Save the Cat Beat Sheet Explained [with FREE Template]
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The Ultimate Film Beat Sheet
What is a story beat?
In film development terms, a “story beat” refers to a single story event which transforms the character and story at a critical juncture. Think of beats as “checkpoints” along the way, that will complete the story and chart out a film structure.
In his book “Save the Cat,” screenwriter Blake Snyder boiled film plot structure down to 15 beats. He also includes the suggested page number each beat should should occur on. We included those on our Save the Cat beat sheet template.
Here you can see how each of these story beats plays out visually.
Save the Cat Beat Sheet Template • Infographic
You can even use a beat sheet calculator if you know the expected page count, which comes in handy if you want to write a short film beat sheet.
Story and character are two sides of the same coin. Inevitably, your protagonist will attract characters and scenarios that will teach the valuable lesson of the story (i.e., the “arc”).
It’s crucial to give your character a strong and clear need. After all, their desire will dictate the story of their lives, and drive them toward the irreversible change of your finale.
We will use the great beat sheet example found in The Matrix to illustrate the effectiveness of Blake Snyder’s creation.
An analysis of the plot structure
Time to take the red pill and tumble down the rabbit hole where we’ll explore The Matrix is all its kung-fu, sci-fi, techno glory.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
1. Opening Image [Page 1]
Start strong with an image that catapults your audience into the look and feel of your story. Blake Snyder suggests knocking this out on Page 1.
Look no further: Instagram account @Finalscreens shows how much story can be conveyed in the first and final images of a film.
Film structure can be summarized in strong opening and final images
Let’s use the act breakdown of The Matrix to show the power of the Save the Cat beat sheet template at work. To start, The Matrix boasts a strong opening image: a blinking command line cursor.
The Save the Cat beat sheet template calls for an opening image that speaks volumes
The film is about a hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) who realizes his life is a computer-simulated reality (The Matrix). Over the image we hear Trinity and Cypher, on the “other end” of the cursor. They’re liberated from The Matrix, and looking for their savior.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
2. Theme Stated [Page 5]
Film structure requires that the theme of the film is communicated by someone fairly early on. Commonly, this is dialogue spoken to the protagonist that he doesn’t quite grasp yet.
In The Matrix, Neo moonlights as a creator of illegal software. One of his customers tells him that he looks like he “needs to unplug for awhile.” This subtly suggests that Neo will learn to unplug from his computer simulated reality, and how to fight those who were keeping him there.
3. Set-up [Pages 1-10]
3. Set-up [Pages 1-10]
Use your first ten pages wisely. Here, you’ll need to establish your story scope (and “look and feel”) for the audience.
First, show your character in their “old world.” Let the audience know what the status quo is for them, then hint at the adventure that follows.
Second, establish all characters who will factor into your main story beats. This may take some creativity. Sometimes, for story reasons, you will just have to hint at those characters.
The setup is one of the most important sections of your script because it provides the essential context needed for the audience to become either immediately engaged, or lose interest within the first ten minutes. Obviously as a screenwriter, the former is required to sustain a career.
In StudioBinder, you can write your screenplay right in the software or upload it from a previous format. Below, we’ll upload The Matrix and see how the following scene was setup. For more, here’s a breakdown of The Matrix screenplay, including plot, character and quotes.
The Matrix begins with an action sequence cleverly to establish how there are people in Neo’s world (Trinity, the Agents), who seem like they are from another place all together.
Other worldly opening scene
They defy the laws of physics, and seem to come and go as they please.
The Matrix beat sheet example finds strong world-building in its set-up
We also meet Neo, and learn that he senses this other world, but it’s just beyond his grasp. When you want your audience to get engaged quickly, it’s these pieces of essential context that will make that happen.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
4. Catalyst [Page 12]
Sometimes called the “inciting incident,” the catalyst is the event that disrupts your protagonist’s status quo. But they’re not ready to make the choice that catapults them into the story just yet.
In The Matrix, this happens when Neo meets Trinity in a club. She tells him that he’s in danger.
Inciting Incident pushes us into the story
This inciting incident gets us hooked, let’s see what keeps us there.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
5. Debate [Page 12-25]
This is where the protagonist has doubts about setting out on their perilous journey. How does this beat manifest in The Matrix?
After talking to Trinity, Neo finds himself hunted by sunglasses-wearing “suits” (the Agents). Thankfully, he’s on the phone with Morpheus — the leader of the rebellion Trinity represents.
However, Neo’s not strong enough follow through on Morpheus’ orders to escape his office building. In Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey,” this is called the ‘refusal of the call.’
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
6. Break into Two [Page 25]
Inevitably, your protagonist will overcome his or her doubt and make a choice to set out on their adventure. This is the choice that officially sets the plot in motion.
From here on out, your Save the Cat beat sheet template will be filled with obstacles and twists resulting from making this choice.
In The Matrix? You guessed it: this is where Neo takes the red pill (to unplug from The Matrix) over the blue pill (to resume status quo).
What is a beat that can catapult your story into its story?
While you’re writing, there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead. With such important and symbolic props and motifs like the red and blue pills, you should know how to break down a script. In StudioBinder’s script breakdown feature, you can write your script and tag important elements for shooting.
Identifying key elements is helpful for planning, but when you’re still writing your story, other less obvious elements come into play. Let’s discuss what those look like.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
7. B Story [Page 30]
The A story revolves around the choice your protagonist made as Act 1 breaks into Act 2. But another subplot ensues, commonly a love story. Blake Snyder suggests this at around Page 30 to illustrate the theme of your film.
The Matrix does not conform to this succinctly (remember, the Save the Cat beat sheet template only gives you suggested page counts).
The B Story is the blossoming romance between Neo and Trinity. It starts when they meet in the club, and blossoms once Neo has left the Matrix and is aboard the Nebuchadnezzar with Morpheus and his crew.
Trinity gives Neo strength to believe that he’s their savior.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
8. Fun and Games [Page 30-55]
Thankfully, the Save the Cat beat sheet template is not just “all work and no play.” Your plot structure requires a stretch where your protagonist wields their new power, and does cool stuff with it.
Don’t worry, the Save the Cat beat sheet template allows for some play
In The Matrix, Neo enters a virtual program (The Construct), where Morpheus teaches him all kinds of fun stuff. Here he starts to hone martial arts skills and how to jump really high.
Fun and Games in The Matrix
Have fun with these scenes. Just make sure they make the world you’re creating more interesting or serve a purpose. These scenes should also reinforce the “rules” of the world and what your hero can or can’t do.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
9. Midpoint [Page 55]
At some point, your protagonist will either get what they’re after… or not. But there will be consequences either way. Neo takes the red pill to see if he’s truly humanity’s savior. But, at the midpoint, he goes to the clairvoyant Oracle to see if this is true.
She gives him a once-over and, tragically, tells him it’s not true.
Intermission
How to use the Save The Cat beat sheet template
Before we finish off the steps of the Save the Cat beat sheet template, let’s go over some quick pointers on filling it out.
First, know that you won’t hit the suggested page count perfectly. That’s why it’s ‘suggested’! It’s there to guide your story arc.
If you know your page count will be longer than Blake Snyder’s set 110 pages, find a handy beat sheet calculator to recalibrate. Finally, keep Dan Harmon’s story circle in mind as you chart out each beat. Approach story and character as though they’re the same thing.
If you get confused, write tandem beats where both character and plot are parallel, to better see why the beat needs to happen.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
10. Bad Guys Close In [Pages 55-75]
After your protagonist gets what they want, or not, there will be consequences. These forces will tighten their grasp, and throw the protagonist off balance. These forces don’t necessarily have to be actual antagonists. It can also be fighting within the protagonist’s circle.
Back to The Matrix. This is the section where Cypher betrays the team and allows the Agents to capture Morpheus. This thwarts the team’s relative control amongst chaos.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
11. All Is Lost [Page 75]
In film structure, the dire circumstances your protagonist endures will lead to an inevitable loss. This is usually a character, and classically the “mentor” (think Obi-Wan, Gandalf and Morpheus).
Whatever the loss, it’s felt deeply because this item (or person) gave the protagonist their bearings. In The Matrix, this is where Morpheus is kidnapped, and Agent Smith presses him to give up the location of Zion — humanity’s safe haven.
Executing decisions like these might be challenging, but definitely necessary to create the best script. If you’re writing with a team, or a partner, it might be even harder. Not everyone will agree, so it’s a must to stay on the same page, along the way.
Waiting to hear back from your team days or weeks later only prolongs the Pre-Production process. The software makes changes quickly and collaboration can take minutes instead of days.
In StudioBinder you can make script changes in the document section, or add comments in real time to the shooting script. These few pages in your script, and the next ten will determine if you meet or exceed the expectations of your audience.
Staying on the same page with your team is crucial at this stage, whether you’re in the development or even making last minute changes right before shoot day.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
12. Dark Night of the Soul [Pages 75-85]
This is the most dire circumstance your character reaches. At this point of the Save the Cat beat sheet template, your protagonist has lost hope.
In The Matrix, this is where Neo and his team come to the tragic realization that they have to pull the plug on Morpheus.
Your plot relies on a moment where everything feels hopeless
Otherwise, the Agents might thwart humanity forever.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
13. Break into Three [Page 85]
Like a forest fire, loss and misery are followed by new life.
In plot structure, this is where your protagonist claws around in the darkness, only to find or remember something useful. In The Matrix, Neo is reminded of crucial information he gleaned from the Oracle.
The Matrix beat sheet example: The Break into Three
This gives him the confidence to take arms and save Morpheus from The Agents against impossible odds. Trinity goes with him and we officially enter the final act of the film.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
14. Finale [Pages 85-110]
Treat the finale as the Act 3 summary. The Save the Cat beat sheet template is at its end, so it’s time for the protagonist to take on their foes.
Armed with new tools and self-discoveries, the protagonist often synthesizes what they’ve learned (in Act 2) with values they’ve always had (Act 1).
In The Matrix, Neo and Trinity put their training to the ultimate test to take on the Agents and liberate Morpheus. Eventually, Neo has to face the Agent Smith by himself.
He “unplugs” from the Oracle’s logic and follows these feelings, which give him godlike powers in The Matrix. He’s indeed The One, subdues the Agents and completely disintegrates Agent Smith.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
15. Final Image [Page 110]
Along with the opening image, the final image creates the bookend that encapsulates the journey.
It’s the last thing the audience sees, and should cement the theme of the film, as well as represent what happened and changed over the course of this journey.
The Matrix, closes on Neo. We hear his voiceover talk about the next steps of liberating these humans stuck in The Matrix. Then he takes flight! Being The One has endowed him with superhero qualities in The Matrix, which he will now put to good use.
THE ULTIMATE FILM BEAT SHEET
“Save the Cat” beat sheet examples
It’s helpful to find a good beat sheet example before you get started on your Save the Cat beat sheet template. To find one, look no further than the Save the Cat website itself, which offers a trove of completed beat sheet templates from movies you know.
Thumb through this list and find films from all kinds of movie genres and structures that most closely mirror your own idea. Seeing how another film nailed their plot structure can get you thinking about your own in a different way.
Also check out this completed beat sheet template PDF by John August, for his Charlie’s Angels screenplay. It employs a unique style which might be useful for your script. You might also be interested in StudioBinder’s screenplay library where you read and download dozens and dozens of iconic scripts.
When you’re wrapping up your script, there will come time for creating script sides for shoot day.
Script Sides Definition
what Are Script Sides?
“Script sides” are the pages of the script being shot that day in a production. Most movies (and TV shows) are not shot in a linear fashion, so these sides come in handy for the cast and crew to know what is being shot.
Having your script sides ready inform attendance on the call sheet, and are helpful for auditions when the entire script is necessary for the actors.
When your creating your sides, you won’t necessarily need to share the entire script all at once. Take look below and see how you can use StudioBinder to create, manage, and share your sides with your team when it’s most necessary.
Use StudioBinder before and after your write the script
Developing your concept and taking it from script to screen has never been easier with StudioBinder’s software.
