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The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet breaks down three-act screenplay structure into 15 bite-size, manageable sections called beats, each with a specific goal for ...
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NYC Screenwriters Collective
The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet breaks down three-act screenplay structure into 15 bite-size, manageable sections called beats, each with a specific goal for your overall story. Below is an explanation of each beat. The page numbers are not strict, they are approximations of where the beats should occur in a 110 page screenplay. THE BLAKE SNYDER BEAT SHEET (aka BS2) Opening Image (1) – A visual that represents the central struggle & tone of the story. A snapshot of the main character’s problem, before the adventure begins. Often mirrors the Closing Image. Set-up (1-10) – Expand on the opening image. Present the main character’s world as it is, and what is missing in their life. Stasis = Death, the “before” life of the protagonist is such that if it stays the same, he or she will figuratively die. In addition, the main character’s flaw, his problem that needs fixing over the course of the story, is revealed. (In many stories, it is not the main character’s flaw, but another central character’s flaw that is presented for him to resolve over the course of the story
NYC Screenwriters Collective Bad Guys Close In (55-75) – Now the Fun & Games get serious. The BGCI is the second half of Act II where the audience is exhilarated by an ever more complex and overwhelming set of obstacles to the main character’s goal. Here the main character’s gifts are of no use, their plans are foiled, their team can be split up, or a trusted friend will betray them. The detective himself is now being chased and shot at, Indiana Jones is discovered by the Nazis and thrown into a snake pit, Harry runs into his first wife and takes out his anger on Sally. (In terms of B Story, there is a saying “sex at 60”, that is page
All is Lost (75) – The low point of the main character’s journey. The moment that the main character loses everything they gained so far, or realizes everything they now have has no meaning. The main character has lost even more than if he’d never gone on the journey in the first place. At the All is Lost, something or someone dies. Blake Snyder calls this the “Whiff of death.” It can be physical or emotional, but the death of something old makes way for something new to be born. The detective’s partner is killed, and he is powerless because its the commissioner who is behind the original crime. Indy has lost the Arc to the Nazis and believes Marion is dead. Harry & Sally sleep together and may have thrown their entire friendship away. Dark Night of the Soul – The main character hits bottom, and wallows in hopelessness. The Why hast thou forsaken me, Lord? moment. Mourning the loss of what has “died” – the dream, the goal, the mentor character, the love of your life, etc. But, you must fall completely before you can pick yourself back up and try again. Here the main character’s arc is complete as they fully understand the truth they could not see when they set out on the journey. The DNOTS is directly followed by “New Information” also delivered via the B Story. This information functions as a second Catalyst that gives the main character the choice again, to pack up and go home, or give it one more try to complete the journey. The DNOTS can be anywhere from 10 pages long to a single action or word by the main character. Break Into Three (Choosing Act Three) (85) – Thanks to a fresh idea, new inspiration, or last-minute Thematic advice from the B Story (usually the love interest), the main character chooses to try again. The New Information presents the final goal the main character will have to achieve to complete the journey. Finale (85-110) – The main character confronts the antagonist or force of antagonism with new strength. This time around, the main character incorporates the Theme – the nugget of truth that now makes sense to them – into their fight because they have experience from the A Story and context from the B Story. So we can say the main character has left the “Anti-thesis” world and entered the “Synthesis” world. Here the journey will be resolved, one way or another. Final Image (110) – opposite of Opening Image, proving, visually, that a change has occurred within the character. THE END
THE BLAKE SNYDER BEAT SHEET PROJECT TITLE: GENRE: DATE: