How do you do a stage fall?

Question

A stage fall is a fake fall. I have to do one in a play I'm in for my school. I want it to look real. I act like I'm going to fall into this guy's arms, but instead he backs away at the last second and i fall. Any suggestions? Please no i don't have anything so you can get extra points please.

i'm mean no peeps that just want points. I want some real answers please!

Answer 1

I've done a few falls, and sadly I don't think there is a real way to not get hurt. I suggest hiding a little padding on where you might fall like your elbows or your knees. However, acting is not as glamourous as they show in the tabloids. Well, it is for them, but it sucks for their stunt devils, and in theatre we do our own stunts. Suck it up, make it look good, and hopefully you won't have to redo it over and over again.

Answer 2

Are you falling forwards or backwards?

If forwards, concentrate on allowing you abs to hit the ground first, then roll up along your chest, being careful to turn your face away from the floor, and don't catch yourself with your hands, you could damage your wrists.

If backwards, lower yourself as close to the floor as you can by bending your knees, and then roll along your back.

Practice these things from a kneeling position first, so you can get used to the feeling of rolling along your body. When you are comfortable with that you can work your way up to a standing position.

The thing to remember is that you want to roll, so that the impact is distributed and dissipated along the body, rather than having the weight of the body land on one point.

If you can, have a stage combat person, or a dance instructor work with you. Falls, even done correctly, can be pretty taxing.

I just finished a show where I fell off a four-foot wall 8 times a week, and I've been doing this a long time. Still got bruised, though.

Answer 3

Practice practice practice! layer your floor with pillows and blankets and such, and just start falling to get used to it. When you are comfortable with that, Go to a still slightly padded floor, like a carpeted one. You will be falling backwards in the show, but you should,

1. Fall slightly sideways, so the edge of one leg hits the ground only at first. Bend your knees as your going down.

2. NEVER use your hands to catch yourself, as this can cause fractures.

3. When you fall, after your legs make an impact, just let the rest of your body follow.

4. You're supposed to fall backwards, but this will look close enough to backwards, if done properly, and won't hurt as badly ; )

Remember, it shouldn't hurt to badly. But if at all possible, wear a little extra padding on the leg you fall on, (it will come naturally if you just try) to feel even less of the fall. If you have any problems, just email me at [e-mail] .

Answer 4

Okay. I've done a stage fall in almost every show I've been in. Here's how I've been doing it. When you fall, you are going to want to break your fall, that's good, but you going to do it a little differently. When you break your fall, you're going to almost roll onto the ground through absorbing the shock with your arms/hands. Don't make it obvious that you are breaking your own fall by hitting the ground with your arm(s)/hand(s) and then just letting yourself fall to the ground almost the exact time that you break your fall. It's hard to describe, but I hope this has helped. You might even look for a video or even ask your director.

Answer 5

i took a class in stage combat, so maybe i can help. first of all, ALWAYS fall to the side. try to land mainly on your thigh or butt. the best thing to do is, when it's time for the fall, visualize yourself as a ragdoll. you fall to the side limply. this visualization makes for a more realistic fall. in addition, land with your upper arm under your head to shield your head. i've done many falls this way and have never been hurt. hope this helped and good luck in your play!!!

Answer 6

Thanks! extremely valuable information and offers me better insight on this topic