F. Braun McAsh
© Nancye for HLWW

Related Links

0

HIGHLANDER WORLDWIDE WORKSHOP: F. BRAUN McASH

Swordfight choreographer/swordmaster F. Braun McAsh is late because he's been fighting ... traffic. He gets his panel started by making some sharp points (sorry) about the nature of his job: "There's no generalized system for using a sword ... very often, a fight is a scene where you can express things that the script suggests." He's grateful that, as Duncan MacLeod's primary weapon was established before McAsh joined HIGHLANDER at the start of its third season, the sword was a katana: "A katana is one of the most versatile."

There is one fairly universal truism about swords: "If you try to make a sword do something it doesn't want to do, it will tell you usually by coming back and biting you."

A big challenge for McAsh was, "There are only so many ways you can attack the human body with an edged weapon. I made a pledge to the producers 'I will come up with something new for every single fight.'" Sometimes what McAsh came up with didn't directly involve swordplay he cites "Comes a Horseman," where Methos interferes with the duel between Duncan and Kronos by hitting an electrical switchbox and causing a fiery explosion.

Time was limited on HIGHLANDER, McAsh notes guest Immortals usually got about four hours' of training for their fights. This impacted the sword choreography: "I never choreograph more than I know we can shoot and I never choreograph more than I know we can rehearse." He also makes extremely detailed notes in preparation: " 'The right food comes up on the toe but does not leave the ground ...'"

In general, McAsh says of the characters in his fights, "I like them to do things that a human being can actually do." More specifically regarding MacLeod, "One interesting thing with Duncan is there are limits that we set especially that Adrian set." While under normal circumstances, MacLeod will fight cleanly, "If [MacLeod's opponent] continues to be dishonorable or hacks him off, he'll say, 'Okay, I can fight dirty.'"

To be continued...