The 3-Act Paradigm at Work: Frankenweenie
written by Lenny Ripps
Frankenweenie is a 30-minute gem of a movie,
perfect for studying over and over again for its clear structure and crisp,
efficient storytelling.
Structural Analysis
- Hook (0 min.)
- A family watches a home movie made by a boy, Victor, which stars his
dog Sparky, dressed up as a monster.
- Complication (1 min.)
- While fetching a ball, Sparky gets run over and dies.
- Call to Action (5 min.)
- In science class, Victor learns that electricity can bring dead
animals back to life. He is going to go for it with Sparky.
- Act One Plot Point (11 min.)
- Victor performs a "Frankenstein" experiment and brings Sparky back
to life.
- Midpoint Plot Point (15 min.)
- Sparky gets out of the house and terrorizes the neighborhood.
- Act Two Plot Point (23-4 min.)
- Chased by the neighbors, Sparky is trapped in a burning building and
dies again.
- Climax and Resolution (25-6 min.)
- Since Sparky saved Victor's life before he died, the neighbors
pitch in with a new experiment and Sparky returns to life once again - and
quickly falls in love with a poodle (and sparks fly).
Sequence or "Theme" Outline
Here is a sequence outline of the story:
- A Boy and his Dog (steps 1-2 below)
- Sparky dies (3)
- Victor grieves (4-5)
- Getting an idea (6)
- Preparing for the experiment (7-10)
- Digging up Sparky (11-12)
- Performing the experiment (13-14)
- A Boy and his Dog II (15-17)
- Sparky escapes and terrorizes the neighborhood (18-19)
- Parents learn the truth (20-26)
- The neighborhood meeting to meet Sparky (27-29)
- Neighbors panic (30-31)
- Chasing Sparky (32-39)
- The fire and Sparky's second death(40-43)
- Sparky's second resurrection (44-48)
Step Outline
- Showing home movies of boy and dog
- Victor plays with Sparky
- Sparky gets run over
- Family at pet cemetery
- Victor grieves
- Victor gets idea in science class
- Runs home to begin plan
- Studies books on electricity
- Gathers material
- Sets up experiment
- Tries to fake out folks
- Digs up Sparky
- Does the experiment
- Sparky comes back to life
- Pretends to be sick, doesn't work
- Skips school anyway
- Feeds Sparky
- Sparky gets out of house
- Dog terrorizes neighbors
- Parents deny Sparky is alive
- Father learns the truth
- Father lies to neighbors
- Parents confront Victor
- Victor explains what happened
- Neighbors cold shoulder father
- Rumors grow
- Idea to call meeting
- Neighbors meet at family home
- Sewing up Sparky for meeting
- Sparky's entrance causes panic
- Chaos
- Sparky gets away
- Parents look for Victor
- Neighbors chase the dog
- The chase
- Sparky, with Victor following, reaches windmill at amusement center or park
- Parents arrive
- Neighbors arrive
- Victor and Sparky trapped in windmill
- Building set fire
- Victor passes out
- Sparky rescues Victor
- Building collapses on Sparky, second death
- Neighbors volunteer their cars on second experiment
- Engines started
- Doesn't look good
- Sparky comes back to life
- Sparky meets poodle, love at first spark
MODULE 4:
SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting
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