Lesson 5

[Deb Johnson]

Deb’s Action Track!

What I learned doing this assignment: Combining the Mission, Villain, and Action track did two things – first, it helped shape the story even more as I was constantly changing plot points along the way. Second, it forced me to consider all the action possibilities and put them in the story. At first, I didn’t think I would have enough action – and now, I can’t believe how many different action scenarios I was able to come up with. Still a lot of “holes” but these will eventually get filled in.

Discovery – Cal (boss) sends Titan (agent) his “Mission Impossible” assignment. The task puts Titan’s family (who he’s hidden) in imminent danger.

Purpose: Create mystery – who is Titan’s family? Will he accept this assignment?

Dangerous Situation – Titan scales an impossible fortress (???) – breaks in and steals the code/key??? necessary to deploy the drones (first part of his assignment). Instead of reporting back to base – he goes dark.

Purpose: To show he has refused the assignment and is going to work against his own agency.

Chase/Pursuit – Cal sends out his “US Marshall” type agent after Titan. This is a very competent Tommy Lee Jones/The Fugitive type of character. Somehow, he’s going to find Titan.

Purpose: To show that the agency he works for doesn’t really give you options. You either obey or die. Also shows the power Cal, as leader of the organization, has at his disposal.

Competition: Cal recruits Titan’s own friends (Three Agents) to help him accomplish his mission (each has their own unique specialty). They too “scale the impossible fortress” but realize Titan has already stolen the codes. Cal promises them money/promotion to track down Titan – the first person wins. They also make bets with each other. One of the team members, Isadore, pretends to go along, but he wants to help Titan.

Purpose: Cal needs three people to replace Titan – showing his strength/prowess. Also shows the forces that Titan is up against.

Chase/Pursuit – Titan has planted a false narrative in his file about a mother and sister. Marshal goes on this RED HERRING chase to track down the nonexistent Mother and sister. Goes in with a tactical team/guns ready) He discovers the ruse. Marshal changes tactics.

Purpose: To show Titan’s forethought and cunning. We realize he never trusted this agency to begin with.

Fight – Titan stumbles upon??? Is made aware of??? Deliberately comes to??? The set of a movie being shot on location near his hidden home and the spot for the terrorist attack. He decides to hide in plain sight by replacing the doppelganger, Jimmy Blazer who is the action star of the film.

Titan subdues him – somehow – causes him some sort of injury that is incapacitating but not lethal or permanent and convinces Tommy to let him take over on the movie set. Tommy acquiesces but his pride is hurt, and you know he’s plotting some sort of revenge.

Purpose: Titan knows the only way he can truly hide from Marshal is to hide in plain sight. By taking on this persona, he can work behind the scenes to sabotage Cal’s terrorist attack.

Fight – Now on set, posing as Jimmy Blazer, Titan must engage in a choreographed fight. He hurts his trainer and co-star (a woman).

Purpose – To show Titan as a fish out of water – a humorous but potentially deadly scene – as he tries to pretend to be someone who pretends to be who he really is. (This is the showpiece of the hook)

Deception – Someone on set (Hair/Make-up???) quickly ascertains the truth. But conceals his/her knowledge and keeps it as leverage for his/her own gain.

Purpose: To show that, even on this movie set, Titan is not safe.

Discovery – Marshal gets wind (???) of a disruption on the Jimmy Blazer movie set. He alerts Cal and closes in.

Purpose: To show that Cal and company are closing in on Titan.

Innocent bystanders at risk/Capture – Jimmy, an early recovery, returns to the set and demands Titan give him back his place. At the same time. Marshal and Cal’s team close in.

There is a massive CHASE, FIGHT, SHOOTOUT AND ESCAPE. Running through different sets, fighting with Titan and Jimmy – till it is Jimmy that the Marshal captures and it is Titan, with the help of Isadore, who escapes. Jimmy is taken to Marshall’s Lair where he is INTERROGATED/TORCHURED.

Purpose: This is a false victory for Cal – giving Titan a chance to further sabotage Cal’s terror attack. But Titan knows his time is short, so he’s got to act fast.

Chase/Pursuit – Titan goes to the drones to dismantle them. Finds that Cal is utilizing a different system (???) Titan goes to the loading docks of the train station – sees the toxic chemicals being loaded. He does something (???)

Purpose: To show Titan is now on the offensive – because the attack is imminent, and he doesn’t have any more time.

Impersonation – When Cal realizes he’s got Jimmy and not Titan, he goes to the movie set in disguise.

Purpose: Cal realizes it’s his last chance to eliminate Titan and get the codes/key (???) he needs.

Gun Fight/Hiding – He and Titan shoot it out – with real and fake bullets

Hiding in unexpected areas – Titan is almost captured – but he finds a creative place to hide

Purpose – Cal and Titan are equally matched, but Cal is not able to overpower him. Cal makes a deal with Hair/Makeup??? – if he/she gets the key they will be rewarded. Tells her about Titan’s allergy.

Demands – Marshal alerts Cal that he’s discovered who/where Titan’s real family is. He gets a message to Titan to give up the codes and somehow posts a message to Titan that he’s going after his family unless Titan gives him what he wants.

Purpose – Cal finally has the upper hand

Sabotage – Hair/Makeup??? Poisons Titan and takes the key. Isadore saves Titan.

Search/Rescue/Tail – Titan sends Isadore to save his family. Isadore is trailed by his two other team members.

Purpose – The immanent exposure of Titan’s family.

Betrayal – Cal kills the hair/makeup?? Person who helped him. (Cal makes it looks like an accident)

Purpose – Cal can’t have any loose ends.

Betrayal – Isadore is imprisoned with Jimmy. Cal kills Isadore in front of Jimmy.

Purpose – Cal is a ruthless killer – he wants Jimmy to know that he will be released – but if he betrays Cal – the same will happen to him.

Execution – Cal releases the drone – as planned. Titan gets on the train that is about to be attacked. He takes a rocket launcher and a gun (unbeknownst to him, the gun is loaded with blanks). The Rocket launcher will shoot down the drone before it has a chance to attack.

Purpose – the final showdown

Full-out attack – Cal is on the train with Titan’s family as hostage. Either Titan gives up his rocket launcher – or his family dies. Titan relents – and Cal escapes. The drone takes out the bridge. The train plummets. Titan saves his wife and child (???) then goes after Cal.

Purpose: Titan manages to save his family – but it appears that Cal has won.

Fight – Titan goes after Cal. They fight. Titan kills Cal.

Purpose: Titan knows he’ll never be free if Cal lives. He must kill Cal.

Rescue/Into the Lion’s Den – Titan rescues Jimmy and takes out the rest of Cal’s team.

Purpose: Titan has a moral obligation to Jimmy and won’t let him languish.

Success: Titan saves Jimmy and brings him back to the movie set. The actor admits he’s not even the real Jimmy Blazer and asks if Titan wants to take his place. He does. Titan returns home to his family with a new career.

[CJ Lyons]

CJ’s Action Track:

What I learned doing this assignment was the need to vary the pacing and intensity along with the type of action sequence so that they feel organic to the situation, escalate, and also incorporate both hero and villain’s plot tracks.

Also, that just because I imagine certain actions happening, that’s not as important as them serving a purpose for the audience.

Answer the Action Questions:

A. Considering the concept from Lesson 1, what action could naturally show up in this movie?

B. Considering the Mission and Villain Tracks, what action could work for this track?

C. How can the action start well, build in the 2nd Act, and escalate to a climax in the 3rd Act?

Gun fights, gas attack, hit and run, hand to hand, car chases, missiles, bombs, alligators, barge scuttled, stabbings, rescues, escapes, fires, torture…

The action will start targeted at “strangers” with the hero witnessing and intervening, but the more she becomes embroiled in the villain’s plan the more it will move closer to her friends and family until by the end the climatic battle will involve her choosing between her daughter and the city, then hand to hand, intimately face to face as the barge is destroyed with the villain.

Sequence the action scenes to deliver your story. Give us your list of action scenes and the purpose of each scene.

INCITING INCIDENT: Lucy’s Pittsburgh team in a DANGEROUS SITUATION as they intercept a weapons/drug deal only to realize it’s a set up and a SHOOTOUT ensues that ends with Lucy’s second in command killed by a Bratva who slit his throat

PURPOSE: reveals Lucy as competent leader, sets up the villain

MOTIVATION: the Bratva engage Lucy’s husband in a CAR CHASE that ends in them SHOOTING him as a message to Lucy to back off, a form of psychological TORTURE

PURPOSE: build empathy for Lucy while showing the villain as ruthless, will to go to any extreme including killing civilians

MISSION: Lucy goes to New Orleans during Mardi Gras to meet an Homeland Security analyst who might have intel on Bratva, only to witness a gas attack on a parade (DANGEROUS SITUATION) which leads to panic and terror. She RESCUES her daughter from the melee and they ESCAPE.

PURPOSE: introduce Lucy’s daughter, struggles as single mom, and determination to catch villain who killed her husband

FIRST ACTION: Lucy enlists the help of her local friends: one works with the FBI and alerts them, but situation is overwhelming responders so goes to take command in person, she also offers a safe haven for Lucy’s daughter while Lucy and the friend’s brother go to meet the analyst

PURPOSE: shows Lucy’s tactical skills, team-building, lack of available backup motivating need for her to leave daughter and take action against villain

OBSTACLE: they arrive to find that the Bratva is already at his house, leading to a SHOOTOUT, CAR CHASE, and ARSON but they RESCUE the analyst

PURPOSE: set up analyst as victim, shows Lucy’s skills

OBSTACLE: as the rescue is happening, the FBI building is struck by a missile—just as Lucy’s friend arrives

PURPOSE: reveals more of Bratva’s overwhelming force and increases Lucy’s determination/motivation

ESCALATION: the Bratva have Lucy, et al cornered at the Katrina Memorial and Cemetery beside the 911 Communications Building but Lucy EVADES them, not realizing they’re actually herding her into the 911 center’s garage where a desperate SHOOTOUT ensues with the analyst TAKEN, the 911 operators held HOSTAGE, with some EXECUTED and the others surrounded by BOMBS that Lucy is able to delay but not disarm giving her barely time to RESCUE the workers before the building EXPLODES

PURPOSE: takes Bratva’s actions to whole other level revealing the brutality—and also clues to the audience that it’s not just about using the 911 workers as hostages because Lucy happened to come along, but there’s more to their plan and Lucy’s up against a lot more than she realized

OVERWHELMING ODDS: the Bratva now have the analyst with his insider knowledge and are no doubt INTERROGATING/TORTURING him; they also found Lucy’s daughter and CAPTURED her, demanding Lucy’s surrender or they’ll kill her

PURPOSE: raises personal stakes and creates dilemma for Lucy

NEW PLAN: Lucy pretends to surrender as her friend RESCUES her daughter and the analyst—only to have analyst ATTACK him because the analyst is a Bratva mole, resulting in a fight in a pit filled with alligators, but once Lucy knows her daughter is free, she FIGHTS back, KNIFING and killing the leader’s youngest, but the Bratva up the ante: give up or they’ll fire a missile into the French Quarter potentially killing thousands of innocents, including Lucy’s friend and daughter

PURPOSE: increase suspense with dual action scenes (one with a victory, one with a defeat), also increased stakes and setup for climax

FULL OUT ATTACK: Lucy is dragged to the Bratva’s barge which conceals their narcosub and where the missile launcher is. The villain, the Bratva leader, is about to execute Lucy when he learns she killed his son so he forces her to launch the missile into the French Quarter. At the last minute Lucy fights back, redirecting the missile to fire at the canal lock doors, killing the elder son right in front of the leader.

As the water rushes out, the barge capsizes, now hanging horizontally, dangling from mooring lines above, Lucy and the leader both fighting each other and for a handhold to climb above the rushing water. It’s a vicious FIGHT and the leader seems to win, climbing into the narcosub

PURPOSE: face to face battle showing Lucy’s quick thinking, determination, it’s personal for both hero and villain

SUCCESS: Lucy doesn’t give up and CHASES him, ending up on top of the sub as he submerges, debris and bodies falling on her, she snags the elder son’s knife and uses it to cut through the gasket securing the sub’s hatch, the rushing water causing the sub to roll out of control smashing into the warped and wicked remnants of the blasted steel lock doors, drowning the leader and almost killing Lucy, who barely manages to surface in time

PURPOSE: leader dies as his legacy is destroyed and his sons die because of Lucy who survives to be reunited with her friends and family, saving them and the city

[ray Moore]

Ray’s Action Track

What I learned doing this assignment is how to find purpose in the actions. How each action or nonaction drives the script to the end.

Foot Chase: The hero is in pursuit of a mark running in the sewer tunnels.

Purpose: The hero is searching for evidence in his father’s murder case and runs into the middle of a skin trade. Hit Squad recoup skin payment when someone is not able to payoff their debt.

Bounty Hunter Attack: The villain sends the Hit Squad to kill more bounty hunters.

Purpose: The bounty hunters are raiding the villain’s casino one by one. Unfortunately, this bounty hunter is the hero’s mentor. While investigating the scene, the hero recovers the mentor’s portal device.

Shootout: The aliens are in the tunnels and begin inhabiting the bodies of the rival gang members. They begin shooting at each other with laser assault rifles.

Purpose: The aliens are desperate to find hosts so they can survive in this atmosphere. The gunfight starts by chance as the bodies are being inhabited.

Rescue: During the gunfight, a preservation capsule where the enhanced humans were stored was loosened.

Purpose: Seven enhanced humans were manufactured in case of an alien invasion. They were placed in preservation chambers where they would stay until needed. During this fight, only one capsule was found. The hero finds an ally with the enhanced human.

Escape: Some of the gunmen escape the gunfight and report back to the villain that they had been interrupted.

Purpose: This alerts the villain that the hero has emerged.

Acquisition: The villain sends some of the Hit Squad to recover the preservation capsules.

Purpose: The villain is trying to gain some profit to cover losses. The villain gains an ally with an enhanced human.

Villain Inhabited: The villain is inhabited by the alien.

Purpose: The alien is in search of the portal device to summon his alien army.

Mother Attack: The hero’s mother is attacked but the attack is thwarted.

Purpose: The villain is trying to get the hero to give up the portal device.

Hero Captured: The villain sends the Hit Squad to kidnap the hero’s wife and son.

Purpose: The villain’s continued actions to recover the portal device.

Meeting: The hero is captured and brought to the villain but the hero escapes.

Purpose: The villain wants to force the hero to give up the portal device.

Family Kidnap: The hero’s wife and son are kidnapped.

Purpose: Villain’s continued attempt to gain the portal device but the hero attempts to rescue his family without handing over the portal device.

Headquarters Attack: The Police Headquarters is blown up. Several officers are killed including the hero’s partner.

Purpose: Villain wants to kill all law enforcement.

Shootout: The hero attempts to enter a secret laboratory where the enhanced humans were created but is met with biotech drones that lay dormant to guard the building.

Purpose: The hero tries to gain entrance and find out about the alien attack.

Final Showdown: Once the hero gains entrance to the laboratory, the villain shows up with his enhanced human. The enhanced humans fight, the hero and the villain fight.

Purpose: The villain is defeated, The hero’s enhanced human destroys the villain’s enhanced human. The hero drives the aliens back into the portal. The portal is closed. The villain and his Hit Squad are imprisoned.

[Pamela Rice]

Pam’s Action Track

1. RESCUE: Hero (a soon-to-be-retired Hitman) rescues his intended target.
Purpose: Show that Hero has changed. He suddenly wants to save someone, rather than kill them.

2. PURSUIT: Villain (a shady Plastic Surgeon) realizes hired Hitman (Hero) did not complete the mission he was hired for. Sends thugs to find them.
Purpose: Sets up the need for Hero and Villain’s wife to be on the run.

3. FIGHT: Thugs find Hero and Villain’s Wife in a restaurant, just when we thought they were safe. A fight ensues.
Purpose: We see Hero’s commitment to keeping Villain’s wife safe, whom he has fallen for.

4. CAR CHASE: Hero and Villain’s wife flee the restaurant, with thugs in hot pursuit. Gunshots are fired.
Purpose: This pits Hero against a team of Villain’s representatives. We see what he’s made of.

5. ESCAPE/EVADE: Hero and Villain’s Wife mange to evade thugs and escape. They continue to their rural hideaway.
Purpose: This gives the two the chance to grow closer, gain trust etc.

6. SCHEMING: While Hero and Villain are miles away from each other, they are not out of mind. Both make plans to betray the other: Hero plans to expose Villain’s shady plastic surgery practice, but will need to sneak into his office; Villain plans to frame Hero for a crime he didn’t commit. He creates a “double” of Hero, who kills a cop while committing a heist.
Purpose: Gives the Hero a reason to go back to the city, placing himself in more danger.

7. SHOOTOUT: Hero is on the run from law enforcement. His picture is plastered all over the media, for a crime he didn’t commit the crime. Hero must out-maneuver, out-run and out-shoot the police.
Purpose: This ups the stakes and creates an exciting “trailer-moment” Action set piece.

8. APPREHENDED: Hero ultimately gets arrested when Villain’s plan works.
Purpose: We will worry about the Hero and root for his escape.

9. PURSUIT: Villain learns of Wife’s hideout location. He and a hired thug drive up to Maine.
Purpose: Creates a ticking clock for Hero to save her.

10. BREAK-OUT: Hero breaks out of jail by outwitting and outfighting guards.
Purpose: Gives us new hope for the Hero and Villain’s wife.

11. KIDNAPPING: Villains kidnap the wife. They plot how to make her death look like an accident.
Purpose: stakes are even higher now, and clock is ticking loudly!

12. SHOOT-OUT: Hero catches up to Villain and hired Thug (who looks identical to Hero). There’s a shoot-out at the house between Hero and Thug. Hero ultimately gets the best of his lookalike.
Purpose: A fun scene to watch, that brings us closer to final resolution.

13. FINAL FACE-OFF: Villain drags Wife up to the cliffs, where he plans to push her off. Hero runs towards them. He dodges Villain’s bullets (he’s out), but catches up to them and tackles Villain. They grapple close to the edge of cliff. Villain falls down a steep embankment.

[karl gromelski]

Action Track!

What I learned doing this assignment is…?

A. Considering the concept from Lesson 1, what action could naturally show up in this movie?

Shoot-outs, Explosions /distractions, physical assaults, chase/pursuits, escape/evade, dangerous situations, interrogations, smash & grab, assault on a location/raids, shadowing a suspect, rescue, fight

B. Considering the Mission and Villain Tracks, what action could work for this track?

evade & escape, chase/pursuits, fight.

C. How can the action start well, build in the 2nd Act, and escalate to a climax in the 3rd Act?

Start with assault on a location but miss suspect. Suspect escapes. Gov’t escalates chase by involving more and more law enforcement agencies. Villain sends Black Ops team to eradicate suspects.

the types of action you’ll use:

ATTACK: FBI raids Hero’s home.

PURPOSE: Puts Hero on the run. Communicate severity of situation.

EVADE: Now on alert, Hero senses another raid – escapes.

PURPOSE: Even “safe spaces” aren’t safe. No place to hide.

CHASE: Hero chased by Gov’t agencies – barely gets away.

PURPOSE: Hero learns how Gov’t agencies are tracking him. Must create new plan.

ENTER THE LION’S DEN: Hero goes where Gov’t agencies least expect him.

PURPOSE: Hero’s good at what he does. Gov’t agencies aren’t infallible. Hope.

ESCAPE: New “super posse” after Hero & friend. They barely escape.

PURPOSE: Stakes are raised. More than Gov’t after them.

DANGEROUS SITUATION: Hero & friend trapped. They call Police on themselves.

PURPOSE: Friend captured – big gloom. Stakes at an all time high.

INTERROGATION: Friend questioned. Locked in Guantanamo Bay cell.

PURPOSE: A glimpse at what’s at stake. No more daylight.

SHOOTOUT: Hero caught in a crossfire. Hero escapes.

PURPOSE: Super Posse eliminated.

RELEASE: Friend released from QB.

PURPOSE: Good guys are vindicated.