Film Beat Sheet

A list of emotional moments in a feature film screenplay that helps a writer outline their story.

Film beat sheet. The beat sheet identifies the key emotional moments in a story while the outline expands on those moments with specific scenes settings and details. That beat sheet is then fleshed out across forty index cards which the writer uses to maintain an overview of the film s plot while crafting the script. Rather than crafting full sentences you use bullet points to outline the action taking place at pivotal points. A beat sheet is a form of outlining that many screenwriters and authors use to map out their story.

Blake snyder s beat sheet from save the cat. It s the skeleton of the screenplay on which we will soon put on flesh. Unlike some outlining techniques though beat sheets are comprised of short bullet points rather than full sentences. I tend to like any tool that helps me really whittle down an outline and follow the character and plot points.

A beat sheet is the precursor to a screenplay outline. Many of the beats on the current beat sheet i am working on represent sequences of three or four scenes while other beats are in fact individual scenes that stand alone. There are four rows of ten. The beat sheet is a way to sequence your story using bullets instead of whole sentences or paragraphs.

Act two is broken in the middle by the midpoint. In film development terms a story beat refers to a single story event which transforms the character and story at a critical juncture. Very quicky though those bullets becomes sentences and paragraphs. And when that happen you have an outline on your hands.

Think of beats as checkpoints along the way that will complete the story and chart out a film structure. See how the film classic high noon starring gary cooper and grace kelly hits blake snyder s story beats in this save the cat beat sheet and understand why the film is in the blake snyder genre superhero. A beat sheet isn t supposed to be an exact road map of your entire film but rather a blueprint that will help you stay on track while writing. The ultimate film beat sheet what is a story beat.

It identifies the important moments in an episode or feature film and lays out what needs to happen in each act of the story. The last book on screenwriting you ll ever need is the primary structure or foundation by which we are going to build our story. What s a beat sheet. A beat sheet is a tool that writers use to help them plan and sequence their story.

There are writers all over who love to follow beats and others who think they re a waste of time.