Today we’re going to be talking about ACTION, and all the heart-pounding, fast-paced, explosive details that go into making action sequences really click.

What makes an action scene?

It could be a chase scene with the gang going after the big maguffin, a magic battle on the top of a mountain, it could be a few characters in a tense shootout, a duel between rivals, or a huge battleground, and everything in between!

What is your usual thought process when planning an action sequence? How do you go about constructing it for maximum impact, and evaluate its flow?

• Embrace the HYPE. FEEL THE EXCITEMENT!
• Figure out how your action sequence fits into/progresses the plot.
• Thumbnails and storyboarding are a helpful way to plan the flow and beats of the sequence.
• Thumbnails are also useful to build your sequence around specific poses or frames that you have in your mind.
• Focusing on how each character would behave in an action scene can help reveal more information and facets of a character
• Utilize your panels to encourage the flow of the scene. Don’t be afraid to break from the usual panel shape/flow during an intense scene.
• Use references.
• Find other comics that pulled off an action scene that you really liked and identify what they did that worked and find ways to apply that in your work.
• Figure out the speed of your scene and where it rises and falls.
• Use music to help you set the tone and pace if that helps you
• Know where the fight scene is going before you start. This will help to avoid sequences that just go on… and on… and on.
• Find ways for the actions and movement to interact with the environment to help keep things interesting.
• Include a variety of close ups and establishing shots.
• Vary the camera angles. Utilize the 180 rule
• Exaggerate and push the poses you’re using. Lean into extremes to make the action more intense and extreme.

What are some of the stumbling blocks or challenges you’ve found when it comes to action scenes in your own story, or common issues you’ve noticed in other works?

The action should lead somewhere, physically, emotionally, etc. Make sure your pages mesh together from page to page. The last panel of a page should flow well with the first panel of the next page.

Remember what this scene means to the characters. How is it affecting them? What is their goal here? Remember that and clearly portray it.

Don’t let the action overrun the narrative.

Avoid repetition of the same cycles.

When the outcome of a fight is a foregone conclusion, consider keeping the action short and impactful, and not let it last more than a couple of pages. There can be reasons to prolong the action, but make sure you have a reason for dragging it out.

----

Episode Release Date: March 8, 2023

Episode Credits:

Kristen Lee (@feathernotes) - she/they, ghostjunksickness.com lunarblight.com

Ally Rom Colthoff (@varethane) - she/they, chirault.sevensmith.net wychwoodcomic.com

Renie Jesanis (@renieplayerone) - she/they, kateblast.com

----

The Intro "DO IT (feat. Shia LaBeouf)", and the Outro "It's Good To See You Again!!", both by Adrianwave, have been used and modified in good faith under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Licensed. Edits include: Fade IN/OUT, and a repeat added to the beginning of "It's Good To See You Again!!". For more information on this creative commons use, please reference https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.