Source
r/Screenwriting•
Rob_OSullivan

The Opening Action Set-piece

DISCUSSION

So I'm writing an action script at the minute, and I know all the beats I want to hit and I've outlined thoroughly for 2 and a half months. The only thing really challenging me at this stage, is the opening scene - I want it to be filled with adrenaline and energy as well as suspense and tension, while also revealing a lot about the characters and who they are.

It got me thinking that the opening action set piece to an action script is, in my opinion, the most important part of the script. Action films are built on, well... action, and first and foremost, the opening action set piece indicates to a reader how good the writer is. Opening scenes for any script are rough, cos you gotta communicate character and set up theme while also being engaging, but having the opening scene also be an action set piece adds so many more layers of difficulty as you have to 1) Do the same as any opening would, 2) Create a unique set piece and 3) Add in twists and turns to keep the audience/reader invested and entertained, because after all, that is what action films are all about. There is a lot to balance in an opening action scene, and I think the quality of an opening action set piece sets the stage for the rest of the film - if it's not engaging, entertaining, intuitive and unique enough, you've lost the reader already.

Who knows maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I'm hoping that by diving into the art of an opening action set-piece, I can perfect mine in my new script. Fingers crossed anyways.

Extra thought - An interesting general writing challenge would be to try craft just an action set piece that could open a film, because of the amount of ground it has to cover, I think it would be very beneficial.

Posted Aug 1, 2018, 2:57 PM UTC

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diehardwithzombies•

I can't say I agree that an opening action set piece is paramount to your script. Die hard, predator, aliens, terminator 2- none open with an action set piece and they're widely considered 4 of the greatest, if not the 4 greatest action movies of all time. Maybe take a look at those movies' opening scenes.

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Rob_OSullivanOP•

I do agree with that, but it seems in the current market of successful action films - a lot of them need to wow the viewers with a sensational first scene. Take a look at the recent Mission Impossible and Fast & Furious movies, even Jason Bourne opened with one I believe. I think it may be due to modern audience's expectations of what action films should be, or perhaps the common lower attention span train of thought.

I do agree though, they are sensational films, especially Aliens in my opinion.

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diehardwithzombies•

Many of the MCU films don't have action oriented opening scenes. So it's entirely possible in this day and age. But either way, good luck cracking your scene.

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Rob_OSullivanOP•

Are you sure?

Black Panther didn't I guess, but that had exposition voice over animation. Spider-Man Homecoming, from what I remember, started kinda on one cos it was a vlog of the airport fight (I think).

Infinity War opens in a big action scene between Thanos and Asgard (Thor, Hulk, the whole nine yards really)

Thor Ragnarok opened on Surtur and that fight.

Dr. Strange had one with Mads Mikkelson stealing pages from the Ancient One's text.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens with that snow fight.

Civil War had the Crossbones fight.

Winter Soldier had that boat fight.

In the last few years, there has definitely been a shift, with many action films starting off with a set piece to reel the audience in, the MCU is no different really

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fluffyn0nsense•

THIS is one of the most informative essays on YouTube RE: the composition of action. But in terms of opening a flick with a set-piece while establishing character, tone and theme - you really need to give THIS a watch; it dissects the beginning of The Matrix (1999), possibly one of the greatest cold-opens in cinema.

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carb0ncl1mber•

Sicario (and also Sicario 2 but to a lesser effect) does this unbelievably well, as does the new Blade Runner. Raiders of the Lost Ark does this perhaps most famously well. Drive is also a stand out example to me.

Really, it seems to be about dropping us right into the heat of our protagonist pursuing an INITIAL goal, one that is exciting and fraught with danger or mystery, depending on the genre/tone [it should set a mood and tonal expectations]. This goal need only be tangentially related to the rest of the plot (the idol from Indy is a McGuffin that doesn't factor into the main story), but it can also be integral to the story (Gosling killing the rogue replicant, which ignites the hunt for the 'miracle' it references.). It's either an 'every day' look at who our character is [ie. Eddie Murphy's undercover bust in Beverly Hills Cop] or a more 'fish out of water' experience, like Sicario, which still tells us who our character is and what they pursue (and the lengths they'll go to get what they want [aka the danger they'll allow themselves to be exposed to]).

We usually get a sense of a character's skills, personality, and values through the decisions they make in pursuit of this initial goal. You may even meet the antagonist, or a representation of the antagonist. Surely, the antagonistic forces in this sequence should be somewhat related to whatever the hero will face later. If your character is a cop taking on the mob, this opening sequence probably shouldn't be about the character racing to get to his doctor's appointment.

There's also the villain-centric sequence, a la Dark Knight. From what I've seen this opening sequence does all the above, except it colors in the villain instead of the protagonist, AND, the 'event', the robbery, the murder, the prison break, etc., also serves as a set-up for the protag's inciting incident, that is to say, whatever the villain is doing in this sequence is an integral piece of the plot.

This sequence is what I'm working on today as soon as I'm done procrastinating on Reddit.

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Rob_OSullivanOP•

I agree totally with everything you said, excellent breakdown, sir.

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newfoundraptureScience-Fiction•

The pilot of LOST does action and urgency incredibly well. I read it when I need creative juice. It unloads a lot of characters while keeping its pace, action interesting, description ridiculously entertaining and having urgency.

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Rob_OSullivanOP•

Thanks, I'll have a look for it and get down to reading it!

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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tipase•

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TayoWrites•

If you're inexperienced at creating an action scene then I would study films that open with action and also consider putting less responsibility on that scene. One of my favourite openings is Dark Knight. It tells us nothing about the main character or any of the characters really except the villain.

What it does do is establish the mood, tone, and pace of the whole film. I think an opening essentially just needs to say "this is what the rest of the film will be like." It also tells us something about the world, "Crime has become so commonplace that the banks are owned by the criminals," because it's one of Falcone's men that is blasting that shotgun around at the beginning.

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