tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post9022931759187464551..comments2024-03-28T08:02:30.057-04:00Comments on Word-Whores: Writing Action ScenesK.A. Krantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06674754426001151828noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-71833893235720542632012-01-30T14:26:12.815-05:002012-01-30T14:26:12.815-05:00I do know what you mean - I'm far more likely ...I do know what you mean - I'm far more likely to project myself into a book character's experiences than a movie character's. In movies, though, I usually feel very aware of who the actors are and their personalities. Like the very good sex scenes in In the Cut I still remember as Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo. I suspect Hollywood likes it that way.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-22482756488443236142012-01-30T13:52:49.449-05:002012-01-30T13:52:49.449-05:00Yes, you never really hear much that's positiv...Yes, you never really hear much that's positive about movie sex scenes!<br /><br />I think it's easier, for me at least, to lose myself in a book; when I watch something on screen I'm always aware on some level that they are actors playing a role, whereas the charaters in a book are just being themselves - if you see what I mean?!cuttlefishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973758475947253237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-10327397269095269252012-01-30T09:39:02.679-05:002012-01-30T09:39:02.679-05:00That's an interesting point, cuttlefish. I'...That's an interesting point, cuttlefish. I'm thinking that I hear film buffs rave about amazingly well choreographed fight scenes, but rarely do sex scenes get the same praise. Is it because sex scenes in movies are usually about either "look at the pretty bodies" or "here, wank off to this"? hmm.<br /><br />You are too funny, B.E.!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-49517930070005961832012-01-30T08:34:39.075-05:002012-01-30T08:34:39.075-05:00:shrug: I find that I can flip past most sex scen...:shrug: I find that I can flip past most sex scenes and not lose the story thread. For me, they're mostly been there done that, and the ones that aren't same ol' same ol' get too bizarre to want to do other than skim past. Fight scenes on the other hand are mostly different, and the bizarre ones don't leave me feeling sympathy pains in my sensitive bits.B.E. Sandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04336115135400388268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-29570012846281888222012-01-30T05:19:55.189-05:002012-01-30T05:19:55.189-05:00I agree with those that say the action, whether fi...I agree with those that say the action, whether fighting or sex, has to have a point and not just be there for the sake of it. If it is pivotal to the characters development and the plot they can get as down and dirty as they like and I'll hang in there clapping and cheering! I don't need a book to have sex scenes but if it's calling out for one/some and they are skimmed over it's hugely frustrating. <br /><br />Also I don't find sex scenes in movies as satisfyingly intense as those I read, ever, maybe the fact that the writer's description is filtered through the reader's mind, allowing the reader more use of their own imaginiation, helps, whereas I find fight/chase scenes in movies easier to understand than those I read.cuttlefishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973758475947253237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-44634106873236793612012-01-29T17:58:02.325-05:002012-01-29T17:58:02.325-05:00Ha, yes! Everybody had meetings in strip clubs. Ho...Ha, yes! Everybody had meetings in strip clubs. How on earth did they justify that??Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-11353971432399439932012-01-29T17:38:41.602-05:002012-01-29T17:38:41.602-05:00Hahaha Marcella! Kind of like how they'd put t...Hahaha Marcella! Kind of like how they'd put the obligatory sex scene in 80's movies (or the scene w/ the topless actress) just because that was the "formula" at the time, not because it made sense to the story.Laurie Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953540926553154310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-29854092929699110332012-01-29T16:39:39.493-05:002012-01-29T16:39:39.493-05:00LOL - "no other options than either blowing s...LOL - "no other options than either blowing something up or, possibly, blowing one another" <--love it!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-33838600512841431632012-01-29T14:52:17.277-05:002012-01-29T14:52:17.277-05:00I like reading both. I prefer writing action/fight...I like reading both. I prefer writing action/fight scenes purely because of that 'uncomfortable with making a private act public' thing you mention about sex. I'm working on writing it anyway. However. Like Laurie, I seem to be wired so that the scene must have a point beyond 'need a fight or sex scene here'. In a perfect world, I want characters driven to the point that there are no other options than either blowing something up or, possibly, blowing one another. :D If the drive is lacking and there are no consequences or revelations following the smexy or the fight, then I feel vaguely cheated.Marcella Burnardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05061631584953668058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-67349296218797272092012-01-29T13:54:54.749-05:002012-01-29T13:54:54.749-05:00That's really great feedback, Laurie - very tr...That's really great feedback, Laurie - very true. Having a goal or transformation besides the martial/sexual intercourse is, as you say, what makes a scene riveting. Something to ponder. And for me to improve on!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-31806641657751074042012-01-29T13:28:12.988-05:002012-01-29T13:28:12.988-05:00Very thought provoking post, Jeffe. I like reading...Very thought provoking post, Jeffe. I like reading and writing both fight and sex scenes, but I've found myself skimming them sometimes when I read. <br /><br />After reading your post, I tried to pinpoint why some work for me and some don't. Why does one fight/sex scene keep me riveted, where I drink up every word, and others have me going, meh, and turning the page? <br /><br />I guess it comes down to emotional depth for me. If the scene reveals something about the character I didn't know before--a fear, an insecurity, a hope, a goal (other than winning or climaxing-LOL), it keeps me riveted. I *need* to read that scene in order to understand that character or the story better. <br /><br />If it doesn't have emotional depth (okay, so she beats the crap out of the villain; he has an orgasm and it's spectacular, whatever), then I skim over it and get onto the next part of the book.<br /><br />Thanks for getting me to think this morning!Laurie Londonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07953540926553154310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-33871791164404060402012-01-29T12:46:04.724-05:002012-01-29T12:46:04.724-05:00Very true, Sullivan! I expect that's the key.Very true, Sullivan! I expect that's the key.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-15052887665332793172012-01-29T12:22:19.827-05:002012-01-29T12:22:19.827-05:00I like to read both sex and fight scenes as long a...I like to read both sex and fight scenes as long as they're well written. Both can get quite tedious if written badly.Sullivan McPighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133432350331782496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-46709131622072448742012-01-29T12:15:33.117-05:002012-01-29T12:15:33.117-05:00I'm an eye-closer, too, Diane. There are just ...I'm an eye-closer, too, Diane. There are just some things I don't want burned into my brain - and that always means gore, not the smexy, for me. <br /><br />I agree, KAK. People do take liberties with sex scenes that can be annoying. Like the whole "natural lubrication" thing. No no no....Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-19272421013158130432012-01-29T12:04:05.612-05:002012-01-29T12:04:05.612-05:00Strangely enough, I succumb to more "is that ...Strangely enough, I succumb to more "is that physically possible" conundrums when writing sex scenes vs action scenes. I imagine it's because you can bring all sorts of stuff to a fight, but there's a definite limit with sex.K.A. Krantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06674754426001151828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-86451709272372232992012-01-29T11:48:57.129-05:002012-01-29T11:48:57.129-05:00LOL-love the quick & dirty action scene-gets t...LOL-love the quick & dirty action scene-gets the job done. I usually skim the fight scenes & have been known to close my eyes in the movie theater during the chase/fight scenes. Of course if the sex scene is boring, I'll skip that too.Diane Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02372257372993167544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-49134647120945878942012-01-29T11:30:17.181-05:002012-01-29T11:30:17.181-05:00Yeah, I knew this kind of thing would come of lett...Yeah, I knew this kind of thing would come of letting BOYS in the club! ;-) I'm looking forward to the rebuttal.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-633939456089319192012-01-29T11:27:44.262-05:002012-01-29T11:27:44.262-05:00Ooooooohhhhhh, my topic! Can't wait til tomorr...Ooooooohhhhhh, my topic! Can't wait til tomorrow. :)<br /><br />I am the opposite of you. I really love a good action scene. And there are some interesting correlations between what makes a good fight scene and what makes a good sex scene.<br /><br />Good post my friend! It's interesting to read your perspective.James R. Tuck Dark Urban Fantasy Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12517791916776187294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-37544018976992642292012-01-29T11:18:31.402-05:002012-01-29T11:18:31.402-05:00I can totally see that, Robert - interesting point...I can totally see that, Robert - interesting points. Love your "bam-pow-BANG Winner!" break-down. The action scene version of Tab A and Slot B. Both need to be much more to be effective storytelling.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-22284275670867339182012-01-29T11:08:09.116-05:002012-01-29T11:08:09.116-05:00I've written both, and I agree completely that...I've written both, and I agree completely that you want to avoid 'stage direction' in either. On the other hand, there are times when some trivial detail might be important, and the only way to keep some dramatic tension is to put some actual trivial details in to camoflage it.<br /><br />That goes for both sex and action scenes, actually.<br /><br />Of course, one of my favorite styles, which people either love or hate, is the matrix-like 'bullet time' action scene, specifically because it lets me put all that loaded emotional content into the scene. Fight scenes, if they're detailed beyond a 'bam-pow-BANG' "Winner!", should be as emotionally laden as the sex scenes. Different emotions, maybe, but still emotions.Robert C Romanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13955223936635159755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-11198151302513022742012-01-29T10:49:42.759-05:002012-01-29T10:49:42.759-05:00Arguably, though - romances and romantic comedies ...Arguably, though - romances and romantic comedies don't necessarily have intense sex scenes, or any at all. Whereas a darker thriller of a movie, like In the Cut, has both. But you're right - I'll read stuff I can't watch. (and likely vice-versa)Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-47512169123102530532012-01-29T10:45:48.948-05:002012-01-29T10:45:48.948-05:00Good points Jeffe. I like to read and write both s...Good points Jeffe. I like to read and write both sex and action scenes! I'd gladly pay to see a movie with exciting car chases/horse-back chases/explosions/spaceships/swords/superheroes. A romance or romantic comedy...meh. Dunno what that says about me. I also WILL NOT watch a child in jeopardy/child getting hurt movie...but I've put Beverley in plenty of danger in my books. :-)Linda Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04452743850118017500noreply@blogger.com