Tricks to Performing a Fight Scene

A Different Type of Magic

For the most part, any performance in a film requires a level of talent from the actors on screen. If a performance is not convincing enough, the illusion is lost; the same thing can be said for an action scene. The amount of athleticism and skill required to pull off a fight scene is expected to be high. However, the truth is that what makes a great fight performance involves the camera and how certain moves are done. While this post will not teach how to perform a fight scene entirely, it will touch base on key aspects that make it look convincing.

It Is True...From A Certain Point of View

It should be understood that what a camera sees and what human eyes see will usually be very different. Because a person has two eyes, there is the ability to see depth. Since the camera only has one lens, it will flatten the image and make it harder to distinguish distance between objects that are near and far from the camera.

As such, you can use this "flaw" when hitting someone. The top priority is safety, so by using effective camera angles the illusion of a strike can be accomplished. For example, here is a shot of me about to punch someone.

 It looks like we are face to face against each other, but here is the truth.

No matter how far I swing, I should not be able to hit him. However, the most important thing is to have proper timing between both performers. If the one being hit reacts too late or too early, then it looks fake. The sweet spot for when to move is when a strike swings within the width of your nose. This window of opportunity is pretty small, so it is highly recommended you practice with your partner. Both fighters make each other look better.


It Does Not Have to Hurt to Look Like It


People today may notice a disparity between real MMA fights and a fight from a movie. Fights with real martial artists tend to throw punches and kicks that do not look as powerful as one seen in films. The reason for this goes back to the camera. Because a camera cannot distinguish depth, an actor would have to exaggerate their movements in order to look powerful on screen. Fighters do not do this so they will not telegraph their moves to their opponents. A punch for fighting will look like this:

 

A fight scene punch will look like this :

At first glance, the second punch looks to have more energy than the first one. This is because the whole shoulder is moving along with the punch. I also swing wider than I should to emphasize the hook punch. If this is done during a real fight, my opponent would know exactly when I would be swinging.

All in all, technique and ability is important for a fight scene. However, that is only half the battle. The proper camera angle and right amount of exaggeration can make it look better. The only way anyone can get better at this is to simply keep practicing. So get out there and film.