action : Spreety TV Online Glossary
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action phr. 1. The director’s oral
instruction that signals the principal actors to start their performance in a
scene. The director’s call for action follows the AD’s call to start rolling
camera, to start background extra movement, and, when filming with
double-system sound, to start recording sound. The director’s call may be
repeated by the AD in situations where the director cannot be heard by everyone
on the set. If the director is some distance from the actors (such as off to
the side watching the action in a video monitor), the AD may call for action
instead of the director. ► n. 2. The visual movement that appears
within a work including the activities depicted and the external deportment
(attitude, voice, gestures, countenance, etc.) of the actors. 3. Stunts
and other energetic activities such as running, jumping, fighting, chase
sequences, etc. 4. The event or connected series of events that play out
as a work’s narrative unfolds; the story. 5. The visual portion (as
opposed to the audio portion) of an audiovisual work. 6. The written
description of a shot or scene that appears in a script; direction. 7. A
judicial proceeding for the enforcement or protection of a right, the redress
or prevention of a wrong, or the punishment of a public offense, including
lawsuits, cease and desist letters, etc. 8. A genre in which screen action
and special effects mostly replace story and character development as the focus
of the work.
An action movie is filled with some combination of physical
stunts, battles, car chases, martial arts, etc. Action films are generally in
non-stop motion, and plots are generally simple, compact, and predictable.
Westerns and war movies are often typical of the genre. Critics rarely hail
action movies thanks to their typical two-dimensional hero vs. villain
approach.
The plot of an action movie is typically based around a simple
conflict between the good guys and the bad guys. Similar to action-adventure
movies, the bad guys are typically former criminals, fugitives, foreign powers
or evil masterminds. The good guys are usually men who are either top agents of
law enforcement agencies, or rogues who have personal agendas with the bad
guys.
What makes an action movie stand out from the rest of the movie
genres is its extensive use of special effects and stunts. Newer action films
have incorporated more complex one-on-one fight scenes as a result of the
growing popularity of Asian martial art films in Hollywood. Consequently, action movie actors
must be quite fit and agile.
Compare direction.
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