8/7/2019 lizwritesbooks__save_the_cat_beat_sheet

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The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet

(from SAVE THE CAT)

PROJECT TITLE

Book Title

LOGLINE

Keep it simple: 'poisonous snakes run rampant on an airplane' will suffice

WORD COUNT (update this and the rest will auto-calculate)

50,000

PAGE COUNT

200

# POINT DESCRIPTION PAGE WORD COUNT CHAPTE

1 Opening Image Sets the tone, mood, type, and scope of the project. A "before" snapshot. 1 2 1 500

2 Theme Stated Secondary character poses question or statement to MC that is theme of the movie. 9 2275

3 Set-up 1 18 1 4550

4 Catalyst Life-changing event that knocks down house of cards. 22 5460

5 Debate Point of no return; character makes a choice 22 46 5460 11375

6 Act II A strong, definite change of playing field. Do not ease into Act II. 46 11375

7 B-Story 55 13650

8 Fun & Games "The promise of the premise" / the heart of the movie / all about having fun 55 100 13650 25025

9 Midpoint 100 25025

10 Bad Guys Close In Bad guys regroup and send heavy arti llery ; hero's team begins to unravel 100 137 25025 34125

11 All is Lost 137 34125

12 Black moment darkest point; MC has lost everything 137 155 34125 38675

13 Act III A story and B story combine and reveal solution 155 38675

14 Finale Wrap-up; dispatch all bad guys in ascending order, working way up to the boss 155 198 38675 49550

15 Final Image opposite of opening image; show how much change has occurred 198 200 49550 50,000

Introduce or hint at every character in A story; plant character tics to be addressed lateron.

Often the "love" story; gives us a break from the tension of the A story; carries theme ofmovie; often uses new "funhouse" version of characters.

threshold between 1st half and 2nd half; can be false peak or false collapse; stakes areraised; fun and games over

opposite of midpoint (peak/collapse); whiff of death - old way of thinking dies/give upmoment/runaway moment; false defeat; no hope