When is action too much?

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  • When is action too much?

    If you write two or more pages of 'Action', with very little dialogue... in other words... all the space taken up and not leaving any spaces behind...

    I am probably not making myself clear on what I'm trying to say.

    For instance, I read an article/column in the latest "Creative Screenwriting" by one of their contributors, and he stated something about leaving plenty of white space(s) on the pages as you write and as the reader reads the script feeling not too tried... when they read it.

    My question is, can it be done where a couple of pages of dramatic action is permitted and continues to move forward without those white spaces left behind.

    Perhaps the action should be cut down tremendously?

    What's everyone's opinion on this?
    D. Alin
    http://alinproduction.blogspot.com Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Basically) [Skype me at "Buyitpc" - I will surely love to talk!]

  • #2
    Re: When is action too much?

    I haven't sold a screenplay, so grain of salt here... I'd say, just keep the action lines as terse as possible.

    Break up the blocks of text into two or three lines (I use the specific actions of characters to guide that).

    Throw in a quick line of dialogue (when organic) now and then to add relief from all the text.
    "Forget it, Jake. It's Hollywood."

    My YouTube channel.

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    • #3
      Re: When is action too much?

      2 pages of dense action lines without a break and unless it is breathtaking stuff I'm gonna club your head in with the thing closest to hand.

      Break it up. There's no reason not to. Four lines or less.

      My sections are all generally different shots.
      twitter.com/leespatterson

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      • #4
        never too much action

        What Signal said...

        First, make sure the action is written *exciting* - not just some boring play-by-play. Take us *inside* the action.

        Next, cosmetics - make sure it's not solid blocks of black. Break it up on the page. Find interesting ways to make it look like someone would want to read.

        Also, I always do the "at least one line of dialogue" thing - just to break up the page. That line of dialogue may be something like "Look out!" - but it breaks the page.

        The strange part about all of this is that screenwriting is visual writing, and once it gets to a director, those pages of action actually mean something. But sometimes you have to get past some reader who doesn't realize that the action is *more important than the dialogue* and skims it. So they miss the most important part of the script. These readers should just be taken out back by the Hollywood sign and shot. That way, they'll never do it again.

        Part of the balance of this job is to write for both the readers who get it and the ones who don't. Even if they skip the action, the dialogue is great.

        Biggest problem with action - boring writing. Screenwriting actually requires that you have writing skills.

        - Bill
        Free Script Tips:
        http://www.scriptsecrets.net

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        • #5
          Re: never too much action

          Originally posted by wcmartell View Post
          Biggest problem with action - boring writing.
          Indeed. That's why I don't have a problem reading Terminator 2 for a sixth time but can barely make it past page 3 on several other scripts.

          If your action is well-written and broken up so there is still white space on the page so it's easier to read, then you can write 10 pages of nothing but action if you want to.

          There's no such thing as 'too much', only 'too bad'.

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          • #6
            Re: never too much action

            Originally posted by wcmartell View Post
            What Signal said...

            First, make sure the action is written *exciting* - not just some boring play-by-play. Take us *inside* the action.

            Next, cosmetics - make sure it's not solid blocks of black. Break it up on the page. Find interesting ways to make it look like someone would want to read.

            Also, I always do the "at least one line of dialogue" thing - just to break up the page. That line of dialogue may be something like "Look out!" - but it breaks the page.

            The strange part about all of this is that screenwriting is visual writing, and once it gets to a director, those pages of action actually mean something. But sometimes you have to get past some reader who doesn't realize that the action is *more important than the dialogue* and skims it. So they miss the most important part of the script. These readers should just be taken out back by the Hollywood sign and shot. That way, they'll never do it again.
            I seem to agree with you on this one! Especially if action is the key in the scene(s).
            Originally posted by wcmartell View Post

            Part of the balance of this job is to write for both the readers who get it and the ones who don't. Even if they skip the action, the dialogue is great.

            Biggest problem with action - boring writing. Screenwriting actually requires that you have writing skills.

            - Bill
            Thanks - it really helps to understand it. I will break the lines up into two or four lines at a time.
            D. Alin
            http://alinproduction.blogspot.com Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Basically) [Skype me at "Buyitpc" - I will surely love to talk!]

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: never too much action

              Originally posted by wcmartell View Post
              What Signal said...

              First, make sure the action is written *exciting* - not just some boring play-by-play. Take us *inside* the action.

              Next, cosmetics - make sure it's not solid blocks of black. Break it up on the page. Find interesting ways to make it look like someone would want to read.

              Also, I always do the "at least one line of dialogue" thing - just to break up the page. That line of dialogue may be something like "Look out!" - but it breaks the page.

              The strange part about all of this is that screenwriting is visual writing, and once it gets to a director, those pages of action actually mean something. But sometimes you have to get past some reader who doesn't realize that the action is *more important than the dialogue* and skims it. So they miss the most important part of the script. These readers should just be taken out back by the Hollywood sign and shot. That way, they'll never do it again.

              Part of the balance of this job is to write for both the readers who get it and the ones who don't. Even if they skip the action, the dialogue is great.

              Biggest problem with action - boring writing. Screenwriting actually requires that you have writing skills.

              - Bill
              http://www.scriptsecrets.net/
              When I click on your website it takes to some website that helps you build websites with templates.

              Last night in San Pedro

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: never too much action

                Originally posted by thatcomedian View Post
                http://www.scriptsecrets.net/
                When I click on your website it takes to some website that helps you build websites with templates.
                That'd be 'cause you're typing .com and not .net
                twitter.com/leespatterson

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: never too much action

                  Originally posted by -XL- View Post
                  That'd be 'cause you're typing .com and not .net
                  No, I'm just clicking on the link

                  Last night in San Pedro

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: When is action too much?

                    Yeah, I was reading Casino Royale (Paul Haggis edition), and it had times with a page, or a page and a half of action. So it's allowed...
                    Write.Sell.Repeat.

                    Theoretically...

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                    • #11
                      Re: When is action too much?

                      When you read good scripts that have a lot of action, notice how the action is written. Besides consice three or four line paragraphs, there is very little description. Description tends to slow the read.

                      Perhaps Readers shy away from the action written on the page, because many scripts have too much description in the action/description.

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                      • #12
                        Re: never too much action

                        Originally posted by wcmartell View Post
                        What Signal said...

                        The strange part about all of this is that screenwriting is visual writing, and once it gets to a director, those pages of action actually mean something. But sometimes you have to get past some reader who doesn't realize that the action is *more important than the dialogue* and skims it. So they miss the most important part of the script. These readers should just be taken out back by the Hollywood sign and shot. That way, they'll never do it again.

                        - Bill
                        I bought your books. All of 'em. For me, they were the best examples of how to write screenplays in the world-- and action was one the of things you were (and are) really good at. I even spouted off to an exec the other day with one of your quotes... and it had to do with "action stacking."
                        Last edited by Alyssa Runswithwolves; 04-04-2007, 08:43 PM. Reason: missing word.

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                        • #13
                          Re: When is action too much?

                          Originally posted by tha son View Post
                          Yeah, I was reading Casino Royale (Paul Haggis edition), and it had times with a page, or a page and a half of action. So it's allowed...
                          Interesting... it was the same example I was inquiring about... the action.

                          Was thinking, hummmm... if Paul Haggis has done it, why couldn't the rest of us? If the action is intense to make it possible?

                          Just a thought!?

                          D. Alin
                          http://alinproduction.blogspot.com Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Basically) [Skype me at "Buyitpc" - I will surely love to talk!]

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: When is action too much?

                            Haggis only polished that script, and he seemed to play down his involvement. I think he concentrated on dialogue i.e. the exchanges between Bond and Vesper rather than the action.

                            When writing action, remember WHITE SPACE
                            "What's worse than being talked about? Not being talked about."

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                            • #15
                              Re: When is action too much?

                              Originally posted by David Alin View Post
                              Was thinking, hummmm... if Paul Haggis has done it, why couldn't the rest of us? If the action is intense to make it possible?
                              The truth boils down to, 'cause you're a squirrely amateur and I don't trust you to write a good script! Until you're sold and produced, you need to prove to me, every time, that you can write snappy action and zing dialogue that will make a good film. Haggis doesn't, with him it's a given.

                              -Derek

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