Blank Firing Guns: Updates

This is a constantly changing market, in a slightly-less-constantly-changing field, so perhaps a state-of-the-industry check-in is in order, if I can dash one off. I’ve been submitting updates for The Theatrical Firearms Handbook, since it should be getting a second printing some time this Summer, and that’s had me thinking about some of this stuff […]

Spring Updates

Since it’s been a while, and I’d rather not clutter up my next themed post with personal updates, here’s a quickie on the last few months for anyone wondering: UWYO Stage Combat Workshop – this year it was held in mid-April, which was in retrospect a mistake; we got hammered by a huge snowstorm. One […]

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 […]