The 3-Act Paradigm at Work: Running On Empty

written by Naomi Foner


Running On Empty is the moving story of a family on the lam, focusing on the high school boy who is a brilliant pianist and who falls in love for the first time. Does he follow his dream or continue to support his family?

Structural Analysis

  1. Hook (2 min.)
    • Riding his bike home from school, Danny (to become Michael) notices a strange car snooping on him. He ditches it.
  2. Complication (5 min.)
    • The parents, former radicals, are on the run from the FBI. Danny tells them what's up and they split and relocate again.
  3. Call to Action (22, 31 min.)
    • Danny plays piano for music class, shows great skill. The family is resettled with new schools and jobs (26 min.). Danny meets the daughter of his music teacher, the one he will fall for (31 min.), after "breaking into" his teacher's house.
  4. Act One Plot Point (36 min.)
    • Danny attends recital despite father's objections that it's not safe. He takes risks to see the girl. He is questioning authority and beginning to define his own life.
  5. Midpoint Plot Point (66-9 min.)
    • New girlfriend (Lorna) comes to mother's birthday party. A fine time. And family sees Danny's interest in the girl. Mother, "I like her." (66-9 min.) After the party, the first kiss (the girl wanted to make love, putting Danny in conflict). Their first fight as a result. Later they make up and make love after Danny tells her his story (67 min.). He tells her he loves her (69 min.).
  6. Act Two Plot Point (97-104 min.)
    • Father learns of Danny's Julliard audition and wants to move on. Then a former associate of the parents is wanted for a local bank robbery, putting the family in danger. Time to move on. Danny has to say goodbye to Lorna and leave her forever.
  7. Climax and Resolution (106-7 min.)
    • The father tells Danny to get out of the car -- he's no longer going with the family. He'll attend Julliard and live with his grandparents. He'll have Lorna back in his life.

Notes

Running On Empty is a family story, an ensemble piece, but also is driven by the central narrative strand of Danny's story and emerging independence and adulthood. The story premise keeps strong suspense in the narrative, around which serious family and human values are explored. When stories work at both levels this way, a strong suspenseful plot supported by serious human drama, we get strong and lasting movies, like here.


MODULE 4: SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting

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