Need help writing a fist fight scene

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  • Need help writing a fist fight scene

    Hello DDP friends,

    I am a new screenwriter and I am close to finishing my first screenplay. I am trying to insert a fist fight scene and I am having trouble trying with format. Do you any of you have any suggestions? Any tips, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

  • #2
    Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

    Welcome aboard!!

    I'd check out recent thread on battle scenes and apply the same to "fist fights". Heh, or just check out Rocky script. Seriously though, I think of a favorite film with fight scene and check it out. More constructive than anything I'd think.

    Good luck!
    " Don't really like writing. But I do like having written." Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

      Hey MJScribe,

      Thanks for the tip. I am going to look at the battle scene thread now.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

        OP -

        I'm not sure I understand your question. At first I thought you were asking about how to write a fist-fight scene, too. But upon rereading, I think you are asking a technical question about how to insert a scene written elsewhere into an existing document of your script, in which case more information is needed. Which are you asking?
        "The Hollywood film business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S Thompson

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

          good point, I took it to mean bigwho's wondering how to break down elements of the actual fist-fight itself...

          we shall know soon enough.
          " Don't really like writing. But I do like having written." Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

            Hey Cshel,

            To add to Scribe's last comment, I am looking to understand format for describing body movement. I understand setting up the action, but for some reason in my head I keep thinking of the old cheesy Batman & Robin television show, were you read: POW! BAAAAM! over the characters faces as they get punched in the face. lol I am just trying to get a better understanding how to space and format those types of actions.

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            • #7
              Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

              Here's my best advice, complete with example:

              http://bambookillers.blogspot.com/20...ght-scene.html
              Chicks Who Script podcast

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                Format? Just regular action paragraphs. And a prose style that fits the tone of the action (BOOM! or WHAM! can be ok if that's the thing you're going for.)

                Here's is a fighting scene from The Matrix. I've omitted the scenes where the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar reacts to the events in the fight.

                Code:
                INT. DOJO
                
                They are standing in a very sparse Japanese-style dojo.
                
                                    MORPHEUS
                          This is a sparring program, similar
                          to the programmed reality of the
                          Matrix. It has the same basic rules.
                          Rules like gravity. What you must
                          learn is that these rules are no
                          different than the rules of a
                          computer system. Some of them can be
                          bent. Other can be broken.
                          Understand?
                
                Neo nods as Morpheus assumes a fighting stance.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          Then hit me, if you can.
                
                Neo assumes a similar stance, cautiously circling until he
                gives a short cry and launches a furious attack.
                
                It is like a Jackie Chan movie at high speed, fists and feet
                striking from every angle as Neo presses his attack, but each
                and every blow is blocked by effortless speed.
                
                Neo's face is knotted, teeth clenched, as he hurls himself at
                Morpheus.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          Good. Adaptation. Improvisation. But
                          your weakness isn't your technique.
                
                Morpheus attacks him and it is like nothing we have seen. His
                feet and fists are everywhere, taking Neo apart. For every
                blow Neo blocks, five more hit their target until --
                
                Neo falls.
                
                Panting, on his hands and knees, blood spits from his mouth,
                speckling the white floor of the dojo.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          How did I beat you?
                
                                    NEO
                          You -- You're too fast.
                
                                    MORPHEUS
                          Do you think my being faster,
                          stronger has anything to do with my
                          muscles in this place?
                
                Neo is frustrated, still unable to catch his breath.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          Do you believe that's air you're
                          breathing now?
                
                Neo stands, nodding slowly.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          Again.
                
                Their fists fly with pneumatic speed.
                
                Morpheus begins to press Neo, countering blows while slipping
                in several stinging slaps.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          Come on, Neo. What are you waiting
                          for? You're faster than this. Don't
                          think you are. Know you are.
                
                Whack, Morpheus cracks Neo again. Neo's face twists with rage
                as the speed of the blows rises like a drum solo.
                
                                    MORPHEUS (cont'd)
                          Come on! Stop trying to hit me and
                          just hit me.
                
                Wham. A single blow catches Morpheus on the side of the head,
                knocking off his glasses.
                
                Morpheus rubs his face, then smiles.
                
                                    NEO
                          I know what you're trying to do --
                
                                    MORPHEUS
                          I'm trying to free your mind, Neo,
                          but all I can do is show you the
                          door. You're the one that has to
                          step through. Tank, load the jump
                          program.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                  Is it that different to describing any other type of action? I mean I had a look at the Fight Club script just now as it's next to the computer, and most of the fights there are just 'fists fly, sweat sprays the air, blood and breath mixed'.

                  I think the main thing is to get across the direction of travel - like a sports match - something like:

                  X lays into Y and they trade punches -
                  X getting the upper hand with crunching headshots -
                  then Y finally times a duck, CRACKS X's ribs -
                  X rocks back - wincing - then rushes forward -
                  THUDS into Y's chest, sending them both through a window...

                  etc etc.

                  Personally I'd avoid anything too technical as the last thing you want is a fight scene that reads boring. And as for actual choreography I'm guessing 99% of that will be someone else's job way down the line.

                  JJ.
                  My stuff

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                  • #10
                    Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                    Okay. Just wanted to be sure.

                    The obvious answer is to read a lot of scripts with fight scenes, like...Fight Club.
                    "The Hollywood film business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S Thompson

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                      I see that Emily uses another scene of The Matrix in her blog. Such a great screenplay, isn't it? Specially the fist act. No scene wasted.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                        Originally posted by Jon Jay View Post
                        Is it that different to describing any other type of action? I mean I had a look at the Fight Club script just now as it's next to the computer, and most of the fights there are just 'fists fly, sweat sprays the air, blood and breath mixed'.

                        I think the main thing is to get across the direction of travel - like a sports match - something like:

                        X lays into Y and they trade punches -
                        X getting the upper hand with crunching headshots -
                        then Y finally times a duck, CRACKS X's ribs -
                        X rocks back - wincing - then rushes forward -
                        THUDS into Y's chest, sending them both through a window...

                        etc etc.

                        Personally I'd avoid anything too technical as the last thing you want is a fight scene that reads boring. And as for actual choreography I'm guessing 99% of that will be someone else's job way down the line.

                        JJ.

                        Thanks everyone for the tips, I think I am am try JJ's suggestion later tonight and see what I can come up with. But I am might add a

                        Bobby THROWS a right cross.
                        POW!!!!
                        It connects.

                        Just for kicks. I keed! I keed!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                          Originally posted by bigwho View Post
                          Thanks everyone for the tips, I think I am am try JJ's suggestion later tonight and see what I can come up with. But I am might add a

                          Bobby THROWS a right cross.
                          POW!!!!
                          It connects.

                          Just for kicks. I keed! I keed!
                          You shouldn't kid. There's nothing wrong with that.
                          Chicks Who Script podcast

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                            I really like that Matrix example because the things that matter are the things that are mentioned and nothing else.

                            So, as with all things within your script, the level of detail for the fight scene "should" be dependent on what you want us to learn about the story and the characters. In that example, it matters a great deal that:
                            • The moves are at superhuman speed
                            • Neo has skill but he can't get a punch in
                            • Morpheus is better
                            • Neo gets frustrated
                            • Neo bleeds
                            • Neo sees for himself that he has untapped potential
                            Those are huge, huge events within that story.

                            Obviously, if it was just two guys fighting and the goal was just to show that one can't fight and gets his butt kicked, that would probably look quite a bit different on the page. I wouldn't need to read about each specific body blow.

                            I look at it as: Don't get bogged down in shot for shot details unless those shot for shot details really matter and most of the time, they probably don't.
                            On Twitter @DeadManSkipping

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                            • #15
                              Re: Need help writing a fist fight scene

                              Mr. Earth I totally agree. I think I am might be making the scene more complicated than it needs to be. I am just not familair with writing those types of fighting scenes. I will probably outline this specific scene first, then position the movement, then dialog inbetween. And Emily, I don't know if using those old school crunch words would be considered savvy in today's script writing style. That's why I was cracking a joke on using "POW" Thanks again for the help everyone. I love this site.

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