Re: Looking for examples of Great Martial Arts movies...
Most action scenes written by writers are not very good nor very helpful. I would say that 90% of the time, stunt coordinators and fight choreographers ignore what's written because the writers have no clue how to write an action scene. Too many writers, even on a professional level, create scenes that are not filmable.
Writing a good action scene will set you apart from most writers. It is not just explosions, shoot outs and bones breaking. Action scenes should be like mini-stories. There should be a beginning, a middle and an end (although sometimes a short action scene will have no middle). Each section should have its own dramatic beats. Writers writing action scenes should focus on storytelling, not specific moves. Only write specific moves if it's essential to the story. This will make the scenes exciting for a reader AND the coordinator/ choreographer.
The example above from The Matrix, while a little long, can be a good way to write action because it lays out the dramatic beats of the fight. It does not try to shoehorn the coordinator or director into filming something that doesn't make sense and allows them the freedom to create something exciting while following a dramatic blueprint. The coordinator/choreographer reading the Wachowski's scene knows exactly what emotional and dramatic beats that they want in the story and allows him to give them exactly that.
Another good way to write action is to focus on story specific elements. What is going on in the action that relates to the overall story of the script? Are the characters trying to get something specific? Are they fighting over a bag of money? Are they both trying to grab a gun on the floor? Don't describe a gunfight in detail or a fight move by move. Instead, let people know what's at stake in the action and what people want. Just like any other scene. If a character fights in a specific style, say Praying Mantis or 52 Blocks, state it. But don't describe the style. The reader probably won't know what the hell you're describing and a coordinator will just roll his eyes (unless you really know what you're talking about).
What I don't recommend is for someone to write something like:
If you want to see a stunt coordinator or action director laugh, give them a scene like that. And believe me, I've seen more than a fair share of action scenes written that way. What good is something like that to anyone?
Most action scenes written by writers are not very good nor very helpful. I would say that 90% of the time, stunt coordinators and fight choreographers ignore what's written because the writers have no clue how to write an action scene. Too many writers, even on a professional level, create scenes that are not filmable.
Writing a good action scene will set you apart from most writers. It is not just explosions, shoot outs and bones breaking. Action scenes should be like mini-stories. There should be a beginning, a middle and an end (although sometimes a short action scene will have no middle). Each section should have its own dramatic beats. Writers writing action scenes should focus on storytelling, not specific moves. Only write specific moves if it's essential to the story. This will make the scenes exciting for a reader AND the coordinator/ choreographer.
The example above from The Matrix, while a little long, can be a good way to write action because it lays out the dramatic beats of the fight. It does not try to shoehorn the coordinator or director into filming something that doesn't make sense and allows them the freedom to create something exciting while following a dramatic blueprint. The coordinator/choreographer reading the Wachowski's scene knows exactly what emotional and dramatic beats that they want in the story and allows him to give them exactly that.
Another good way to write action is to focus on story specific elements. What is going on in the action that relates to the overall story of the script? Are the characters trying to get something specific? Are they fighting over a bag of money? Are they both trying to grab a gun on the floor? Don't describe a gunfight in detail or a fight move by move. Instead, let people know what's at stake in the action and what people want. Just like any other scene. If a character fights in a specific style, say Praying Mantis or 52 Blocks, state it. But don't describe the style. The reader probably won't know what the hell you're describing and a coordinator will just roll his eyes (unless you really know what you're talking about).
What I don't recommend is for someone to write something like:
"The bad guys converge on our hero who is outnumbered. Then all of a sudden… BAM! POW! CRACK! Fists and feet flying, bones breaking. Our hero has taken them all out!"
If you want to see a stunt coordinator or action director laugh, give them a scene like that. And believe me, I've seen more than a fair share of action scenes written that way. What good is something like that to anyone?
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