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| Fight Choreography: The Art of Non-Verbal Dialogue | 
| List Price: $34.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 7 reviews)
Sales Rank: 420013
Category: Book
Author: John Kreng
Publisher: Course Technology PTR
Studio: Course Technology PTR
Manufacturer: Course Technology PTR
Label: Course Technology PTR
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 450
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.4
ISBN: 1592006795
Dewey Decimal Number: 792
EAN: 9781592006793
ASIN: 1592006795
Publication Date: December 14, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
All of us have seen films in which the story and acting might be great, but the film suffers because the action and fight sequences are not convincing enough, are terribly shot or edited, or do not integrate seamlessly into the story, causing them to be ineffective, gratuitous, or worst of all, unintentionally humorous. However, when done well, fight and action scenes support and heighten the story and expand the characters. Fight Choreography: The Art of Non-Verbal Dialogue helps filmmakers ensure that the fight scenes in their films add to the films overall quality. Creating a stage fight with a high level of clarity and entertainment value is a very complicated endeavor and requires skills that acting classes and martial arts schools cannot teach. This book helps filmmakers make sense of this art form and how they can use it to create their own styles of fights for a variety of projects, whether they be feature-length films, shorts, or television shows. The book is instructional, informative, and entertaining, and focuses on every important element involved in fight choreography, from basic philosophies, initial concept, and planning, to filming, editing, adding special effects, and sound mixing the final product. The book is not only an indispensable resource for filmmakers, but will also interestfilm buffs who want to learn how great fight sequences are made so they can better appreciate the action.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Great intro + outline for exploration December 28, 2008
If you know nothing about fight choreography, then this book is an excellent introduction to the whole process of what makes a good fight scene and what must come together and go on behind the scenes for those criteria to be met. Kreng references numerous action movies as examples of the various aspects of fight choreography that he discusses from chapter to chapter which serves to broaden the "applicability" of what he talks about. However, as a long time fan of HK choreography, my one gripe w/ the author is that he doesn't focus as much attention on major innovative choreographers such as Jackie Chan and Yuen Wo Ping as I think he could have. He does mention them and talk to some extent about their styles, but I felt there was so much more he could have covered in depth in relation to their method of envisioning and creating the signature choreography masterpieces that they have become famous for. Also, there were a few specific fight films whose choreography I really would have liked to read about in more detail (e.g. Legend of Drunken Master, SPL, Bourne films -- all of which, except for maybe the first, represent distinct changes in the standard choreography contexts from which they came out of). All in all, however, it is an informative and enjoyable read.
(Note: this review is written by her grandson, to whom this book was given as a Christmas present.)
 A unique perspective December 26, 2008
John Kreng is an expert in action films and in martial arts. He knows fighting, real, faked, and virtual (he also creates video games). Kreng brings this passion to all his activities, and he is a talented and clever writer.
Must Have... August 3, 2008
Books of any worth concerning stunt work and choreography are difficult to find as it is and this book is one of the finest I've seen if you are serious about understanding and getting involved in the stunt/fight choreography end of the film business. As someone who has been involved in martial arts for over 30 years, I'm, of course, obsessed with any film concerning martial arts. Mr. Kreng's insight is invaluable whether you are just looking for an insider view of how these films are made or are interested in getting involved in film/stunt industry as a martial artist. I hope we'll see more books of this kind from him in the future.
From a fans perspective! June 19, 2008
I am not in the film industry, and I have never choreographed a fight in my life! I am just a fan, a fan of Martial Arts cinema, and martial arts in general(though I am not a practitioner). All that aside I still find John's book fascinating! Don't think you have to know anything about the art of Fight choreography to enjoy this book, its not like alot of resource material where if you are not in the field it will bore you to tears. It is just packed with page after page of great information written by someone who is truly passionate about his craft! And as a fan of the genre I find its a perfect guide to how something I have been enjoying for years and years is actually brought to life. Sure its been shown on countless behind the scenes documentaries, but never has any interview or featurette been so informative. I highly recommend this book to any fan of Martial Arts films, or Martial Arts in general. It really opens your eyes and gives you a whole new appreciation for the kind of work that goes behind even the smallest of on screen battles. And as a bonus it also helps you, as a viewer, see what is being done right on the screen, and who needs to get themself a copy of this book! (This should be manditory read for anyone in Hollywood who even thinks of crafting on an screen fight!)
 1/2 the book I expected February 19, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I am an independent filmmaker who has had experience shooting fight scenes. Basically, this book teaches nothing new. All he really does is tell you what a good fight scene should have (which is not a bad thing) and then tell you to watch certain movies containing these elements (not bad either). Here is where I felt ripped-off. He tells nothing about how you can achieve this yourself. For example, rhythm is important in choreography, the author tells you that, he lets you know what films have great rhythm... and that's it. No suggestions on how you can being.
He spends a great deal of time talking history, which I enjoyed. Not many books do that. He talks about taking the character's background into consideration when fighting. Wonderful, very few films do that today. However, there is no talk about doing ACTUAL CHOREOGRAPHY. He never explains shooting or editing a fight scene properly (although, he tells many tales of badly shot or edited fights). What I was looking for the most way a way to record choreography (like writing down the moves while choreographing so they can be performed on location later). No such luck.
In summary, if you have never shot a fight scene, this book can begin to help. But if you are already experienced, I suggest renting this book at the library. It's not worth your time (I waited around 2 years for this to come out) or your money.
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