Two independent films, “Fated” and “The Sword I Buried,” were recently filmed in Hallsville, reuniting East Texas creatives who share a history in theatrical sword fighting in Tyler.
The projects emerged from years of local performers training in theatrical sword fighting at Pollard Park in Tyler. This training focused on combining performance, choreography, and safety, fostering friendships that later brought the group together for film production.
Leona Worcester, writer and executive producer of “Fated,” and Anna Graves, producer for both films and director of “The Sword I Buried,” were central to the collaborations. Worcester described the group as "theater kids that like to whack each other with various forms of weaponry. Safely, of course.”
“The Sword I Buried” is a faith-based medieval drama, as described by Anna Graves. The story centers on a priest named Owen who confronts his violent past and must choose between vengeance and the grace he professes to follow when encountering a man he believes harmed his brother. The film explores themes of faith, morality, and forgiveness, emphasizing redemption through grace rather than earned through actions. It is designed to be dialogue-driven, with action scenes supporting the narrative.
“Fated,” a fantasy short film, revolves around an “epic sword melee.” Worcester noted that the cast’s existing sword-fighting background allowed the production to focus on creating character-driven choreography rather than teaching basic combat techniques. Noah Sutton directed “Fated,” and Stephen Farina served as cinematographer for both projects. Sutton stated he wanted “Fated” to feel “grounded — lived in” rather than resembling a Hollywood production or a low-budget imitation.
Many collaborators, including actor Joseph Bradley, began training as young performers. Bradley started at age 12 after a staged combat demonstration and joined the Fellowship of Christian Swordsmen in Tyler, where he learned theatrical combat under local instructors. The training adhered to strict rules concerning distance, placement, casting, and surrounding to ensure "safety."
Actor Dawson Bodenhamer highlighted the complexity of performing fight scenes, which involve hitting specific marks, controlling vocals, angling blades, and maintaining facial expressions at high speeds. He said it felt like a more organized version of previous creative endeavors, with everyone having a specific job.
One challenge for the production of “Fated” was accommodating the fight choreography. Director Noah Sutton noted that the initial location was too small for the five-person sword fight, necessitating a move to a larger forest clearing in Hallsville. Cinematographer Stephen Farina utilized anamorphic lenses to achieve a wider, cinematic look, with East Texas trees providing distinctive backgrounds for the action scenes.
Anna Graves affirmed the projects as “definitely a Tyler/East Texas project,” with many cast and crew members having grown up in the area. Leona Worcester credited Chris Chadwick, known as “Mr. C,” and the Fellowship of Christian Swordsmen for nurturing the region’s creative community through theatrical combat training. Worcester expressed pleasure in bringing the dividends of this local investment back to East Texas by filming in the area.
Both films are currently in post-production, with additional editing, sound design, and music still underway.
