Welcome to the Fight Club - Carter Ferguson Fight Director
Carter Ferguson during a rehearsal - Photo by Ian McFarlane
Carter Ferguson is an esteemed and well respected fight director in Scotland. Having worked on TV projects such as Taggart and River City, numerous stage productions and the Scottish comedy, “Gamerz”, as well as producing his own short films with his film company IckleFlix, we were lucky to get Carter to plan and stage our fights in series 2, allowing for more realistic and complicated sequences.
1. What first interested you to join the crew of Night is Day?
I worked with Chris Summers who plays Jason on a short film and subsequently cast him in my mini series The Rage. During this time I heard a lot about the show, which although I hadn’t actually seen it sounded exactly the sort of thing that I felt should be getting made in Scotland. It was my involvement with Chris, whom I regard very highly, that made me sure that supporting Night Is Day would be a worthwhile exploit.
2. What do you think makes Night is Day unique?
What makes Night Is Day unique is that it is being made AT ALL! No one is making this sort of thing in Scotland.
3. So far what’s been your favourite experience while making the show?
I’ve enjoyed working the “other worldly” elements into the fights, specifically the superpowers. I’ve joined Night Is Day at season 2 where (without giving away plot I hope) Jason seems to have more control of his powers. There is an FX crossover which we’ve planned into the sequences, and from what I hear the CGI mix with the live action is looking very cool.
(Jason gets into a spot of bother in a fight rehearsal. Photo by Ian McFarlane)
4. Has co-ordinating fights that involve superheroes been a challenge to you?
Not a challenge really. It’s another “layer to the cake”. It actually makes what would be typical fight action that bit more exciting and you can also lean on the powers to get you out of situations where for example one is outnumbered.
5. How does working on Night is Day compare to working on your own projects, such as The Way?
My time commitment to Night Is Day has only been at the rehearsal stage when I block through action with the cast. That’s the beauty of the arrangement. All the worries and indeed some of the fun of the show go to Fraser and his team on the day of shoot. The amount of effort that goes into organising and shooting things like this cannot be understated. It’s a relief to know that I don’t have the concerns I have on my own pieces regarding people equipment time money etc.
6. If you had a superpower, what would it be, and why?
I like the old stopping time thing from Heroes. Great series btw.
