How to Plan & Write FIGHT SCENES (Writing Advice)

Summary

In this video, author Brandon McNulty discusses the art of writing compelling fight scenes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the 'why', 'where', and 'who' of a fight to create intensity and realism. McNulty uses examples from Fight Club, Star Wars, and Rocky to illustrate varying levels of combat motivation and intensity. He also highlights the impact of setting and character attributes on the fight's dynamics. Tips for crafting effective fight scenes include determining the story's role, setting injury goals, and focusing on sensory details rather than combat jargon to immerse readers.

Takeaways

• 📝 A fight scene is an action scene where characters engage in physical combat, ranging from small fistfights to large-scale battles.
• 💥 Three key questions to ask when planning a fight scene: Why, Where, and Who.
• ⚔️ 'Why' refers to what’s at stake in the fight – what each side has to gain or lose, influencing the intensity and speed of the fight.
• 🏞️ 'Where' refers to the environment, which can provide advantages or disadvantages based on terrain, weather, or objects used as weapons.
• 👥 'Who' refers to the character’s size, strength, skill, and abilities, which impact the fight's outcome.
• 🎥 Fight scenes in famous movies (like 'Fight Club,' 'Star Wars,' and 'Rocky') showcase how motivation and environment can drastically change the intensity of a fight.
• 💡 Tips for writing fight scenes: determine the fight’s place in the story, set an injury goal, and focus on key turning points.
• 🔪 Include turning points where the nature of the fight shifts, such as when a character grabs a weapon or runs out of ammo.
• 👂 Avoid using combat jargon; instead, use sensory details to immerse the audience in the fight scene.
• 📚 Resources like Carla Hodge's book 'Fight Write' can help writers create believable and detailed fight scenes with various fighting styles and injuries.

Q & A

What is a fight scene according to the script?

A fight scene is an action scene where characters engage in physical combat. It can be small, like a one-on-one fist fight, large, such as a shootout between heroes and villains, or massive, like a grand-scale battle.

What are the three key questions to ask when planning a fight scene?

The three key questions are: Why (what is at stake for both sides), Where (how the environment influences the fight), and Who (the characters’ size, strength, and skill levels).

How does motivation impact the intensity and speed of a fight?

Motivation affects the intensity and speed of a fight because characters with more at stake, such as fighting for self-worth or survival, will fight with greater passion and desperation compared to those fighting for lesser reasons.

How does the fight environment influence the outcome of a fight scene?

The environment can create advantages or disadvantages based on factors like the size or layout of the area, weather conditions, terrain, and objects that can be used as weapons. These environmental factors can influence the fight's strategy and outcome.

Can a smaller character defeat a larger opponent? How?

Yes, a smaller character can defeat a larger opponent through agility, resourcefulness, or by using the environment to their advantage. For example, Indiana Jones defeats a larger opponent by fighting dirty and using his surroundings.

What is an example of a fight where motivation plays a crucial role?

In 'Rocky', Rocky fights for self-respect and self-worth, giving him an advantage despite being the underdog against the heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed, who is fighting for money and entertainment.

What are the differences in intensity between the fight scenes in 'Fight Club' and 'Star Wars'?

In 'Fight Club', the fight between the narrator and Tyler Durden is slow and lacks intensity, as they are fighting out of curiosity. In contrast, the fight between Obi-Wan and Darth Maul in 'Star Wars' is intense and fast-paced, driven by passion and survival.

What does the script suggest about using technical language in fight scenes?

The script advises avoiding technical jargon and combat terminology in fight scenes. Instead, it recommends focusing on sensory details and the characters' experiences to engage the audience and keep them immersed in the story.

Why is it important to determine a fight’s place within the story?

Determining a fight's place within the story helps you focus on key details, plan the battle’s outcome, and set limits, such as how much injury a character can endure or whether a major injury will require recovery time.

What are turning points in a fight scene, and why are they important?

Turning points are significant shifts in the fight, such as when someone grabs a weapon or runs out of ammo. These moments are important because they escalate the stakes and can determine the direction and outcome of the fight.