I got the chance to sit down with some experts to discuss the upcoming movie Fencer and the representation of fencing and swordplay in movies and television.
Rob Edwards, writer of Princess and The Frog and Captain America: Brave New World, talked about the importance of character in his films. His film Fencer follows a young boy who gets a chance to try out for the Princeton fencing team but must prove that he’s more than just a street fighter.
While they’re still looking to secure the cast, Edwards has been connecting with great fencing resources to ensure accuracy. The film aims to inspire a new generation of fencers.
Olympic Gold Medalist Jackie Dubrovich was present and talked about the advantages of film as a medium to showcase the mindset of an athlete.
Movies can play with time in order to show the thought process of a fencer. Dubrovich mentioned an internal monologue she has during a match.
“There’s a million thoughts that are rushing through our heads, and sometimes we don’t even act on it. We just have our instincts to take over.”
Liam McIntyre (Spartacus) and Manu Bennett (Arrow) were happy to talk about swordplay in Hollywood but weren’t able to tell us about their roles in “Fencer,” that is, if they’re in it.
McIntyre says the key to working with weaponry is a great crew supporting him and he feels privileged to have had the opportunities to act with weaponry in his projects, including Spartacus and Marvel’s Wolverine game from this past year.
Manu Bennett always creates reasons for his character to fight to inform his performance. He also mentioned the paradoxical nature of a fight, which is both intimate and aggressive.
“There’s something so beautiful about two warriors fighting hand-to-hand, you know?”
While the cast is still undisclosed, Bennett’s idea of character building would fit perfectly with Edwards’ creative philosophy.
For Edwards, the sport of fencing is a conduit to self understanding and characterization.
“You have to master yourself in order to master the sport. That’s just juicy storytelling.”
For more on Fencer, click here.
