The Blake Snyder beat sheet works in that, there are 15 sections to a narrative and Snyder has roughly worked out (approximate length of an average film) where each section happens. The first stage is the theme stated. This is where approximately 5 minutes in a character will subtly say what the theme of the film is, this gives clues as to what is to come.
In the set-up which is usually in the first 10 minutes, is everything which is essential to the character will be set up. The next stage which is the catalyst is similar to the set-up and this is where something happens which sets events in motion. For example in recent James Bond films M often calls in James Bond and tells him that he has a mission.
The debate is after the catalyst and it is when one of the main characters or supporting characters question their mission adding tension to the narrative. After the debate you get the break into two, this is where the opening establishment of all the characters ends and the main protagonist will usually go on his mission or destiny etc, dependent on what the tone of the film is. The break into two also starts off the longest part of the film which is the middle. This can also be called the three act structure, for example there is always a beginning, middle and an end.
The B story comes after the break into two and this is where the sub-plot(s) of the film are set up. For example where another character is sent on a mission, it is usually done so that we are made aware that we are meant to care for the character.
After the B story (does not always occur if the director is focusing it all on one character) the fun and games takes place. The fun and games is all the stuff which is included in the trailer. Meaning everything that makes us want to go see the film. So all the exciting, fast pace drama happens so that is adds excitement to the narrative.
Directly following the fun and games is the midpoint and this is where (dependent on the film) the narrative and world for the character has either gone really great or really bad. The bad guys close in is where the bad guys start to close in and plan to defeat the main protagonist.
The very opposite moment of the midpoint is the all is lost section and this comes after the bad close in and it is where everything has really bad or good if the midpoint was bad. But usually it is always bad and whatever the main character has been fighting for has gone and they have no meaning in life. Usually a character close to them will die. The dark night of the soul is where the protagonist who has just lost everything has a breakdown and they start to question themselves and the mission in hand. Usually in a superhero film like Spiderman, Peter Parker would say "I don't want to be Spiderman anymore".
The break into three is where, thanks to some inspiration (usually from the B character) the main protagonist picks himself/herself up and decides to fulfil what they started. This the third and final act of the narrative. The finale is the end of the narrative, the theme is incorporated, and all loose ends are tied up. Everything now makes sense for the main character. The closing image is the last shot of the film/TV Programme and usually it mirrors the opening image, proving a visual change in the narrative.
Below is a beat sheet I have put together for our film idea which we have been working on with Pat during our writing for TV and film lessons. In the brackets I have also put the minute numbers of where conventionally the certain section would appear.
Opening image (1) - The opening image is a medium tilted shot of the characters Michael Jameson and Luke Crate running. The surrounding looks dark and desolate.
Theme stated (5) - The main character Albert has a conversation with his wife and she says to him "soon Albert everything you once lived for will be gone. The past never stays in the past."
Set-Up (1-10) - Alberts backstory as a conman is established, he recalls his past winnings in the conning industry. And there are various flashbacks to when he was younger, not giving away much about the plot.
Catalyst (12) - Albert is sent a threatening letter, in which it is a fore-warning that some men who are part of the Corone family will be coming after him because he stole their entire family estate earnings. So Albert is given the choice to go on the run and try and erase his identity while returning the money into their estate and clearing his name.
Debate (12-25) - He breaks down in front of his wife and says that they can come and get him and that he will finish it with them killing him.
Break into two (25) - Albert's wife Mary tells him that he must run and return the money. She says if he doesn't she will leave him.
B Story (30) - A timid and panicky man, roughly in his 30s called Frank is shown speaking to a man and women about what they done is illegal and that what he's doing his totally against his morals. He then gets in a car and drives off, leaving them in his what looks to be office. He wears a scruffy cheap looking suit.
Fun and games (30-55) - The men arrive at Alberts house just as he has decided that he will go on the run. They throw several rocks through his front window, smashing it completely. Albert then panics and runs through his garden into the woods. His wife is knocked out from one of them attacking her. They then run after him in the woods while firing bullets at him from afar. There is a lot of ducking, and a fight sequence happens between Albert and one of the men. This chase carries on until Albert steals a car.
Midpoint (55) - Albert comes across a local village and he puts up residence with a young couple. He soon fits in and accustoms to their routine. Once he has fully settles in after two days, he goes and meets two of his former clients who he helped to steal the entire estate earnings off of the Corone family.
Bad guys close in (55-75) - Everything is looking good for Albert, he has now removed his last identity aka Albert Brookstein and he is now under a different name, he has also returned the money to the Corone estate. However the couple he has been living with are really undercover trying to ruin him. He is kidnapped by them and they take him to a worn out hanger, as punishment for his crimes against the Corone family.
All is lost (75) - Albert has been kidnapped and he is being tortured by getting beaten. He has been told that he can give up everything he owes, in return for his life. He says he would rather die than let his reputation tarnish him. Albert is then given the ultimatum in which he gives everything up or his wife dies, he says that they are bluffing. The Corone brothers bring out his wife, she has a bag covering her head and her hands are tied up. He screams saying he will give everything up, so they let her go. Just as she's leaving, still with her hands tied and bag over her head, they shoot her.
Dark Night of the Soul (75-85) - Albert is left distraught in the hanger while they leave him beaten to the pulp. They set fire to the hanger leaving Albert inside. He screams out telling them to kill him and that he will give up everything he still has, as well as revealing he wants to be found by the police who also want to arrest him.
The B story comes after the break into two and this is where the sub-plot(s) of the film are set up. For example where another character is sent on a mission, it is usually done so that we are made aware that we are meant to care for the character.
After the B story (does not always occur if the director is focusing it all on one character) the fun and games takes place. The fun and games is all the stuff which is included in the trailer. Meaning everything that makes us want to go see the film. So all the exciting, fast pace drama happens so that is adds excitement to the narrative.
Directly following the fun and games is the midpoint and this is where (dependent on the film) the narrative and world for the character has either gone really great or really bad. The bad guys close in is where the bad guys start to close in and plan to defeat the main protagonist.
The very opposite moment of the midpoint is the all is lost section and this comes after the bad close in and it is where everything has really bad or good if the midpoint was bad. But usually it is always bad and whatever the main character has been fighting for has gone and they have no meaning in life. Usually a character close to them will die. The dark night of the soul is where the protagonist who has just lost everything has a breakdown and they start to question themselves and the mission in hand. Usually in a superhero film like Spiderman, Peter Parker would say "I don't want to be Spiderman anymore".
The break into three is where, thanks to some inspiration (usually from the B character) the main protagonist picks himself/herself up and decides to fulfil what they started. This the third and final act of the narrative. The finale is the end of the narrative, the theme is incorporated, and all loose ends are tied up. Everything now makes sense for the main character. The closing image is the last shot of the film/TV Programme and usually it mirrors the opening image, proving a visual change in the narrative.
Below is a beat sheet I have put together for our film idea which we have been working on with Pat during our writing for TV and film lessons. In the brackets I have also put the minute numbers of where conventionally the certain section would appear.
Opening image (1) - The opening image is a medium tilted shot of the characters Michael Jameson and Luke Crate running. The surrounding looks dark and desolate.
Theme stated (5) - The main character Albert has a conversation with his wife and she says to him "soon Albert everything you once lived for will be gone. The past never stays in the past."
Set-Up (1-10) - Alberts backstory as a conman is established, he recalls his past winnings in the conning industry. And there are various flashbacks to when he was younger, not giving away much about the plot.
Catalyst (12) - Albert is sent a threatening letter, in which it is a fore-warning that some men who are part of the Corone family will be coming after him because he stole their entire family estate earnings. So Albert is given the choice to go on the run and try and erase his identity while returning the money into their estate and clearing his name.
Debate (12-25) - He breaks down in front of his wife and says that they can come and get him and that he will finish it with them killing him.
Break into two (25) - Albert's wife Mary tells him that he must run and return the money. She says if he doesn't she will leave him.
B Story (30) - A timid and panicky man, roughly in his 30s called Frank is shown speaking to a man and women about what they done is illegal and that what he's doing his totally against his morals. He then gets in a car and drives off, leaving them in his what looks to be office. He wears a scruffy cheap looking suit.
Fun and games (30-55) - The men arrive at Alberts house just as he has decided that he will go on the run. They throw several rocks through his front window, smashing it completely. Albert then panics and runs through his garden into the woods. His wife is knocked out from one of them attacking her. They then run after him in the woods while firing bullets at him from afar. There is a lot of ducking, and a fight sequence happens between Albert and one of the men. This chase carries on until Albert steals a car.
Midpoint (55) - Albert comes across a local village and he puts up residence with a young couple. He soon fits in and accustoms to their routine. Once he has fully settles in after two days, he goes and meets two of his former clients who he helped to steal the entire estate earnings off of the Corone family.
Bad guys close in (55-75) - Everything is looking good for Albert, he has now removed his last identity aka Albert Brookstein and he is now under a different name, he has also returned the money to the Corone estate. However the couple he has been living with are really undercover trying to ruin him. He is kidnapped by them and they take him to a worn out hanger, as punishment for his crimes against the Corone family.
All is lost (75) - Albert has been kidnapped and he is being tortured by getting beaten. He has been told that he can give up everything he owes, in return for his life. He says he would rather die than let his reputation tarnish him. Albert is then given the ultimatum in which he gives everything up or his wife dies, he says that they are bluffing. The Corone brothers bring out his wife, she has a bag covering her head and her hands are tied up. He screams saying he will give everything up, so they let her go. Just as she's leaving, still with her hands tied and bag over her head, they shoot her.
Dark Night of the Soul (75-85) - Albert is left distraught in the hanger while they leave him beaten to the pulp. They set fire to the hanger leaving Albert inside. He screams out telling them to kill him and that he will give up everything he still has, as well as revealing he wants to be found by the police who also want to arrest him.
Break Into Three - As the hanger burns down, Albert passes out and he has flashbacks of good times with him and Mary and how she always told him that his past will come back to haunt him and he will have to face the consequences. He decides that he doesn't want Mary to die in vain, the B story character Frank turns up in an RV and rescues him.
Finale - In this narrative even though Albert is a bad guy also, I have decided that the audience will view him in a more positive light. Frank and Albert go off to find the Corone brothers and avenge Mary's death. When they find them, there is a battle and two of them are killed by Albert. The third Corone brother Martin, runs off into the distance. Frank has placed a tracker on him so if he enters a close proximity near Albert then he will be electrocuted. Once the battle has finished between Albert and the Corone brothers. Albert goes to Mary's funeral and has to time to come to terms with her death. It is revealed all along that she was working for the Corone family as a way of making Albert pay up and give back their estate money. Albert decides to head off to Spain where he will start a new life, the audience are left wondering whether he will return to the conning industry.
Closing Image - Extreme long shot of Albert on a boat, zooms in of him in a suit looking happing heading for the horizon.
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