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Practice your punches
The first rule about fight call is you do talk about fight call. That’s because it’s a special rehearsal where actors in a fight scene meet to go over their movements shortly before a performance, and communication is key. Just as actors must run their lines, practicing stage combat over and over is incredibly important, otherwise safety can become an issue. If a performer forgets her lines, she can always improvise until she gets back on track. But you definitely don’t want her throwing a punch that isn’t planned!
Even once the actors have the fight choreography memorized, it’s imperative they continue to rehearse it so they don’t become careless. An excellent fight call tutorial on the performance community website HowlRound recommends that each fight be run through at three-quarter speed at least twice prior to performance, and that the actors, the stage manager, and prop master all inspect any weapons for dangerous degradation. The fight call is also an opportunity to check in with the actors to ask how they think the battle went during the previous performance. Although they may engage in a knock-down, drag-out fight in the show, everyone needs to feel secure and respected both onstage and off.
— Raven Snook
This video was created by TDF, F*It Club, and The PIT.
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