Stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director Wolfgang Stegemann walks EW through the dynamic fight sequence.
TheWitcherteam is no stranger to one-shots.
“It takes probably a good three weeks to start choreographing.
Henry Cavill trains for ‘The Witcher’ season 3’s big Shaerrawedd fight sequence.Netflix
Henry is with us all the time, choreographing the scene and running it with the stunt team.”
“It’s probably a good three weeks, four weeks in total.
And then we adapt the whole scene to the actual set on location,” he says.
The stunt team doesn’t create all the moves before rehearsals.
Stegemann gives credit to fight choreographer Tolga Degirmen.
(“He’s basically my sword Bible.")
This is how we start building the choreography,” he continues.
(See the finished Shaerrawedd sequence, including the one-shot, in the video below.)
The audience feels involved [in the scene]."
That, too, makes the scene tricky, because there’s now the camera operator to consider.
“This is where I see the camera operator as part of the fight.
He’s a fighter.
“If one is out of sync, then it doesn’t look right.”
The Witcherseason 3 will releaseits last three episodes, dubbed Vol.
“Henry is super precise and his passion is just outstanding,” he says.
“I love it so much because he wants to have it perfect.
When I was like, ‘That was great.’
He said, ‘Eh, let’s do one more.'”
Stegemann recalls how the actor would often help the stunt team carry equipment, including mats, around set.
“Even for another stunt guy who has to do the stunt,” he says.
He’s putting his all in, and completely dedicated his whole life.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and brevity.
