Lesson 5

[Nat Melvin]

Lesson 5: Natalie’s Action Track!

WIL: God knows I’m not a blood spilling/ chase driven action writer, so this lesson was a fit. My action list looks like a thriller with more questions then answers. More obstacles? More blood/ murder? Ugh. I’m just filling in the blanks for now.

Answer the Action Questions:

Considering the concept from Lesson 2 [new], what action could naturally show up in this movie?

Ride Malfunctions: Action scenes can involve the dramatic malfunction of fairground rides, causing perilous situations for the characters. Brie must act swiftly to rescue students trapped on malfunctioning rides.

Chase Scenes: Brie may engage in thrilling chase scenes as she pursues her fiancé, Cooper, or his henchmen through the fairground, trying to uncover their plot. (Or vice versa)

Rescue Missions: As fairground attractions go haywire, Brie embarks on high-stakes rescue missions to save students and fairgoers in danger.

Confrontations: Brie confronts Cooper and his henchmen multiple times throughout the movie, leading to intense confrontations, such as physical altercations, verbal battles, and daring escapes.

Evasion and Hiding: Brie may need to evade Cooper’s henchmen or hide from them as she investigates the fairground’s problems and unravels Cooper’s plan.

Explosive Situations: If explosives are involved in Cooper’s plot, action sequences could revolve around Brie’s attempts to disarm or diffuse these devices before they detonate.

Fight for Survival: As the fairground descends into chaos, characters, including Brie and her students, may find themselves in life-or-death situations that require quick thinking and decisive action.

Showdown on the Ferris Wheel: The climax of the movie could involve a heart-pounding action sequence on the Ferris wheel, where Brie faces off against Cooper and his henchmen in a desperate bid to prevent disaster.

Evacuation: Brie may organize and lead the evacuation of fairgoers and students as the crisis escalates, leading to action-packed scenes of people rushing to safety.

Racing Against Time: Throughout the movie, there can be a recurring theme of racing against time to prevent catastrophe, with action sequences showcasing the urgency of the situation.

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

Mission Tracks:

Investigation and Discovery: This track revolves around Brie’s efforts to uncover the extent of Cooper’s plot. It includes scenes of her gathering evidence, analyzing clues, and piecing together the puzzle of Cooper’s sabotage.

Rescue and Evacuation: As fairground attractions malfunction and chaos ensues, action sequences centered on Brie’s mission to rescue and evacuate students and fairgoers can be intense and high-stakes.

Sabotage Neutralization: This track involves Brie’s actions to neutralize the hidden sabotage mechanisms within the fairground rides. It showcases her problem-solving skills and determination to prevent disaster.

Confrontations and Standoffs: Brie’s confrontations with Cooper and his henchmen are key action tracks. These scenes can be filled with tension, physical altercations, and verbal battles, highlighting the personal and emotional stakes of the mission.

Race Against Time: Throughout the movie, there’s a continuous race against time as Brie strives to prevent catastrophe. This track emphasizes the urgency of the situation and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

Villain Tracks:

Sabotage Escalation: This track follows Cooper’s actions as he escalates the sabotage of fairground rides and attractions. It includes scenes of him planting additional tampering devices and creating more chaos.

Psychological Manipulation: Cooper’s manipulation of Brie and his attempts to undermine her confidence can be portrayed in this track. It focuses on the psychological aspects of the villain’s tactics.

Henchmen Pursuit: Scenes involving Cooper’s henchmen pursuing Brie and causing obstacles. It showcases their relentless pursuit and the physical threats they pose.

Last-Ditch Efforts: As Brie gets closer to uncovering Cooper’s plan, this track follows his desperate last-ditch efforts to salvage his scheme. It may include him taking more direct and dangerous actions.

Showdown and Death: The climax of the movie involves a dramatic showdown between Brie and Cooper, leading to his death. This track captures the final confrontation and the resolution of the villain’s actions.

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

Act 1 – Starting Strong:

Establish Normalcy: Begin by establishing the normal, everyday life of Brie and the students on the fairground field trip. This sets the stage for the impending chaos.

Inciting Incident: Introduce the inciting incident early, such as the first signs of ride malfunctions or strange occurrences at the fairground. Brie can also overhear Cooper giving orders to henchmen, or henchmen talk among themselves. She becomes suspicious and starts investigating.

Initial Action: Brie’s initial actions involve small-scale rescue missions, fixing the rides, and attempts to understand the cause of the incidents. These scenes serve as the foundation for the action to come.

Introduction of the Villain: Reveal Cooper’s true intentions and actions gradually, creating a sense of mystery and suspense. Show him actively sabotaging the fairground rides and manipulating those around him — Starting with Cooper trying to bribe Brie’s father, cutting him a hefty cash check, rejection of his offer, and Cooper’s call to bring in the henchmen.

Act 2 – Building Action:

Rising Tensions: As Brie delves deeper into her investigation, the action intensifies. Ride malfunctions become more frequent and dangerous, raising tensions among fairgoers and students.

Rescue Sequences: Build the action with compelling rescue sequences. Brie and her group face increasingly perilous situations, requiring quick thinking and daring actions to save lives.

Uncovering the Plot: Brie’s investigation leads her closer to uncovering Cooper’s plot. Action sequences involve her gathering evidence, confronting suspicious characters, and dealing with obstacles.

Psychological Warfare: Introduce psychological warfare tactics by Cooper. He may start targeting Brie’s emotional vulnerabilities, leading to intense confrontations, threats to cut his financial support, and apparent mind games. He can also threaten office worker, bribe maintenance crew, and mislead, or blackmail a police officer, etc.

Act 3 – Climactic Escalation:

Major Set Piece: introduce a major set piece action sequence that marks the climax of the movie. This could be the Ferris wheel showdown or a high-stakes confrontation between Brie and Cooper somewhere close to the Ferris Wheel. (Not quite sure what would motivate Cooper to go after Brie all the way up to Ferris Wheel which he knows will collapse. We’ll see.)

Chaos and Catastrophe: As Brie gets closer to thwarting Cooper’s plan, his desperation escalates. Fairground attractions spiral out of control, leading to chaos and danger on a grand scale.

Showdown: The final confrontation between Brie and Cooper is action-packed and emotionally charged. This is where all the built-up tension and conflict come to a head.

Resolution: After the climactic showdown, the action gradually winds down as Brie, together with her father and authorities, secures the fairground and ensures the safety of all involved.

Cooper’s hefty check written on the name of Brie’s father remains intact.

2. Select the types of action you’ll use.

Chase/Pursuit – After noticing Brie’s active involvement in fixing the rides, Cooper sends a few henchman to interfere /neutralize her. This is an ongoing problem Brie has to face.

Purpose: To set a ticking clock and show Cooper’s resilience, dedication and true villainous nature.

B. Fight – Brie may fight a couple of henchmen utilizing her Pilates skills in an improvised fight. Purpose: Shows character growth, determination and willingness to risk her well-being for a cause.

D. Rescue – On a numerous occasions, Brie rescues students and other folks from malfunctioning rides.

Purpose: Shows Brie’s courageous nature, kind-heartedness, self-reliance and stubbornness

E. Escape/Evade – Brie, her father, and some office employees may escape from confinement, creating more obstacles, change of plans and impeding progress of the villain’s plan.

G. Dangerous Situations – multiple occurrences designed to escalate intensity of actions

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

Act 1

DISCOVERY: Brie learns that dedicated rides for Halloween treasure hunt she requested were not tested and may be prone to glitches. Purpose: Set the stage for impeding chaos.

FAILED MANIPULATION: Cooper offers Brie’s father infusion of funds to refurbish old rides in exchange for 60% profit share, and gives him downpayment. Pops, (Brie’s father), throws Cooper out of his office. Purpose: Introduce Cooper’s intentions and trigger alternative actions.

CONFRONTATION: Brie confronts her father for sabotaging her Halloween project. Purpose: A glimpse at their problematic relationship. There’s history untold.

DESPERATION: Cooper proposes Brie and gives her an expensive engagement ring. She accepts, uneasy of his sudden move. Purpose: to control Brie. Additionally, the ring is a set up which plays a significant role in Cooper’s future.

PLAN INITIATION: Cooper receives a call from his mob boss and wants to proceed with a backup plan as soon as the guys arrive. Purpose: Expose Cooper’s desperation to control the situation

CONFRONTATION: Brie catches parts of Cooper’s conversation and asks questions. He avoids explanation, making her mad. Purpose: Cooper’s first action creates Brie’s suspicion of the foul play.

OUTBURST: Brie’s son demands a ride on a Ferris Wheel. Brie denies, as it’s very old and dangerous. He throws her a fit. Purpose: Setting up stakes for a future scene

CONSPIRACY: Cooper briefs Ronnie and the thugs and devises a plan with Ronnie’s help, who knows the fairgrounds as a former employee. Cooper appoints Ronnie to lead the group and goes back to Brie. Purpose: Cooper wants to avoid suspicion of his involvement in sabotage.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Brie runs into a group of rough looking individuals lead by her ex, Ronnie, who claims that he works for her father aa a maintenance man. They argue about his visitations rights. Purpose: Up the stakes for Brie & create a potential alliance when kids get stuck on the Ferris Wheel.

SABOTAGE: Ronnie and his team sets timers for specific rides to go off in sequence, with the Ferris wheel being the last in the chain. Purpose: Foreboding future disaster

MALFUNCTIONS: Brie plunges into small-scale rescue missions, trying to fix the rides, to no avail. Torn between her chaperone duties, she realizes she needs a maintenance man. She spots one tinkering with another ride, who turns out to be a guy she saw with Ronnie.

She leaves Cooper to supervise students, and runs off. Purpose: serve as the foundation for suspicion

ORDER: Cooper calls a thug to prevent Brie from getting help. Purpose: to avoid disruption of the plan

AMBUSH: Brie looks for the maintenance folks and gets locked inside a maintenance room. Purpose: escalating obstacle for achieving her goals.

BOLD MOVE: Brie’s son demands going on the Ferris Wheel, argues with Cooper, then runs off toward the wheel. Cooper does nothing. Purpose: bring tension and expose Cooper’s evil nature

ESCAPE: Brie uses her flexibility and skills to break free and runs to her father for help. Finding him drunk, she leaves. She sees commotions within the crowd. Purpose: to show that mayhem begun.

CONFRONTATION /THREAT: Cooper attempts to open Brie’s eyes to severity of her father’s decision, which will undoubtably result in destroying his reputation, lawsuits and potential jail time, if god forbid, something happens. Purpose: Using fear as a psychological manipulation to achieve his goal

REALIZATION/ DISCOVERY: Brie realizes Cooper’s motivations. Then notices her son high on the wheel and runs toward it. Purpose: Expose Coopers true motivations.

CHASE: Cooper tries to stop Brie from trying to find means to slow down spinning out of control wheel with her terrified son on it. Near being snatched by Cooper’s men, she starts climbing.

FAILED ATTEMPT Cooper tries to grab Brie by her ankles, gets tangled by the wire with lights and gets pulled onto the spinning wheel.

DILEMMA/FIGHT: torn between her son and Cooper, Brie slips and falls near Cooper, barely holding onto a cabin with her sweaty hands. She untangles Cooper while accusing him of being pure evil without noticing Ronnie climbing toward Cooper, then pulling him by his feet. Brie throws the ring into the air. Cooper leans to grab it, and falls to his death, dragging Ronnie behind.

UNEXPECTED MOVE: Brie climbs into her son’t cabin, comforting him in terror, as the wheel starts cracking from fast spinning. She stares at the ground with terror, noticing her father, as he manages to slow down the wheel until its full stop.

HAPPY RESOLVE: Brie resolves issues with her father, watching ambulance personnel helping Ronnie, the only witness, on a gurney. etc. etc.

[Connie Hood]

Lesson 5: Connie’s Action Track

I learned that it doesn’t always have to happen with guns. Good thing, because when they draw guns I always say, “Writer didn’t know how to end the story” and I turn off the TV. My story is more adventure than action because I’m writing from real people and real situations. This lesson gave validity to my own ideas.