Dan in duel & Dueling Positions

[h_potter_uk]

bboy_mn wrote:
> Why? Why the extremely different styles? Magic? Training? What?
> 
> They did it that way so neither actor had his back to the camera.
> 
> Now the casting of charms/curse.
> 
> I think Snape and I'm sure Malfoy, who where holding their wands 
hand
> above their head, brought they arm down and across their body giving
> the impression that they were hugging their own neck, then in a
> backhanded motion, whipped their arm forward casting the curse. 
Draco
> also added some very nice looking fencing leg movements.


My thoughts:

The filmmakers definitely didn't want any backs to the camera.  As a 
foil fencer myself, I've been in matches where I've had to actually 
switch ends of the strip because I was fencing a lefty.  That way, 
our backs wouldn't be to the director (the guy who judges the match) 
and he could still see the lights that signal a touch.  Right-handed 
fencers are facing in towards each other, whereas a left-handed 
fencer and a right-handed fencer would be situated back to back-ish, 
so the audience has a clear view of the attacks being made.  If Harry 
would have been on the other end of the strip, I'm sure he would have 
been in the same stance as Malfoy.

I noticed that Snape, Draco and Harry were making movements that 
looked a bit like lunges.  (I've seen the movie four times, but right 
now, all I have to rely on are trailers.)  Both Malfoy and Snape's 
attacks(the funky movement where they whip their arm around that was 
mentioned) are so they can lunge properly.  Other than that, the wand 
arm straight out, like in Harry's stance, would be (if they were 
really fencing) to establish right-of-way (which is terribly 
difficult to explain - I don't even understand it myself).  The 
blocking move that Lockhart tries to teach Harry in the book is 
probably something similar to a parry (which is just pushing the 
other blade away in fencing).  And the salutes are dead on to fencing 
salutes! :D  I loved them!

I really hope wizard duelling will encourage kids to take up 
fencing.  I just started this year and am now ranked 10th in the 
state of Virginia among collegiate women foil fencers.  It's great 
fun.  And I will admit that I've yelled a few "Rictusempra"'s at 
practice when going in for an attack ;)  Hey, it's a little long-
winded, but it beats "La Bell"...

Yours in Gryffindor,
Jenny :)