I throughly enjoyed this post Cole. I am not a screenwriter, but am an avid movie fan and a big reader. I’ve never thought of an action scene as having Acts; found the entire breakdown incredibly interesting! Plus, I do love the Dark Knight movies!
What I'm trying to do here at 5AM STORYTALK isn't just for screenwriters or novelists and such. I want to help everyone look at art in new ways, and it sounds like I managed to do that with this article and you. Thanks for the note and for reading!
I love that. I would love to learn more about writing. I am an amateur photographer (very amateur).
I think that I get what you are saying about looking/thinking about art. For example, there are certain movies and tv shows that amaze me with their use of light, lines, color & imagery to move the story forward; sort of the way I think about composing a photo or how a want a still image to look.
One great example of this is, in my opinion, is Better Call Saul.
Those parking garage scenes with Jimmy and Kim, & many others.
The psychology of the 3 act structure being embedded in the subconscious of execs and the audience was insightful. And how to execute this sequence like a three act structure — just great teaching. Appreciate how thoughtful/layered this is — right on!
I'm quite pleased with how this THE DARK KNIGHT one turned out, but that CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER one, linked to in the article, is really solid, I think, because it's far more straight forward.
Enjoyed reading this a lot. Nothing like a good action sequence and I never thought about them as mini stories. The John Wick movies also feature spectacular action sequences that I’m sure also work by these rules and expectations.
Thanks for reading, Ynon. I've been trying to work out something to write about the first WICK, in particular, but haven't quite found my inspiration yet. I'm speaking to its screenwriter, for one of my artist-on-artist conversations, in the new year...so maybe that will help provide some focus.
A great breakdown sir; looking forward to reading it again. If you're taking suggestions I'd love to see your take on the bank robbery scene from Heat and the car chase from Ronin.
Thanks, Richard, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. I've considered HEAT for a while now, but I haven't quite identified how I'd want to talk about it yet. I try to let these scene breakdowns happen when they happen, so they're never forced. HEAT has three scenes I'd consider writing about, and one day -- maybe soon -- I'll find that spark that makes me pick one over the others.
A great breakdown, Cole. My students read The Dark Knight script and watched the film last week (I believe there are two films beginning screenwriters should study more than anything -- The Dark Knight and Seven Samurai), so your post, which I'll make them read, will be a great help to them.
I spent a while debating whether to write about the opening bank heist, Alfred explaining about how some people just want to burn the world down, the interrogation, and this action sequence. If for no other reason than I was inspired by the perspective of the action sequence, I went with that, but I suspect I'm going to return to the film early next year. Or rather, the trilogy. Nolan's uneasy, even strained relationship with Batman's fascist aspects and his disdain for capitalism/billionaires is of great interest to me. Thanks for reading!
I’m glad you went with that action sequence because the opening, as brilliant as it is, has been analyzed to death. Having said that, I love all the scenes in that film. Some people tend to dismiss the film’s seriousness and brilliance because the main character is a superhero. But we know they’re wrong, of course.
Outstanding breakdown.
Thanks, JB. I had so much fun writing this one.
I throughly enjoyed this post Cole. I am not a screenwriter, but am an avid movie fan and a big reader. I’ve never thought of an action scene as having Acts; found the entire breakdown incredibly interesting! Plus, I do love the Dark Knight movies!
What I'm trying to do here at 5AM STORYTALK isn't just for screenwriters or novelists and such. I want to help everyone look at art in new ways, and it sounds like I managed to do that with this article and you. Thanks for the note and for reading!
I love that. I would love to learn more about writing. I am an amateur photographer (very amateur).
I think that I get what you are saying about looking/thinking about art. For example, there are certain movies and tv shows that amaze me with their use of light, lines, color & imagery to move the story forward; sort of the way I think about composing a photo or how a want a still image to look.
One great example of this is, in my opinion, is Better Call Saul.
Those parking garage scenes with Jimmy and Kim, & many others.
Another great series that uses visual composition to both tell the overall story and revealed secrets about the characters' inner lives is "HANNIBAL"!
I haven’t seen that!
It's my favorite TV series.
The psychology of the 3 act structure being embedded in the subconscious of execs and the audience was insightful. And how to execute this sequence like a three act structure — just great teaching. Appreciate how thoughtful/layered this is — right on!
I'm quite pleased with how this THE DARK KNIGHT one turned out, but that CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER one, linked to in the article, is really solid, I think, because it's far more straight forward.
Enjoyed reading this a lot. Nothing like a good action sequence and I never thought about them as mini stories. The John Wick movies also feature spectacular action sequences that I’m sure also work by these rules and expectations.
Thanks for reading, Ynon. I've been trying to work out something to write about the first WICK, in particular, but haven't quite found my inspiration yet. I'm speaking to its screenwriter, for one of my artist-on-artist conversations, in the new year...so maybe that will help provide some focus.
Damnnn would love to hear from the dude who wrote those films. I was particularly blown away by the fourth one.
A great breakdown sir; looking forward to reading it again. If you're taking suggestions I'd love to see your take on the bank robbery scene from Heat and the car chase from Ronin.
Wishing you a great Sunday.
Thanks, Richard, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it. I've considered HEAT for a while now, but I haven't quite identified how I'd want to talk about it yet. I try to let these scene breakdowns happen when they happen, so they're never forced. HEAT has three scenes I'd consider writing about, and one day -- maybe soon -- I'll find that spark that makes me pick one over the others.
A great breakdown, Cole. My students read The Dark Knight script and watched the film last week (I believe there are two films beginning screenwriters should study more than anything -- The Dark Knight and Seven Samurai), so your post, which I'll make them read, will be a great help to them.
I spent a while debating whether to write about the opening bank heist, Alfred explaining about how some people just want to burn the world down, the interrogation, and this action sequence. If for no other reason than I was inspired by the perspective of the action sequence, I went with that, but I suspect I'm going to return to the film early next year. Or rather, the trilogy. Nolan's uneasy, even strained relationship with Batman's fascist aspects and his disdain for capitalism/billionaires is of great interest to me. Thanks for reading!
I’m glad you went with that action sequence because the opening, as brilliant as it is, has been analyzed to death. Having said that, I love all the scenes in that film. Some people tend to dismiss the film’s seriousness and brilliance because the main character is a superhero. But we know they’re wrong, of course.
Thanks, J.D.!
Well, there aren't many better directors of spectacle than Nolan!