Why I do what I do: Writing edition

Obviously writing blog posts is not something I do on the most regular basis… but it’s also not the only thing I write. My most recent publication was the cover story in the Fall 2015 issue of The Fight Master, a little piece I’d been meaning to do for years, on a topic that grew […]

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Props

Okay, for the handful of you who might actually read this to keep tabs on me or what I do, I owe you some catch-up. Later. Right now, what I want to talk about (me and millions of others, apparently) is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. More specifically though, I want to talk props, mostly […]

Hang it all, man!

As it always is, it’s been a busy beginning of semester. This year’s mainstage directing for me will be Legacy of Light, a charming story that even now still makes me happy and hits me in the feels, something a script can’t always do when you’ve been living with it as just words on a […]

Ramp It Up (and Down)

Link and Video-heavy. Scroll down if you want to skip the exposition/explanation of terms. Filmmaking blog site Story & Heart had a little piece on Speed-Ramping that reminded me of a post I’ve been meaning to write for a few months now. It’s a popular gimmick in screen action these days – a rebirth of the […]

Madness all around

First things first: A big shout-out of congratulations to the new SAFD Certified Teachers (so new I think they aren’t on the website yet), who completed and passed the TCW last week: Aaron Preusse Adam Miller-Batteau Amie Root Caitlyn Herzlinger Christopher Elst Collin Bressie Danette Baker Jake Guinn Mike Lubke Mitchell McCoy Nicolas Santana Samantha […]

Off Golden Pond

Wrapped my first full stage acting gig in ages just last night. I did a staged reading a couple months ago, and had a brief walk-on role in Richmond a few years back, plus a couple other events (like a stadium demo in DC with Robb Hunter), but really I haven’t done much by way […]

Year One Done

Grades are in, the school year’s over, and the first hopefully-annual UWYO Stage Combat Workshop is in the bag. The last week before the workshop, a university photographer came and snapped some shots of the broadsword class practicing for their Skills Proficiency Test. I’m hoping to work with our graphics person to make some stage-combat […]

WYO Catch-up… and Workshop!

Obviously I’ve been neglecting my industry blog. It’s been an exciting academic year, one that draws to a close in just a few weeks. To allow for a few highlights: Directing The Liar Participating in the recruiting process, including TX Thespians, CO Thespians, and other events. I look forward to seeing some of those students […]

Cowboy Country.

So it’s been a while. For anyone not following me or Fight Designer, LLC on Facebook or otherwise in contact… I’ve moved. I’m now pretty well established in Laramie, WY; been in the new job at the University of Wyoming almost a month, ditto with the new house, and it’s about a month and a […]

Front Fire Fracas

My handful of posts on this blog about front-fire blank guns have been consistently some of the most popular entries, according to my WordPress stats. Those of you who have read them know that the biggest importer, if not sole importer, of front-venting blank props is Maxsell.   It’s a small business based in Florida, […]