
From 10:45 am until 1:00 pm
At West Branch Regional Library and on Zoom
1425 Chaffee Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32221
Scott "Scooter" West - Weaponry
Scott “Scooter” West has possessed an insatiable love of swords and sword-like objects since he was a child. After years of typical play with prized toys and whittled sticks Scott started formal fencing training and was introduced to theatrical combat in late high school. Scott developed a keen interest in the build, use and history of medieval and Renaissance weaponry and has now pursued this interest for an excess of 25 years. He has participated and lead any number of combat shows, historical reenactments, combat and choreography training sessions, and even a few lectures. Scott lives in Gainesville Florida with his very patient wife, two teenage kids, and a revolving door of Labrador retrievers that his family raises for Dogs Inc, where they will be trained as guide dogs for the visually impaired or other service jobs. Scott has written, directed, choreographed, armored, trained, presided over and anything else you can think of for Thieves Guilde Productions, a stage combat and improvised theater group in Gainesville. Professionally Scott is a Registered Nurse at UF Health Shand's Hospital, and also plays in the Celtic folk band Jig to a Milestone.
Writers Workshop: Fantasy Weapons and the Writer
A comprehensive overview of pre-modern weapons, terminology, tactics and historical thinking. This workshop will include physical examples of some of these weapons, discussion about and opportunities to handle these items. We will also discuss ways to more accurately describe combat with the written word. This workshop focuses on European based techniques and technologies. For example the Katana (samurai sword) and Japanese cultural combat traditions are not covered by this content. That being said, please feel free to submit specific questions to me (swordscooter@gmail.com) and I will come prepared to address them.