I just wanted to ask a few things regarding screenwriting's biggest monster, the Beat Sheet.

As a new(ish) writer I am unfamiliar with how this works.  Babz wants one for Outbreak Z and I can't do it, or at least I think I cannot.

The thing I struggle with the most is Theme.  

Here is an excerpt of the theme of Outbreak Z:

"Never judge a book by its cover", Mack feels inadequate to the rest of the group and uses racial and sexist slurs to further himself from his fellow survivors.  But deep beneath, Mack is a man who lost his daughter to cancer and believes that he should be alone, because in his eyes he will fail them just as he failed her.

Does that work?  I am not overly sure on how beat sheet structure works.

Does anyone have a beat sheet of their own they could share for educational purposes?

Thanks,
Lee

Beat sheets are not that horrible. A synopsis is but, that's another matter.

I usually do beat sheets to help me come up with the story and how things go but, it usually changes on me so many times. lol.

This is what has helped me in creating beat sheets:

http://www.beatsheetcalculator.com/
http://screenplayhowto.com/beat-sheet/inception-beat-sheet/

Hope this helps,
Gabe

The "Wedding Crashers" beat sheet is on here.

http://www.blakesnyder.com/tools/

hope it helps

Mark

Beat sheet...synopsis....LOGLINE...all that stuff should be done way BEFORE you write the script. The theme sometimes will come out while you are writing but you should have an idea of it when you start writing. It doesn't have to be a beat sheet but can also be an outline ...sequences mapped out...something as simple as your main turning points simplified.....

Do it first next time. It will make your life a lot easier.

I've planned out the scripts using page counts.  Like a 1-5 introduction etc.  I never did a beat sheet before I had to do one.

I've got the logline and the synopsis, which come natural due to my novel writing background.  It's just the beat sheet that poses as a problem and stresses me out.

Thanks for the links guys.  Hopefully this helps others too.

Lee

A beat sheet is a pretty handy thing to have before you tackle your script.  Essentially it's just a breakdown of the major checkpoints of your scripts.  You have to hit those important checkpoints but how you get from one to the next is when you really start writing.

I tend to go with a less constrictive outline which is just seven checkpoints:

1- intro
2- inciting incident
3- Act 2 start
4- midpoint
5- low point
6- climax
7 - conclusion

I arrange these into a table and list how major characters are impacted at and between these critical checkpoints but that's just my style.  A beat sheet from what I've seen tends to be a bit more thorough as the examples listed in the replies before mine show.

Good luck with your beat sheet, Lee.

Quoted from RegularJohn A beat sheet is a pretty handy thing to have before you tackle your script.  Essentially it's just a breakdown of the major checkpoints of your scripts.  You have to hit those important checkpoints but how you get from one to the next is when you really start writing. I tend to go with a less constrictive outline which is just seven checkpoints: 1- intro 2- inciting incident 3- Act 2 start 4- midpoint 5- low point 6- climax 7 - conclusion I arrange these into a table and list how major characters are impacted at and between these critical checkpoints but that's just my style.  A beat sheet from what I've seen tends to be a bit more thorough as the examples listed in the replies before mine show. Good luck with your beat sheet, Lee.

Now that's I've read the Inception beat sheet I understand it a bit better.  I was going off the Blake Snyder beat sheet 15-step guide.  Which is what confused me the most.

As a tester (this is Deep in beats)

1- intro - Jensen works with the mob.
2- inciting incident - Jensen is undercover, turns in Sean, saves the kidnapped girls.
3- Act 2 start - Jensen returns home and finds his family.
4- midpoint - Rebecca is killed, Sarah is kidnapped.
5- low point - Jensen can only watch as Sean slits Sarah's throat.
6- climax - Jensen kills Sean and Tony.
7 - conclusion - Jensen is buried next to his family.

Obviously, more detail is needed, but I think I get the idea of it thanks to you guys.  Lots of weight off my shoulders now that I have a clue what I am doing.

Lee

John August uses a couple of different styles to do beat sheet, and they are less restrictive than STC:

http://johnaugust.com/2010/wtf-is-a-beat-sheet

Note that August states that a beat sheet can be written following a first draft - it all depends on your preference.

Quoted from Pale Yellow Beat sheet...synopsis....LOGLINE...all that stuff should be done way BEFORE you write the script.

What kind of crap is that, Dena? Such a lie!

Quoted from Mr. Blonde What kind of crap is that ...

Calm down, dear, it's only an opinion  

...have to agree with you though, logline & synopsis always follow a script for me.

I'm feeling you Leegion,

Logline and synop - not too bad at doing. Beat Sheet - hopeless.

If there is a service that does beat sheets - I will gladly pay the fee.

The trouble with a beat sheet -- and why some people object to them -- is that your story needs to actually follow the "beats" to make one.

You can finesse things a bit, but one may struggle to place a truly unconventional structure into the confines of a beat sheet.

Quoted from RJ If there is a service that does beat sheets - I will gladly pay the fee.

A service would not do much good if the beats aren't there in the first place.

So Dena is "kind of" right, in that if you are going the beat-sheet route, it is helpful to have the beats more-or-less in place before you type FADE IN.

As to the logline, however, that is always the final thing I compose for any script.

I used a beat sheet one a feature I'm working on now. Followed it to a T. Now I'm into a complete rewrite and using the first draft of that story as more of a reference, while still trying to follow the beats of the first draft. I'm sure some of the beats will change slightly, but it did seem to make things easier for me.

Francis Ford Coppola told a crazed Dennis Hopper on the set of Apocalypse now that if you'd only learn your lines, then you can forget them.
I think a beat sheet is sort of like that. Sort of!

Steve

I just wrote 3 beat sheets to that 7-step formula.  All 3 stories "Outbreak Z, The Last Guardian and Deep".  It looks good, the guideline is down.  I map it out better so the story flows.  Important moments in each segment etc.

Now I have the hang of it things will be much easier pressing forward.  I already had the synopsis and loglines for each of the 3 scripts.  Essentially, the beat sheet, which I have finally figured out, is just the SYNOPSIS of the story shown in a PLANNED state.

So that 7-step formula works perfectly!

I usually start with a logline that usually changes. Then write a brief synopsis that describes the overall journey, it’s as simple as beginning, middle, and, end. After I understand what my story is about and what I’m trying to say I develop a beat sheet for structure purposes.
As far as theme is concerned, I find that it’s typically driven by the main characters flaw, and his/her need to overcome that flaw. With that said I try to develop honest characters and drop them into a situation. I try not to have my characters conform to my story needs, easier said than done. For me it’s all about the main characters internal (needs) and external (goal) struggle between his/her wants verses needs.
Here is an 8-turn structure I got from a writing class that I took
1)     HOOK: Establishes tone and genre
2)     Inciting incident: action that launches story
3)     Central question: establishes hero’s want
4)     Reaction to central question or First Act break: Hero’s first attempt to answer Central question
ACT 2
1)     Next Big Hurdle: stakes are raised to a higher level
2)     APEX: Big twist Hero shifts from passive to active in relation to Emotional Dilemma
3)     False Ending: Hero thinks he has achieved goal
4)     Low Point: Our villain’s counter attack
ACT 3
Wraps up what has been set up, our Hero’s final push to reach his goal or realize what his need is.
This structure works when your hero’s want differs from what he needs. Hero may want fortune and fame but what he really needs is love and acceptance.
I hope this helps a little bit.
There are other beat sheet outlines like Save the Cat, and probably a better breakdown of my jargon at on the page.com I think.
Stefan