Beat by Beat Page 12
THE AVENGERS
Black Widow tricks Loki into revealing that he plans on unleashing the Hulk. (Minute 105)
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John heads back to campus to try to regain his life. He asks Hansen for a teaching job. (Minute 105)
GONE GIRL
Nick’s young mistress publicly confesses about her and Nick’s affair, just before his big TV interview. (Minute 104)
MINUTE 106
THE DODGE
Someone dodges or avoids something
When the hero or ally has to dodge or avoid something bad, we wince for them. It makes us almost want to scream: “Watch out!” (I’ve actually heard people scream look out during The Dodge while watching action movies in theaters.) Their dilemma keeps us emotionally invested.
SKYFALL
Bond thought there were no weapons in the house, but Kincade saved James’s father’s old hunting rifle (barely dodges being weaponless).
THE AVENGERS
Hawkeye’s plane barely avoids hitting pedestrians.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Hansen says: “I wanted to write . . .” (dodges the fact that he hasn’t contacted John).
GONE GIRL
Nick did great in the interview (he dodged a media bullet).
MINUTE 107
GOOD DOES BAD
Someone that seems good does bad
Pro screenwriters design Minute 107 to give the audience a glimpse into the hero or ally’s darker side — by showing us that good can indeed do bad. Why? The audience needs to know that the hero and his friends have what it takes to fight — and possibly defeat — the villain in the final brutal battle.
SKYFALL
Kincade tells Bond: “Try to stop me, you jumped-up little shit.”
THE AVENGERS
Loki seemed to soften and connect with his brother, but then he stabs him.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John slams the newspaper when Charles appears.
GONE GIRL
Amy’s ex-boyfriend, who’s helping her, shuts off the TV so she can’t watch news.
MINUTE 108
SENSE OF FINALITY
Finality is shown or expressed
The Sense of Finality during Minute 108 is used for two reasons: Either to help wrap up the story or a subplot, or to create a sense of impending doom to propel the movie forward . . .
SKYFALL
Kincade tells M that when James came out of the hiding spot after his parents died, he wasn’t a boy anymore.
THE AVENGERS
Captain America says: “They’re fish in a barrel down there.”
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John tells Hansen: “I am quite certain you will say no.”
GONE GIRL
Amy’s creepy ex-boyfriend says: “I am not letting you get away again.”
MINUTE 109
THE EXTRAORDINARY
Something extraordinary is revealed
Since there was a false sense of finality in the last minute, the writer jump-starts the story again by revealing something extraordinary. This always causes a bigger question to be raised. And when a bigger question is raised, it needs to be answered somehow, like in Die Hard when John discovers an extraordinary amount of explosives near the roof.
SKYFALL
Aged M knows how to effortlessly make explosives.
THE AVENGERS
Hawkeye tells Black Widow: “You and I remember Budapest way differently.”
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
The librarian says John is “going nuts.”
GONE GIRL
Amy’s creepy ex says he wants her to look like she used to.
MINUTE 110
STRONG STATEMENT
Someone makes a strong statement, either verbally or physically
A Strong Statement is made either visually or, most of the time, verbally during this minute. Again, this statement is designed to propel the story forward and get the hero deeper into trouble. In Spider-Man, Mary Jane tells Peter she loves him. In The Matrix, Tank says that Neo is “The One.” In Pulp Fiction, Jules says: “I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance.”
SKYFALL
Kincade blows a hole through the door with a sawed-off shotgun.
THE AVENGERS
Captain America proves to the cop why he should take orders from him.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John tells Alicia: “Maybe Rosen’s right. Maybe I ought to think about going back into the hospital again.”
GONE GIRL
Amy’s creepy ex says: “I am looking forward to my reunion with Amy Elliot.”
MINUTE 111
TURN FOR THE WORSE
Things take a turn for the worse for the hero
Another great way to grab the audience’s attention, or to extend the story if you need to, is to have the movie take a Turn for the Worse. It’s a problem that has to be solved, which keeps the audience watching until it’s resolved, like in The Matrix when the agents order sentinels to destroy the Nebuchadnezzar.
SKYFALL
Silva’s henchmen arrive.
THE AVENGERS
Banner tells The Avengers: “So, this all seems horrible.”
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Charles stands in John’s way.
GONE GIRL
The TV interviewer tells Nick: “. . . we know you’re a liar.”
MINUTE 112
CHARGING SHARK
Bad guy takes aggressive action toward hero and ally
From Minute 112 to the end of the movie, the bad guy comes on strong in the form of aggressive action, or as I prefer to call it: Charging Shark (referring to the shark that rushes toward Hooper in Jaws). We’re gonna go through these remaining minutes pretty quickly, so stay focused . . .
SKYFALL
Silva’s henchman presses an explosive on the door.
THE AVENGERS
The enemy ship rushes toward Banner.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Parcher glares at John.
GONE GIRL
The TV interviewer says to Nick sarcastically: “You talk like you want to make amends with your wife.”
MINUTE 113
THE CAGE SLAM
Bad guy takes another aggressive action toward hero and allies
The Cage Slam refers to the moment the shark rams into Hooper’s fragile cage during this minute in Jaws. Here are other ways our case studies rattle our hero and ally’s cages:
SKYFALL
The henchmen shoot at Bond.
THE AVENGERS
Loki says: “Send the rest.”
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Charles tells John that he’s being pathetic.
GONE GIRL
The TV interviewer says to Nick: “Look at the lens and talk to your wife.”
MINUTE 114
GETS THE BETTER
Bad guy gets the better of hero and/or ally
We think the hero might have a chance, but then the bad guy Gets the Better of him, which increases the audience’s anxiety, like when Agent Smith Gets the Better of Neo in The Matrix, or when the Death Star blasts away at Luke in Star Wars.
SKYFALL
Silva arrives in an attack helicopter.
THE AVENGERS
Hawkeye says: “Stark, you have a lot of strays sniffing your tail.”
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Parcher lets John know he’s still watching him.
GONE GIRL
Detective Rhonda brings a search warrant and opens the woodshed.
MINUTE 115
BLEAK MEEK
Things seem bleak for the hero
It looks like the suddenly passive hero (meek) might be defeated after all (bleak). In Die Hard, John runs from the FBI’s bullets (meek) before they can kill him (bleak). In Jaws, defeated Quint and Brody (meek) pull up the mutilated cage — Hooper’s not in it (bleak).
SKYFALL
Silva’s helicopter unloads on Bond (bleak). He hides to avoid the bullets (meek
).
THE AVENGERS
While being chased by the enemy, Stark sees his only option is a narrow tunnel (bleak). Caught between a rock and a hard place, he says: “Oh boy” (meek).
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John’s imaginary friend gestures for a hug (bleak). He ignores her (meek).
GONE GIRL
Nick watches his sister (meek) being arrested (bleak).
MINUTE 116
KICK ’EM WHILE THEY’RE DOWN
Bad guy exerts tremendous effort against hero
The bad guy sees that the hero is hurt, so he’s going to Kick ’Em While He’s Down to make sure he doesn’t rise back up. In Jaws, the shark leaps onto the boat to attack Brody. In The Matrix, Agent Smith punches Neo’s stomach with incredible speed. In Pulp Fiction, Jimmy yells at Jules for bringing a dead girl to his house.
SKYFALL
Silva’s helicopters fire the big guns at the house.
THE AVENGERS
An enemy soldier tackles Black Widow.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
A student (former bad guy in John’s past) wants John to look at his theory.
GONE GIRL
Amy’s creepy ex says he’s moving in with her. “I just want you to be you again.”
MINUTE 117
THE REPRIEVE
Looks really, really bleak for hero, but hero does something that might save him
You may find the phrase “Yes, but . . .” helpful when writing this minute. Yes, it does look really bad for the hero during this minute, but he does something that might give him a glimmer of hope . . .
SKYFALL
Yes Silva throws bombs, but Bond finds an automatic rifle.
THE AVENGERS
Yes the enemy’s attack intensifies, but Thor and Hulk help each other.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
Yes John is surrounded by students (who he used to hate), but now he teaches them.
GONE GIRL
Yes Nick is in trouble, but he tells Tanner Bolt: “The truth is my defense.”
MINUTE 118
HOPE MIGHT BE LOST
Hope might be lost for good for the hero
Nope, forget that glimmer of hope in the last minute. Hope Might Be Lost for good during Minute 118 as the bad guy hurts the hero, or ally, even more, like in Jaws when the boat sinks as the shark closes in on Brody, or when Sonny is killed in The Godfather.
SKYFALL
M is severely wounded.
THE AVENGERS
The enemy is going to kill a lot of civilians.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John says that he’d like to teach, but Hansen replies: “A classroom of fifty would be daunting for anyone” (suggesting John may not be able to handle it).
GONE GIRL
Nick is arrested for murder.
MINUTE 119
ONE BULLET LEFT
Hero fails, or needs help, as the bad guy closes in
It’s never easy, is it? So it is for our hero, who goes to meet the bad guy with only One Bullet Left in his chamber, either literally or figuratively. In Jaws, Brody shoots but fails to hit the air canister. In The Godfather, Tom needs a drink to gain the courage to tell Don Corleone that his son is dead. In Forrest Gump, guilt overcomes Forrest when Jenny tells him he’s her son’s father.
SKYFALL
Silva firebombs Skyfall with Bond still inside, running out of ammo.
THE AVENGERS
Captain America can’t break free from the enemy soldier.
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John asks a student if she can see that man talking to him. She says yes.
GONE GIRL
Amy turns the tables — she kisses her creepy ex and musses his hair.
MINUTE 120
POWDER KEG
There’s an emotional or physical explosion
Minute 120 is the Powder Keg that will, or finally does, blow. And it comes in the form of a physical or emotional explosion. And this explosion is much more intense than the previous explosions. In Knocked Up, Alison screams in pain. In Die Hard, Argyle crashes into the bad guy’s van. In The Godfather, Don Corleone bursts into tears over his son’s death. In Jaws, the shark explodes!
SKYFALL
Bond’s car explodes!
THE AVENGERS
Hawkeye’s arrow blows up in Loki’s hand!
A BEAUTIFUL MIND
John is told that he’s being considered for the Nobel Prize!
GONE GIRL
Amy slams herself against the door and screams!
ACT 4 CHECKLIST
Have you kept your dialogue and scenes centered around your theme?
Did your Main Hero head toward the final battle place and defeat the Villain?
Did your Main Hero sacrifice his flaw for the greater good?
Did the Main Hero suffer for sacrificing his flaw?
Did you reward your hero for sacrificing his flaw and defeating the Villain?
If your story is a tragedy, did the Main Hero fail to give up his flaw and do the greater good? Did we learn something from his failings?
WHAT IF MY SCREENPLAY IS LONGER THAN 120 PAGES?
If, after numerous and painstaking rewrites, you still feel like you need more than 120 pages to tell your story, then you’ll need to add a new Act — Act 5. You’ll have to bump up the moment when the Main Hero sacrifices his flaw for the greater good, and include it here. This is also where the Main Hero will: suffer for giving up his flaw, defeat the Villain, and be rewarded for his sacrifices (happy ending); or he fails to give up his flaw, but we still learn a lesson from his failings (tragedy).
SACRIFICING THE FLAW
Here’s how our Main Heroes sacrificed their flaws for the greater good, suffered for it, then were rewarded:
HAPPY ENDINGS
Skyfall: Overcoming his age and disappointments in M (flaw), Bond shoots the ice below his feet to give M better odds to live (sacrifices himself for the greater good). He almost drowns in the process (suffers). In the end, Eve gives Bond a gift from M: her desk bulldog. Bond smiles (reward).
The Avengers: Overcoming his selfishness (flaw), Tony Stark intercepts the missile and carries it through the wormhole toward the Chitauri fleet — a suicide mission. The missile destroys the Chitauri mother ship (sacrifices for the greater good). Despite the Hulk’s help, Stark crashes to the ground, which hurts him badly (suffers). His selfless act earns the respect of Captain America who previously disrespected Stark (reward).
The Hangover: Overcoming his blind love for mean Melissa (flaw), Stu breaks up with Melissa at Doug’s wedding, much to everyone’s relief (sacrifices for the greater good). She pokes Stu and yells at him in front of everyone (suffers). The guys give Stu a group hug (reward).