Hi! I'm Arianne, and welcome to my blog!
Why a blog?
Why did I create a blog, you ask?
I love watching action films! The suspense, mystery and drama are everything! Action films provide a sense of attentiveness that make the viewer glued to their seat, wanting for more. On the weekends, I enjoy entertaining myself while curling up in a comfy spot on the couch. Some of my favorite action films are: the outer-space fantasy Guardians of the Galaxy, the successful, women empowerment movie Black Widow, the adventurous film The Avengers, and the action-packed, on-the-edge-of-your-seat, harrowing quest of Iron Man 3. I created this blog to find out if others felt the same way I do about action films. I hope to learn new information and expand my knowledge with some feedback I receive. Someday, I want to become a producer and create my own action films!
Action Films
An action film has a plot that is fast-paced, exciting with the element of an impossible resolution. There are elements such as exaggerated explosions, stunts, high speed car chases, violent and unrealistic fight scenes. People enjoy these films not only for their suspense, but also for its mystery, comedy and melodramatic moments. An important advantage that action movies have is they are always in season; you can view them anytime, anywhere, they have multiple ratings from G to R, which makes them popular for all ages.
Content:
In action films, directors make sure to include a strong hero, revenge plot, training montage, chase and fight scenes, and a final show-down between the main character (s) and the bad guy (s). The best action movies are fast-paced, unpredictable, have humorous undertone. This develops the suspense and anticipation for viewers, and this creates the "gluing to their seats." This is a main element seen in an action movie.
Examples of fast-paced action-packed Movies:
Suspense is also an common element in action films; without it, the movies will lose it's appeal. Suspense assist in creating intrigue; the audience remains engaged and is eager to see what will happen next for the duration of of the film. In suspense films the idea is to maintain the audiences' heighten sense of excitement, anxiety, surprise, and anticipation. Due to all the unexpected twists and turns of the plot makes the audience remain on the edge of their seats as they try to figure what happens next. A well thought out suspense plot will have cover up of important information, cliffhangers, impossible obstacles for the hero to overcome, as the plot builds up to the climax. Sound, lighting, and camera angles also play an intricate part in developing suspense and keeping the audience captivated. A close-up shot makes the scene suspenseful because the audience can not see the full scope of the characters surrounding, add dramatic music and the movie goer is hooked with anticipation of what will happen next. Put your protagonist in a dimly lit space, gun in hand, walking slowly with his/her back against the wall, and the audience is stressed about whether the hero will be able to complete the assignment.
Comedy is another popular element for action movies. In addition to having elements such as suspense, they're often expected to be lighthearted, amusing, and invoke a sense of adventure for the audience. For instance, in the midst of a fight scene, the hero will poke fun at the antagonist to produce laughter. Or, during a serious stunt the actor may say a funny one-liner right before falling off a three story building. There can also be a series of jokes between multiple characters in moments when the plot is at a stand still; this makes the audience focus on what the characters are saying rather than being distracted by the action. Another type used is situational comedies which put the character(s) in an unfamiliar environment. They will come across several obstacles that they must get out of in a way that provides amusement for the audience.
Production Techniques:
In action films, keeping the shots tight make the visuals more intense. As the character's face (or anything that you want the audience to focus) is present, the longer the shot is, the more the audience knows its significance. Extreme-close-ups bring fear, intense and anticipation to the audience as well. Another technique for action films is contrasting colors; they help the movie look intense and edgy. Several shadowing and darker lighting (same colors in lighter and darker hues) helps to add contrast and dramatic ranges to the scenes.
Sound aids in developing the plot of the action movie. It immerses the audience into the specific scene of the film and tells the story as the movie progresses. It is used to create emotion and set the tone for certain moments in the film, and it intensifies what the audience is viewing. For instance, tires screeching, the roaring of an engine, the clashing of one car into another, and the smashing of windows makes the audience feel they're witnesses to the high-speed chase.
Marketing:
Action films range from young males between 16 and 25 years old. The marketing of a film is an important factor not only for the production, but also for making the public aware when the film will be released. Advertisements, posts, and trailers are created to entice audiences to want to see the film. Posters or images representing the film has to capture the audience with an alluring photograph that portrays the actors/actresses in the movie, and it will give a brief synopsis of what the film is about. For example, Iron Man 3 was described as "Marvel's Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle."
