The Unfamous Life of Normal Norman

The Unfamous Life of Normal Norman (Synopsis) - by Erika Strobel Norman Hooper, a hyperbolic teen who gets lost in self-aggrandized hero fantasies, is the only member of his family who isn't famous. When Norman's family embarrasses him at his 13th birthday party by giving him a gag book titled: How to Become Famous, Norman vows to do just that. Surely, once he's famous, he'll no longer be the joke of his family or the dweeb of his middle school and he can finally win the affection of his crush girl, Catalina Chiquita. With the help of his best friend, Edward, (who never goes anywhere without his camcorder) Norman cooks up all kinds of schemes to make social media headlines. He creates his own YouTube dance that nearly lands him in jail. He fakes a mugging that puts him in a dangerous situation with a real criminal. He even plans to make history in a daredevil stunt to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel that ends up getting him banned from a country. Not only do all his plans comically backfire, but they shine the spotlight on others while Norman remains unfamous.Meanwhile, in the midst of his escapades, Norman discovers surprising secrets about each member of his family that exposes their insecurities about fame. With fresh insight into their 'not so perfect' lives, Norman offers solutions to their problems, which strengthens his relationships with them, but also makes him wonder whether fame is everything it's cracked up to be.Just when Norman is ready to give up on his dream, he finds out that Catalina gave him the birthday gag book. If that wasn't enough, he reads a file in his agent's office that reveals the truth behind his failed auditions. Local casting agents think he is so talentless they've nicknamed him Normal Norman. Naturally, he's crushed, but his pity soon turns to rage. With just a few days left of summer vacation, Norman decides to risk everything and be fearless so that he won't have to start eighth grade as a dweeb. He plots his most outrageous 'get famous scheme' yet - to streak at a baseball game. Norman's plan succeeds. He runs naked before thousands of stadium fans. Unfortunately, no one sees him. They're too busy staring at a blimp in the sky advertising sexy underwear. Norman is arrested by a security guard, who not only ruins his last shot at fame but also ruins his friendship with Edward when he confiscates his camcorder.Defeated and friendless, Norman finally gives up on fame and asks his agent to please retrieve Edward's camera. The agent does, but not before he's viewed all the crazy footage and offers Norman his own a reality show: The Unfamous Life of Normal Norman; a show about a kid who is trying to get famous. Norman can't believe his good fortune. He runs to Catalina's house to tell her he'll be a big star, but she isn't impressed. It turns out that Norman misread her intention for giving him the gag book. It wasn't to humiliate him for not being famous. It was to let him know that she thinks he's a one-of-a-kind-guy without being famous. Norman is stunned. He's wasted his whole summer seeking fame for fame's sake when what he really wanted was to be good at something. After some introspection Norman realizes he has a talent for coming up with crazy ideas. He runs home to tell his family that he doesn't want to have his own reality show. He wants to create a series around his famous family to show the world how much hard work it takes to be successful. After the celebration, Catalina drops by to give Norman his first kiss. The next day, when Norman starts eighth grade, he's the same guy he always was ... 'unfamous Normal Norman', only now he knows his true talent and self-worth.