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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  Can I use "beat" in my spec script?
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  Author    Can I use "beat" in my spec script?  (currently 2957 views)
DA_S1lva
Posted: October 15th, 2018, 5:14pm Report to Moderator
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To my understanding beat is something you use on a production script.

I would like to know if I can use "beat" in my specs?

Also, I've seen "pause" on other scripts and I was wondering if there's a difference between the two?

I know that they both mean the same thing but specifically do you use "beat" on a production script and "pause" on a spec script or is there no difference?
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Dreamscale
Posted: October 15th, 2018, 5:32pm Report to Moderator
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Yes, you can use "beat" in any script.

Some don't like it, but as far as I'm concerned, if used appropriately, it's no problem at all.
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DustinBowcot
Posted: October 16th, 2018, 1:31am Report to Moderator
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You can also use 'pause' which is how we Brits tend to do it. Personally, I'm a fan of ...
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MarkRenshaw
Posted: October 16th, 2018, 2:14am Report to Moderator
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I try to avoid anything which takes the reader out of the story or gives obvious acting instructions.

Imagine if you were reading a story and the author wrote BEAT in-between two paragraphs to tell you there's a gap or pause here. Suddenly you'd be drawn out of the world of Harry Potter (or whatever book takes your fancy) and wondering why the author is giving you reading lessons?

Of course, authors never do this. They write the story in such a way that the pauses are natural, as part of the flow. You know when to take a breath, you know when the action has a pause.

Or you are an actor reading your lines and the writer has told you when to pause in the dialogue. Would you be grateful for the 'how to deliver your lines' lesson or pissed? BTW my own experience with actors is they hate scripts that tell them how to act.

BUT - there are scripts out there that use BEAT, quite famous ones as well. So it is up to you. It's a personal choice.


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
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HyperMatt
Posted: October 16th, 2018, 7:29am Report to Moderator
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I personally hate using BEAT. When I've seen it in scripts. It is use a lot. I prefer trying to find over devices to indicate a  pause.


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FrankM
Posted: October 16th, 2018, 7:38am Report to Moderator
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I'm with Dustin, an ellipsis (...) gets the same point across while looking a lot less like directing the actor.


Quoted from MarkRenshaw
So it is up to you. It's a personal choice.


It's not like the actors don't try to do some of the writing by ad-libbing around their lines


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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DustinBowcot
Posted: October 16th, 2018, 8:45am Report to Moderator
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Screw the actors, this is my story! I'll tell it however I want. Once it's been paid for if the actor wants to change their lines then so be it.

It's not like I'm standing right there just daring them to change a single line or act it out in a way I didn't precisely specify in the script... or else!

All that 'don't direct', 'don't tell the actors what to do' stuff is not a rule I follow. That's also why I use specific songs and other things in my scripts. I'm not saying that's how it has to be done, I'm saying that's how it should be done. They don't have to agree.
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MarkRenshaw
Posted: October 17th, 2018, 2:34am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DustinBowcot
Screw the actors, this is my story! I'll tell it however I want. Once it's been paid for if the actor wants to change their lines then so be it.

It's not like I'm standing right there just daring them to change a single line or act it out in a way I didn't precisely specify in the script... or else!

All that 'don't direct', 'don't tell the actors what to do' stuff is not a rule I follow. That's also why I use specific songs and other things in my scripts. I'm not saying that's how it has to be done, I'm saying that's how it should be done. They don't have to agree.


Very true. If you look at the script for Casablanca, that has the most detailed instructions ever. 130 page script for a 90 minute film. I know it' old but it's a timeless classic. There are no rules, just personal choices and writer's own distinct voices. They are (and should be) as distinctive as fingerprints. Too many folks try to copy other scripts or styles thinking that will bring them success.
  


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
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Matthew Taylor
Posted: October 17th, 2018, 4:55am Report to Moderator
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From the POV of an ordinary reader, I would agree with others in using ...

I get the same feeling of a pause while reading the story but my flow is not broken by constantly reading BEAT. It hinders the experience for me and I have stopped reading scripts because they got in the way


Feature

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Two steps to writing a good screenplay:
1) Write a bad one
2) Fix it
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eldave1
Posted: October 17th, 2018, 7:39pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DustinBowcot
Screw the actors, this is my story! I'll tell it however I want. Once it's been paid for if the actor wants to change their lines then so be it.

It's not like I'm standing right there just daring them to change a single line or act it out in a way I didn't precisely specify in the script... or else!

All that 'don't direct', 'don't tell the actors what to do' stuff is not a rule I follow. That's also why I use specific songs and other things in my scripts. I'm not saying that's how it has to be done, I'm saying that's how it should be done. They don't have to agree.


Concur 100% especially since Actors, Directors, Producers. et al have no problem telling writers how to write.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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eldave1
Posted: October 17th, 2018, 7:44pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DA_S1lva
To my understanding beat is something you use on a production script.

I would like to know if I can use "beat" in my specs?

Also, I've seen "pause" on other scripts and I was wondering if there's a difference between the two?

I know that they both mean the same thing but specifically do you use "beat" on a production script and "pause" on a spec script or is there no difference?


Beat is fine.

My own personal preference is to avoid over using it and wherever possible use something more creative.

Dustin mentioned...

That works.

I like to also add something tone-wise. i.e., if I'm wasting a line away - why not pop it a bit. e.g., rather than:

DAVE
I think John is stealing from us.
(beat)
No, I know he is.

I'd go with:

DAVE
I think John is stealing from us.
(looks away - thinks)
No, I know he is.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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The Dark Horse
Posted: October 22nd, 2018, 11:16am Report to Moderator
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Recently I've started doing...

(then)
(realizes)
(off his silence)
(off her hesitation)
(thinks)
(nods)
(shrugs)
(sighs)
(smiles; joking)

- Sparingly.

Interestingly, a few times I didn't even need the dialogue. I just needed...
John nods. Or John sighs.

I use to abuse beat like crazy. As well as ellipses.



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eldave1
Posted: October 22nd, 2018, 11:19am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from The Dark Horse
Recently I've started doing...

(then)
(realizes)
(off his silence)
(off her hesitation)
(thinks)
(nods)
(shrugs)
(sighs)
(smiles; joking)


- Sparingly.

I use to abuse beat like crazy. As well as ellipses.





All good ones


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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The Dark Horse
Posted: October 22nd, 2018, 11:26am Report to Moderator
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What do people think of something like...

JOHN
Hi. How are you?
(Mary sighs and drinks her beer)
Yeah. I'm good.

I've seen that done a few times. I dunno what to think of it.

Using a semi-colon is a new thing for me too. But I hardly know when to use it.
JOHN
Hi. Would I like a beer?
(considers it; laughs)
Yes I would.

Oh and sotto.

JOHN
(sotto)
Beer time.

Another thing is using a beat straight away. Didn't know we could do that.

JOHN
(beat)
Yep.

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James McClung
Posted: October 23rd, 2018, 9:43am Report to Moderator
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I don't mind "beat," but it can feel extraneous. I think it works best used sparingly to enhance the right dramatic moment. Unfortunately for the writer, every moment can feel like the right one, so it can be tricky making strategic choices. I used "beat" a lot when I first started, but I try to avoid it at this point as I may just feel completely different about a given beat when I come back to edit and move it to a different place, at which point the whole thing becomes sorta interchangeable.

I've also come to prefer ellipses as well. Less intrusive.


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Dreamscale
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 9:55am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from The Dark Horse
What do people think of something like...

JOHN
Hi. How are you?
(Mary sighs and drinks her beer)
Yeah. I'm good.

I've seen that done a few times. I dunno what to think of it.

Using a semi-colon is a new thing for me too. But I hardly know when to use it.
JOHN
Hi. Would I like a beer?
(considers it; laughs)
Yes I would.

Oh and sotto.

JOHN
(sotto)
Beer time.

Another thing is using a beat straight away. Didn't know we could do that.

JOHN
(beat)
Yep.




I'm worried you're way overthinking all this.  The times any of this should come up in a feature script is very, very few...possibly never.  If you find you're using any of the above often, you're overdoing it.

I strongly recommend never using semicolons in a script.  They have no place there.
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FrankM
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 10:44am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Dreamscale
I strongly recommend never using semicolons in a script; they have no place there.


FTFY


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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JohnI
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 11:17am Report to Moderator
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I agree with Dave - I try to put a small action in if I want to break it up.

I.e
John I, uh,
(Looks down meekly)
Down’t know
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Dreamscale
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 1:11pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from FrankM


FTFY


HA!  I had to look up what FTFY stands for, as I've never heard it before.

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Dreamscale
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 1:13pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from JohnI
I agree with Dave - I try to put a small action in if I want to break it up.

I.e
John I, uh,
(Looks down meekly)
Down’t know


One thing to keep in mind when using action wrylies is that there's only so much space on a wrylie line, and having a 2 line wrylie never looks good!
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eldave1
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 1:25pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Dreamscale


One thing to keep in mind when using action wrylies is that there's only so much space on a wrylie line, and having a 2 line wrylie never looks good!


If I can't fit it on a single line wrylie,  generally don't do it. But that's just my preference.  


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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FrankM
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 1:52pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from eldave1
If I can't fit it on a single line wrylie,  generally don't do it. But that's just my preference.  


So something like this?  


EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

Paula walks, carefully avoiding the various messes one finds on a city sidewalk, and rummages through her handbag.

She pulls out a letter just as she reaches a mailbox.

                    PAULA
                And here we go.
                  (Paula open the
                  mailbox, notices
                  the pick-up time
                  sticker, checks
                  her phone,
                  realizes that the
                  final pick-up of
                  the day has passed,
                  scans the area for
                  a post office or
                  other mailbox,
                  finds no
                  alternative)
                Oh well.
                  (She drops the
                  letter in the box)
                You'll get it eventually.


Feature-length scripts:
Who Wants to Be a Princess? (Family)
Glass House (Horror anthology)

TV pilots:
"Kord" (Fantasy)
"Mal Suerte" (Superhero)

Additional scripts are listed here.
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eldave1
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 3:07pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from FrankM


So something like this?  


EXT. CITY STREET - DAY

Paula walks, carefully avoiding the various messes one finds on a city sidewalk, and rummages through her handbag.

She pulls out a letter just as she reaches a mailbox.

                    PAULA
                And here we go.
                  (Paula open the
                  mailbox, notices
                  the pick-up time
                  sticker, checks
                  her phone,
                  realizes that the
                  final pick-up of
                  the day has passed,
                  scans the area for
                  a post office or
                  other mailbox,
                  finds no
                  alternative)
                Oh well.
                  (She drops the
                  letter in the box)
                You'll get it eventually.


Exactly!


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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stevie
Posted: October 24th, 2018, 3:18pm Report to Moderator
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Beat works well in comedies as the final pause before a good funny line



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eldave1
Posted: January 29th, 2019, 5:30pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from stevie
Beat works well in comedies as the final pause before a good funny line


Agree


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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RolandJ
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Yes. Particularly if you’ve drawn a character who is thinking about something before speaking.

EXT. POST OFFICE - DAY

John and Louise exit the post office with the letter. John tears open the envelope and stares in disbelief.

                LOUISE
          Well.....?

John doesn’t answer for a long beat. Then....

                JOHN
              (sadly)
          Sarah’s dead.....
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Sandra Elstree.
Posted: January 30th, 2019, 2:21am Report to Moderator
Of The Ancients


What if the Hokey Pokey, IS what it's all about?

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Quoted from MarkRenshaw
I try to avoid anything which takes the reader out of the story or gives obvious acting instructions.



Years ago, scripts were littered with camera directions. Today, unless you're a director, the important thing to anchor upon is YOUR STORY.

Let the Director and the Actors have room to maneuver and express themselves.

Express your intent with as few lines as possible. They are intelligent and will get IT.

As far as I'm concerned to use a word like "Beat"...

It's a waste of space. Come on. Just ask yourself why you're writing that.

What? They wait? They think? They do the "nod and smile"? Anything, but Beat?

Please someone start a thread explaining where it ever came from in the first place.

Kay wait... You're not talking 'bout the same "beat" as me, are you?




A known mistake is better than an unknown truth.
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Penoyer79
Posted: February 1st, 2019, 1:47am Report to Moderator
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People tell you not to do a lot of things in this craft. Like "Don't use passive verbs"

And then I looked up Bill Lancaster's The Thing script and there's passive verbs everywhere.

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MarkRenshaw
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As Scott Myers says, there are no rules. If your scripts are doing well in competitions, getting optioned, produced and good feedback from directors then keep doing whatever you are doing.

If not, try and figure out why.  


For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
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PaulA
Posted: December 12th, 2019, 11:57am Report to Moderator
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why not? you can use it as many times as you want. Some writers use "A moment" instead and sometimes, they use both. So any of them will be good for you, depending on how comfortable you are with a particular choice.  And I also think you should consider reading successful screenplays and know how these have been used.
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eldave1
Posted: December 12th, 2019, 12:04pm Report to Moderator
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And the beat goes on....


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Mr. Blonde
Posted: December 12th, 2019, 1:01pm Report to Moderator
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What good are choices if they're all bad?

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There's nothing wrong with (beat). There's nothing wrong with a lot of screenwriting tools at our disposal. Personally, I don't use it because it uses more letters and spaces than an ellipsis does, but if you're asking, "Can I...?", yeah. Nothing should stop you if that's what you do.

It's funny how an old thread can also be a current thread when the topic is a timeless one, such as this.


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eldave1
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Quoted from Mr. Blonde


It's funny how an old thread can also be a current thread when the topic is a timeless one, such as this.


Yes, it's a topic we
(BEAT)
to death.



My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Mr. Blonde
Posted: December 12th, 2019, 7:24pm Report to Moderator
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What good are choices if they're all bad?

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Quoted from eldave1
Yes, it's a topic we
(BEAT)
to death.


I... see what you did there.


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eldave1
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Quoted from Mr. Blonde


I... see what you did there.




My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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