Breaking down an action sequence

For an action sequence it isn't a bad idea to break down the action into smaller parts or sub-events.

Example: Opening a door.

1. Someone runs to a door.
2. A sweaty hand reaches for the door knob.
3. The hand grasps the knob.
4. The hand turns the knob and but then freezes.
5. The door opens.
6. The hand releases the knob.
7. The door completely opens into a dark room.
8. Someone screams.

This isn't the most dramatic of sequences to use as an example, but when you break down an action sequence, or any sequence for that matter, you most likely will stumble onto a story structure:

Beginning: We don't know too much about the who-what-where, but there is a little bit for us to follow.

Middle: There seems to be some hesitation about opening the door. The character is running away from something. Will the door provide an answer or will it lead to more trouble?

How would you shoot this sequence? Would you just put the camera in one position and continuously film it without any other shots? Or, would you change the shot or camera position for each subevent? We'll look at some clips from Star Wars Episode IV and you should notice both methods used.

Resolution: Well, there may not be a satisfying resolution, but we get the idea that the door led to more trouble.