Chick 1 says:
Welcome to a new series of posts, Beat Sheets. A beat sheet is a story structure tool used by many screenwriters, listing out certain events or moments called beats that usually occur in every story. These beats drive the plot. The particular beat sheet we’ll be using here was developed by Blake Snyder in his screenwriting book, Save The Cat. It is very popular among writers in Hollywood today.
In this series, I’ll follow the plot of different movies and list each point where I think an important beat occurs. Snyder’s theory is that every great or even good movie, every story has all of these beats in some form. For the first few posts I’ll list Snyder’s explanation of each beat. Tell me if you think I’m right. Or if you think a certain beat doesn’t exist in the movie at all.
For this first one, let’s take a look at Hot Fuzz, the second collaboration by Simon Pegg/Nick Frost/Edgar Wright following Shaun of the Dead. Like Shaun of the Dead, it’s a funny, sharp story. The writing and editing are tight, tight, tight. No line or prop is thrown away from Aaron A. Aaronson to “Swan!”. Almost everything comes back into the plot. So let’s dive in. Obviously SPOILERS FOLLOW.
Opening Image – A visual that represents the struggle & tone of the story. A snapshot of the main character’s problem, before the adventure begins.
- Nick Angel charging toward the camera, determined to follow each rule to the letter without a thought for anything else.
Set-up – Expand on the “before” snapshot. Present the main character’s world as it is, and what is missing in their life.
- Opening narration – Angel is such an intense, uptight officer that he doesn’t have any friends, even his girlfriend dumps him for not being able to “switch off”. His drive is shown by the rundown of his police record.
Theme Stated (happens during the Set-up) – What your story is about; the message, the truth. Usually, it is spoken to the main character or in their presence, but they don’t understand the truth…not until they have some personal experience and context to support it.
- Stated by Nick to Danny before they watch movies – needing to learn to switch off. Nick is so obsessed with his job he doesn’t know how to relate to others. This does not happen during the set-up, however there is a deleted scene when Nick’s girlfriend break’s up with him during the set-up. I believe it’s stated during that scene.
Catalyst – The moment where life as it is changes. It is the telegram, the act of catching your loved-one cheating, allowing a monster on board the ship, meeting the true love of your life, etc. The “before” world is no more, change is underway.
- Nick’s forced transfer from his job as one of London’s most successful cops, to a boring country position.
Debate – But change is scary and for a moment, or a brief number of moments, the main character doubts the journey they must take. Can I face this challenge? Do I have what it takes? Should I go at all? It is the last chance for the hero to chicken out.
- Nick tries this unsuccessfully with his bosses.
Break Into Two (Choosing Act Two) – The main character makes a choice and the journey begins. We leave the “Thesis” world and enter the upside-down, opposite world of Act Two.
- Nick’s journey to Sanford, not just his physical journey but his first evening in the town. He tries to handle things as he always has; it doesn’t work. He’s not in Kansas anymore.
B Story – This is when there’s a discussion about the Theme – the nugget of truth. Usually, this discussion is between the main character and the love interest. So, the B Story is usually called the “love story”.
- Nick and Danny are the B Story. The “romance” does not have to be literal but it is where the hero receives nuture and care. Danny idolizes Nick & is shaken out of his stupor by Nick’s heroism. Nick needs Danny’s affection more than he realizes and is finally able to loosen up thanks to Danny’s example.
The Promise of the Premise – This is the fun part of the story. This is when Craig Thompson’s relationship with Raina blooms, when Indiana Jones tries to beat the Nazis to the Lost Ark, when the detective finds the most clues and dodges the most bullets. This is when the main character explores the new world and the audience is entertained by the premise they have been promised.
- From the moment Nick begins to meet the citizens of Sandford, they seem quiet country folk but there is also something sinister in each meeting. Then comes the first murder. There really is something evil lurking beneath the quaint exterior.
Midpoint – Dependent upon the story, this moment is when everything is “great” or everything is “awful”. The main character either gets everything they think they want (“great”) or doesn’t get what they think they want at all (“awful”). But not everything we think we want is what we actually need in the end.
- After the fair and Tom Messenger’s murder, Nick’s midpoint is “awful”. He is miserable in his new job and town. He KNOWS something is going on but no one believes him. He is a laughing stock to his co-workers and even fights with his one new friend.
Bad Guys Close In – Doubt, jealousy, fear, foes both physical and emotional regroup to defeat the main character’s goal, and the main character’s “great”/“awful” situation disintegrates.
- Nick keeps getting closer to the murderer, even actually witnessing a murder himself and gets Danny back on the case. But they can’t quite figure it out.
All is Lost – The opposite moment from the Midpoint: “awful”/“great”. The moment that the main character realizes they’ve lost everything they gained, or everything they now have has no meaning. The initial goal now looks even more impossible than before. And here, something or someone dies. It can be physical or emotional, but the death of something old makes way for something new to be born.
- Nick uncovers the truth. He was right; there are multiple murderers. But now he will likely be killed because almost the entire town is in on it. When Danny joins in the group and “stabs” Nick, Nick is convinced that Danny is in on it. His one real friend (and therefore, his one true accomplishment) is a part of it all. Nick (and his friendship with Danny) both appear to die here.
Dark Night of the Soul – The main character hits bottom, and wallows in hopelessness. The Why hast thou forsaken me, Lord? moment. Mourning the loss of what has “died” – the dream, the goal, the mentor character, the love of your life, etc. But, you must fall completely before you can pick yourself back up and try again.
- Although the “stabbing” was a rouse to save Nick, he can’t convince Danny to join him. He is completely alone in his fight.
Break Into Three (Choosing Act Three) – Thanks to a fresh idea, new inspiration, or last-minute Thematic advice from the B Story (usually the love interest), the main character chooses to try again.
- On his lonely drive back to London, Nick stops at a convenience store and sees the cop movies that Danny introduced him to. He realizes he has to finish the job and rides into town, armed to the teeth, and on a white horse no less. Even the guns across his back look like angel wings. Nick Angel, get it?
Finale – This time around, the main character incorporates the Theme – the nugget of truth that now makes sense to them – into their fight for the goal because they have experience from the A Story and context from the B Story. Act Three is about Synthesis!
- Near the start of the fight Danny joins Nick. Soon they are able to convince the rest of the police force to join them and Nick leads the take down of the murderers not on his own but as part of a team.
Final Image – opposite of Opening Image, proving, visually, that a change has occurred within the character.
- Nick and Danny are patrolling the town, Nick fine with checking out some “hippies”. A true partnership thrives; Nick has adjusted to quiet village life and Danny gets to be a “real” cop.
%%
Feel free to visit my blog; Semi Truck Accident Legal; Moto.Ru-Box.Ru,
Link exchange is nothing else except it is only
placing the other person’s website link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do
similar in favor of you.
Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you
know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.
I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same outcome.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post
Cheers!
was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger
if you aren’t already
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your article seem to be running
off the screen in Ie. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something
to do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem fixed soon. Thanks
Very good information. Lucky me I recently found your site by chance (stumbleupon).
I have bookmarked it for later!
Fabulous, what a blog it is! This webpage gives valuable data to us, keep it up.
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at
this site is genuinely pleasant.
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of
your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
It’s remarkable in support of me to have a web site, which is valuable in support of my knowledge.
thanks admin
Whаt’ѕ uρ mates, fastidious paragraph аnd ցood urging
comented һere, I am reaⅼly enjoying by thesе.
Heгe iѕ mmy web-site … Socialmediamarketingshop.com
My brother suggested I may like this website. He was once entirely right.
This put up truly made my day. You can not consider just how much time
I had spent for this info! Thanks!
Fantastic items from you, man. I’ve keep in mind
your stuff prior to and you are just too fantastic.
I actually like what you have obtained right here,
certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you assert it.
You are making it entertaining and you continue to care for to stay it sensible.
I can not wait to learn far more from you. That is actually a great site.
Howdy I am so glad I found your website, I really found you by mistake, while I
was searching on Aol for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a all
round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I
have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much
more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
Hello, yeah this post is actually pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it on the
topic of blogging. thanks.
Hello there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay.
I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
I simply couldn’t go away your site before suggesting that I actually loved the usual info
a person supply for your visitors? Is gonna be back incessantly in order to
check up on new posts
%%
Feel free to surf to my homepage cbd Oil online store
Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clarity on your put up is just great and
i can suppose you’re a professional on this subject. Well along with your
permission allow me to grab your feed to stay up to date with impending post.
Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
I’ve been browsing on-line more than 3 hours lately, yet I never found any fascinating article like yours.
It’s beautiful price enough for me. In my view, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as
you did, the internet might be a lot more helpful than ever before.
I have read so many articles regarding the blogger lovers however this paragraph is in fact a nice article, keep it up.
Pretty element of content. I simply stumbled upon your
weblog and in accession capital to claim that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing on your augment or
even I success you get right of entry to consistently quickly.
Appreciation to my father who told me concerning this website, this blog is in fact
amazing.
Greetings from Los angeles! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the information you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get
home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my cell
phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G ..
Anyhow, great site!
I am curious to find out what blog system you’re utilizing?
I’m having some minor security issues with my latest
site and I would like to find something more safeguarded.
Do you have any solutions?
I do trust all of the ideas you’ve offered for your post.
They are really convincing and can definitely work.
Still, the posts are very short for newbies.
Could you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
Thank you for the post.
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having trouble
locating it but, I’d like to send you an e-mail.
I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and check again here frequently.
I’m quite certain I’ll learn many new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
I all the time used to read post in news papers but now as I am a user of web thus
from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to
web.
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Firefox.
I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something
to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue
resolved soon. Cheers
I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers but this
post is really a fastidious paragraph, keep it up.
That is a very good tip particularly to those new to the
blogosphere. Simple but very accurate information… Many thanks
for sharing this one. A must read article!
%%
Here is my blog; cbd oil shop Online store
%%
Also visit my homepage: Birth Injury Attorney
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to
say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
What’s up colleagues, how is everything, and what you would like to say on the topic of this post,
in my view its actually awesome in favor of me.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of
any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically
tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would
have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
Aw, this was a really good post. Taking the time
and actual effort to produce a very good article… but
what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot
and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head.
The problem is an issue that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about.
Now i’m very happy that I came across this during my hunt for
something relating to this.
This is a topic which is close to my heart…
Take care! Exactly where are your contact
details though?
%%
Look into my blog post … Car keys cutting near me
Good article. I absolutely love this website. Keep writing!
%%
My website how to join avon
%%
Also visit my webpage; sell
%%
my page redmond Asbestos
%%
Also visit my site – Gulfport 18 Wheeler accident
%%
Review my web page :: car Key cut and program near me
%%
Take a look at my web page – Malpractice Legal
%%
my blog: onlyfans site