Mountains and Airwolf: A High-Flying Adventure
Far from being simply static backdrops, mountains are alive, exciting places that are full of activity and drama. When I look at a mountainous landscape, I don’t just see the peaceful face of nature. I see clear pictures of high-speed chases and daring escapes and hear the sound of excitement in my head. The peaks and valleys become the setting of the dramas that are full of imagination and can keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
One such story is Airwolf, the classic helicopter from the ’80s, flying at top speed through the air. I can almost hear the rotor blades touching the ground as she flies close to the cliffs, through the canyons and over the trees. The helicopter hides behind the rocks and caves, and small cracks and gaps, as the criminals chasing it get closer. The landscape’s twist and turn provide a new level of tension and excitement and make the mountainous terrain a perfect ground for exciting aerial games.
However, the mountains are also a haven for those who are being chased. Envision a criminal who has robbed a bank and is fleeing with the booty while travelling through the wild. The posse is in hot pursuit, but the villain knows the mountains. He hides in the jungle, or seeks shelter in a cave, or climbs up a steep slope to get a higher ground. Each of the ridges and peaks provides the bandits with new possibilities for hiding and the law with new chances to get lost and frustrated. The terrain is as much a character in the story as it is a factor in the story, and it helps to create the tension and thrill of the chase.
The natural elements of the mountains – the cliffs, the gorges, and the peaks – help to create the sense of scale and grandeur in these action-filled stories. The immense and imposing mountains make everything from chases and escapes bigger and more important. While the characters move around in this large and harsh environment, their strength and intelligence are tested and the story gains depth.
I hope that in creating these lively scenes in an artwork or a story, I have been able to capture the spirit of the mountains and their energy. I want to show not only the physical attractiveness of the landscape but also the psychological thrill of being a part of it. With every brush or word, I am trying to paint or describe the audience or reader into the center of the action and make them feel the way they do when they are on the edge of their seat during a chase.
Finally, the mountains are the stage on which stories are told in full color and depth. They are a reminder that nature is not just a figure in the background, but a real living organism that can give ideas and thrill. Whether it is Airwolf speeding through the canyons or a criminal trying to make a last escape, mountains are the best setting for any adventure or thrill-seeking story, and they make you gasp for more.
Airwolf Photo Courtesy of CBS Television and Bellisario Productions.
