Because it's time to hit the holidays, and I may not have a chance to post again anytime soon as I take a needed break, I wanted to wish the one or two people who occasionally tune into my disjointed ramblings a happy holiday season.
The final episode of Hack is coming in January, and so far I've kept my schedule clear of anything too crazy after that. We'll be resuming blade training in January (post a comment and let me know if you want into a class) and I'll be trying to hit the new location of the NJFA for more pistol work.
So, enjoy a bright season of holiday merriment and remember - anything that could be re-gifted could also make an excellent melee weapon prop. Just don't actually hit anyone with it. It's all about pretend violence, because the more we fake it, the less we need to actually do it.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Hacked Up
After spending a week in Las Vegas for day job business (and before anyone asks, I avoided the tables for the most part, and also avoided anything involving “laps”) it was back into the swing of things for the latest episode of Crystal Skillman’s “Hack.”
I may be biased since I’m in it, but I have to say I really feel like we’ve hit a good stride with the purely ridiculous. If you saw it, you know that things became even more silly than usual, what with the musical underscoring many of the moments – and CL Weatherstone’s further descent into villainous mania. Of course, that is assuming he is in fact the villain, and the eponymous hacker of “Hack.” Which to be honest, can’t be assumed since I still don’t even know if my character is the “hacker” or Neimah’s character. Oh hell, it could still be anyone. I’m just looking forward to finding out how this all wraps up, since next month (January) is the final installment.
The in-the-dark fight sequence did go fairly well, actually, despite rather limited rehearsal time to devote to the combat. Placing it in the dark was a good way to keep it from looking too sloppy. Credit is due to Dirty Hurley, though as it turns out, Hack was not the only piece to have a “lights out” section. If I’m not mistaken “Lady Cryptozoologist” also took place almost entirely in the dark.
While I know that all good things must come to an end, I still have high hopes that I’ll get to square off against one of my favorite actors, Nick Monroy. We ended this episode with him strangling me, so there’s a chance I’ll get to do a little something cool before the big showdown. If you’re a director, and you haven’t cast Nick Monroy, you’re just plain missing out. By god, the man is funny. Dry, witty and funny.
I was hoping for some more shooting updates, and scans of my targets from the plethora of gun options offered in Las Vegas… but thanks to the weather being the way it was last week, an 8 hour travel plan became a 15 hour travel reality killing all of my free time. So, no assault rifles for Joe.
However, I did plot out a couple of test fights for the sake of killing time on the planes. If someone ever wants a fight that takes place at a big travel conference, or two old people at bank of slot machines or some good old swanky nightclub mayhem… oh man… I was so inspired. Perhaps even a little bored at times since I was taking notes on how a fight would look in these environments as opposed to paying strict attention to the presentations.
I may be biased since I’m in it, but I have to say I really feel like we’ve hit a good stride with the purely ridiculous. If you saw it, you know that things became even more silly than usual, what with the musical underscoring many of the moments – and CL Weatherstone’s further descent into villainous mania. Of course, that is assuming he is in fact the villain, and the eponymous hacker of “Hack.” Which to be honest, can’t be assumed since I still don’t even know if my character is the “hacker” or Neimah’s character. Oh hell, it could still be anyone. I’m just looking forward to finding out how this all wraps up, since next month (January) is the final installment.
The in-the-dark fight sequence did go fairly well, actually, despite rather limited rehearsal time to devote to the combat. Placing it in the dark was a good way to keep it from looking too sloppy. Credit is due to Dirty Hurley, though as it turns out, Hack was not the only piece to have a “lights out” section. If I’m not mistaken “Lady Cryptozoologist” also took place almost entirely in the dark.
While I know that all good things must come to an end, I still have high hopes that I’ll get to square off against one of my favorite actors, Nick Monroy. We ended this episode with him strangling me, so there’s a chance I’ll get to do a little something cool before the big showdown. If you’re a director, and you haven’t cast Nick Monroy, you’re just plain missing out. By god, the man is funny. Dry, witty and funny.
I was hoping for some more shooting updates, and scans of my targets from the plethora of gun options offered in Las Vegas… but thanks to the weather being the way it was last week, an 8 hour travel plan became a 15 hour travel reality killing all of my free time. So, no assault rifles for Joe.
However, I did plot out a couple of test fights for the sake of killing time on the planes. If someone ever wants a fight that takes place at a big travel conference, or two old people at bank of slot machines or some good old swanky nightclub mayhem… oh man… I was so inspired. Perhaps even a little bored at times since I was taking notes on how a fight would look in these environments as opposed to paying strict attention to the presentations.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Hack!
Fun times ahead for the next installment of Crystal Skillman's Hack at the Vampire Cowboys monthly saloon. Our lady wordsmith has written a five person fight scene, which is to take place in a sewer tunnel. Since director John Hurley likes to keep things interesting and fast moving, he's determined the best way to transform the stage area of the Battle Ranch into a sewer tunnel is to turn off all the lights.
Further complicating matters is the fact that what can be seen by the audience past the second row is roughly mid torso and up, so very few low strikes or kicks because they just won't be seen by the majority of the audience.
The five combatants (including me) will be navigating their way through the tunnel with flashlights. That means every person has a melee weapon, and it also means this fight will be just the kind of combat I like: fast, dirty, and confusing.
Sooo... I've mapped out a nice 20-30 second match up, with plenty of modular, a dash of gunting and a pinch of sinwali thrown in for comedy's sake.
With flashlights.
In the dark.
Nice.
Further complicating matters is the fact that what can be seen by the audience past the second row is roughly mid torso and up, so very few low strikes or kicks because they just won't be seen by the majority of the audience.
The five combatants (including me) will be navigating their way through the tunnel with flashlights. That means every person has a melee weapon, and it also means this fight will be just the kind of combat I like: fast, dirty, and confusing.
Sooo... I've mapped out a nice 20-30 second match up, with plenty of modular, a dash of gunting and a pinch of sinwali thrown in for comedy's sake.
With flashlights.
In the dark.
Nice.
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