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Now that we have a general idea of the world and what the screenplay’s focus might be about, we need to meet our protagonist.ĭon’t worry about going too in-depth. Put in the hard work now so that it comes easier later. It may seem tempting to skimp on the details in your beat sheet, but don’t!Īs we’ve discussed, the power of the beat sheet is that it forms a great skeleton and foundation for when you really get to writing. Does your story take place in the past, present, or future, and is it the past, present, or future we know or is it something different?Īll of these are important questions you need to answer in this beat.After all, it gives your screenplay dimension, a sense of reality, and gives your characters/plot a context. Of course, the second beat has to establish the world your characters live in. Just include something of the overall story in this first beat. You could open the script with him at a funeral, looking through an old photo album. Make sure this beat grabs the audience’s attention and sets the tone for the story you’re about to tell.Īdditionally, this is also where you start to establish the main character’s driving force or problem.įor example, if your screenplay is about a man struggling with the death of his parents we need to see at least a hint of that here. However, these are the major beats we believe you should include to create the best framework for your screenplay.Īfter you have these, the rest is up to you! Remember that these don’t always have to be strict rules to follow but they are conclusions to effective storytelling patterns and a great base for you to work off. Once you have that figured out, the rest practically writes itself (well you know, sort of).Īs we briefly touched on previously, there’s a ton of ways you can set up your beat sheet. You understand where they are and where they’re going. Once you have a beat sheet finished, you really know your protagonist and supporting cast. Your characters also then have substance.
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It can be used for everything from academic papers to speeches to novels.īeat sheets are specifically for storytelling within screen and their set up is reflective of that. The traditional outlining we’re all used to is not specific to one kind of writing. Most outlines are general and don’t give as much clue as to the drama and emotion within. Most other types of outlines are less structured than a beat sheet and less all-encompassing of the story. So why is a beat sheet an important tool for your screenplay?Ī beat sheet can function as a skeleton for your story.
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There’s no one absolute, correct answer but around 15 major beats spread throughout the various acts of the story tends to give the best results. However, everybody has an opinion about how many and what beats you should include.
#Final draft 10 beat board font full
Unlike some outlining techniques though, beat sheets are comprised of short bullet points rather than full sentences. The best outlining technique to use, is The Beat Sheet.Ī beat sheet is a form of outlining that many screenwriters and authors use to map out their story. Organization and outlining are crucial to the process. Whilst inspiration can strike at any minute and writing can be incredibly spontaneous business, screenwriting is usually smoothest when you’ve got a solid plan. Why a Beat Sheet is Important to Your Screenplay