Geoffrey Knight: Dissection of an Action Sequence

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Dissection of an Action Sequence

CUE THE MUSIC AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME!

I’m currently fine-tuning the climax of my new book THE CURSE OF THE DRAGON and when I need a break I tend to play movies that keep me inspired and thinking about what makes a good action sequence. The other night I put on INDEPENDENCE DAY which is certainly flawed but is basically a solidly entertaining action sci-fi film, mostly because of Will Smith’s energy and also because of the annihiliation scene a third of the way into the movie which, in 1996, blew us all away and still stands up today! One of the reasons this scene works SO well is the lack of music for the majority of it. Very cleverly, the score shuts down just as the alien ships are about to blast the heck out of us, and then when all hell breaks loose, we have no musical cues whatsoever. Nothing but the sound of cars flying through the air and buildings blowing up. The tension is extreme and it heightens the reality of the moment. Without music, there’s no predicting what will happen, no clue as to who will live or die, nothing at all for us to cling to other than the arm of our chairs. Only when Vivica A. Fox sees the blast wave coming (such a nice shot with her completely unaware son in the backseat of the car and a fiery death fast-approaching from behind) does the music kick in and propel us toward the end of the scene. Cue a mother’s determination to save her family, dog and all!!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Praise for FATHOM'S FIVE

"Muscles, maps, tombs and traps... filled with fun characters, cinematic adventure, wicked villains, clever twists, deadly turns and cliffhangers galore... I can't remember the last time I had this much fun!"

"It's Gay Raiders of the Lost DaVinci Code... I loved it...!"

"Rollercoaster adventure full of steamy sex, heart-stopping action sequences, and the best part is the story! It reads like a bestseller, only the leading men are gay and out for action..."

"Filled with gorgeous men and lightning-paced action..."

"Remarkable... In the first three pages of RIDDLE I actually I knew this is something else, it reads like Davinci Code, believable, with integrity, something I can imagine on the big screen..."

"Prepare yourself, because you are about to be taken on a non-stop, no-holds-barred adventure that will keep you balanced on the very edge of your seat..."

"Gay novels just went to a whole new level..."

"Imagine The DaVinci Code meets James Bond meets Indiana Jones meets Charlie's Angels...sweeping the reader on a whirlwind journey across three continents and countless clever edge-of-your-seat escapes..."

"The Fathom's Five novels open with a bang and don't stop..."

"This is great adventure...fast-paced, erotic, exicting..."

"After finishing THE CROSS OF SINS I didn't see how it would be possible for Geoffrey Knight to rachet up not only the tension and action, but to add another steamy and crazy-fun layer... Not only did he do it again with THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS, he totally blew the series out of the water...!"

"A thrill-ride from start to finish..."

"Erotic gay action with real plot...!"

"The story sizzles with fun, sex and adventure. I could not put it down..."

"I have said several times that good erotica is very difficult to write and it is rare to read it. Geoffrey Knight writes good erotica and he titillates..."

"The plot is totally believable, the characters are well-developed and the sex is very hot..."

"This is gay action at it's best...!"

"Eat your heart out, 007, we've finally got not just one, but five hot gay heroes of our own! And these boys get their men in more ways than one...!"

"Bring on the next Fathom's Five adventure right now please!"

Who is Professor Fathom?

Professor Fathom is a man with a dream: a dream that all gay men and women will one day share the same rights and respect as everyone else. It's a dream realized through his quest to obtain ancient treasures, right age-old wrongs, and uncover the truth behind some of the most dangerous mysteries of all time.

Now in his sixties—and rendered blind by an accident almost 40 years ago—the fate of Professor Fathom's quest lies in the hands of five daring gay thrill-seekers: Luca da Roma, an Italian model and art expert; Eden Santiago, a Brazilian biologist; Shane Houston, a Texas cowboy; Will Hunter, college quarterback and ancient history major; and hunky New Yorker Jake Stone, adventurer-for-hire.

Steered by Professor Fathom's wisdom and driven by his passion to uncover the deadliest of secrets, Fathom's Five—as they have become known—will stop at nothing to solve these ancient mysteries, unearth vital treasures, follow the clues and bring justice to the world!

Who is Jake Stone?

Although born and bred in New York, the world is now Jake Stone's playground of mystery and trouble!

At 28 years of age, Jake has scoured the planet uncovering ancient relics and rare artefacts, hired by merciless millionaires to build their own personal collection, expanding the wealth of their priceless belongings. But now, under the guidance and wisdom of Professor Fathom, Jake is about to understand the true value of belonging.

With a furrowed brow of bravery, a glint of glory in his piercing blue eyes and one determined hand clawing at his spikey black hair, Jake Stone is about to plunge headlong into action and adventure—and if Professor Fathom has anything to do with it, he'll be the latest addition to Fathom's Five!

Who is Dr Eden Santiago?

Born and raised in the slums of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, 27-year-old Eden Santiago rejected a life of crime and corruption on the streets to put himself through college, becoming a doctor in not only biology, but also genetics. His studies also make him an expert in botany and toxicology.

Sensible and sexy, grounded and gorgeous, Eden has proven himself time and time again as Professor Fathom's right-hand man. Professor Fathom entrusts Eden to keep the team together; he has often considered Eden a younger version of himself—calm, collected, clever and calculated in his approach to their missions. Yet Eden possesses a compassion that may one day be his downfall.

With his shimmering brown skin, his heart-melting Latino tongue, his trim shaved head and his perfect body, Dr Eden Santiago is the cornerstone of Professor Fathom's team.

Who is Shane Houston?

His short-cropped blonde hair peeks out from under his cowboy hat, his mouth is always twirled in a cheeky grin, and his manners are impeccable: Shane Houston is the essential Texas gentlemen and animal lover... with a bad boy's love of action!

At 25 years of age, Shane is a renowned cartographer with a sense of space and distance considered uncanny by many... but handy to the Fathom's Five team. After leaving his family ranch (and his beloved mother, Gertrude) at the age of 18, Shane moved from one ranch-hand's job to another until Professor Fathom caught wind of his unparallelled cartography skills.

With a heart as big as Texas—and a sense of fun and adventure to match—Shane Houston is Fathom's Five's untamed cowboy with compassion! It's time to hold on tight for a wild, wild ride!

Who is Luca da Roma?

Twenty-six years ago, a baby boy was left in a basket on the doorstep of the convent of Santa Maria del Mare in Tuscany. There was a note pinned to the baby’s blanket explaining that he had no name and was a bastard child, born in the ghettoes of Rome. Around his neck was a small crucifix on a silver chain. No markings. No engraving. No clue as to who this child could be.

When the kindly Sister Eva discovered the baby on the doorstep, the morning sun was shining on the child's face. She took him in, and the three nuns living at the convent named him Luca da Roma—the Light of Rome.

Over the years, Luca proved himself a good boy and a good student. As he grew older, he became interested in history and art, until the day finally came when he left the convent and headed for Rome.

In the years that followed, he questioned his sexuality as many times as he questioned his faith. He was a handsome young man and made enough money to live, modeling for the struggling artists of Rome. There were times he did more than model and made more money. Then one day—seeing his knowledge of history, his love of art and his passion for men and for what was right—Professor Fathom took Luca under his wing.

Now, with his tussled brown hair, his catwalk looks and his timelessly beautiful Italian Renaissance body, Luca da Roma is himself a work of art... and one of the greatest assets in Professor Fathom's team.

Who is Will Hunter?

College is a bore... unless it helps 19-year-old Will Hunter solve some of the deadliest secrets in Archeological History. When he's not on the field earning his stripes as a College Quarterback, Will is being tutored by his hunky Ancient History Professor, Nathan James. And what he learns behind the closed doors of Professor James's office - with his pants down and his legs spread - Will puts into practice, solving deadly mysteries and finding the clues to ancient relics lost or hidden for thousands of years.

Always ready for action, the blonde tussle-haired student is the son of a wealthy diplomat—Charles Hunter—who has left Will to grow up under the guidance of his loyal butler: the prim and proper and much-loved Felix Fraser.

Born with a need for speed (on his hot Ducati motorcycle) and undeniably the bad boy of this sexy bunch, Will Hunter is without a doubt the wild child of Fathom's Five!