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 the blue box and the rest will auto-calculate) 50,000 PAGE COUNT 200
# POINT DESCRIPTION PAGE WORD COUNT CHAPTER

1 2 3 4 5 6

Opening Image Theme Stated Set-up Catalyst Debate Act II

Sets the tone, mood, type, and scope of the project. A "before" snapshot. Secondary character poses question or statement to MC that is theme of the movie. Introduce or hint at every character in A story; plant character tics to be addressed later on. Life-changing event that knocks down house of cards. Point of no return; character makes a choice A strong, definite change of playing field. Do not ease into Act II. Often the "love" story; gives us a break from the tension of the A story; carries theme of movie; often uses new "funhouse" version of characters.

2 9

500 2,275

18 22

4,550 5,460

22

46 46

5,460

11,375 11,375

B-Story

55

13,650

Fun & Games

"The promise of the premise" / the heart of the movie / all about having fun

55

100

13,650

25,025

Midpoint

Threshold between 1st half and 2nd half; can be false peak or false collapse; stakes are raised; fun and games over Bad guys regroup and send heavy artillery ; hero's team begins to unravel Opposite of midpoint (peak/collapse); whiff of death - old way of thinking dies/give up moment/runaway moment; false defeat; no hope Darkest point; MC has lost everything A story and B story combine and reveal solution Wrap-up; dispatch all bad guys in ascending order, working way up to the boss 155 137

100

25,025

10 11 12 13 14

Bad Guys Close In All is Lost Black moment Act III Finale

100

137 137 155 155 198

25,025

34,125 34,125

34,125

38,675 38,675

38,675

49,550

15

Final Image

Opposite of opening image; show how much change has occurred

198

200

49,550

50,000