very soon. To tell you the truth, I get these enormous ideas, and have a hard time distilling them into small "blog-sized" articles. Less worry, more writing!
Now in England!
I'm starting the third and final travel phase of this fellowship. I'm also catching up on lots of posts. It's been incredibly busy since Sweden, and I'm waaaay behind on writing. I'm going to upload them as I get them done. Stay tuned!
Quote of the Day
"It isn't just technical. In fact, technique is just a way to get to the human part..." from the documentary "Note by Note" movie trailer
Leaving Tromsø
I have been loving the weather in Tromsø over the last 24 hours. I love snow (I live in a condo, so I don’t have to shovel it), and it’s been snowing on and off for the last day. To watch it fall on the city and then see the city and the mountains a glow with snow is...
schedule updated
The dates for my study tours in Sweden and London are confirmed! Check out the Schedule page to see when. More details to follow. -- update: February 23, 2017 This blog has been migrated from its original home to this page, so you can't find the Schedule page any...
Albion Swords article
Albion Swords’ diagrams of sword dynamics http://www.albion-swords.com/articles/images/sword-dynamics.pdf And here, Peter Johnsson discusses balance points, pivot points and nodes. http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8088 And finally, their sword glossary!...
Points to Ponder
It never ceases to amaze me how I start to think about stage combat in random situations. Well, what I really mean, is that we’ll be chatting about something completely different and it’ll apply to my work. I’ve decided to start posting “Points to Ponder” whenever...
Quote of the Day
"Talent must not be wasted... Those who have talent must hug it, embrace it, nurture it and share it lest it be taken away from you as fast as it was loaned to you." - Frank Sinatra
Quote of the Day
"Specify, not simplify." - Brad Waller Clarify the details, rather than washing over them in an attempt to be done faster. The work suffers, the story is not clear, and you sacrifice safety.