Beat Sheet
A document outlining the major plot points and emotional beats of a screenplay.
Definition
A beat sheet is a pre-writing document that maps out the major story beats, plot points, and emotional moments of a screenplay. Each "beat" represents a significant moment that advances the story or develops character. Beat sheets typically follow established structures like the three-act paradigm or the Blake Snyder "Save the Cat!" beats.
Writers use beat sheets to plan their screenplays before diving into full scenes, ensuring the overall structure works before investing in detailed writing.
Why It Matters
Beat sheets are essential tools for screenwriters and development executives evaluating story structure. A solid beat sheet can reveal structural problems before they become embedded in a full draft.
For producers and marketers, understanding beat sheet analysis helps evaluate scripts quickly and identify potential pacing or structural issues.
Examples in Practice
A screenwriter creating a 15-beat outline following the "Save the Cat!" structure before writing their spec script.
A development executive requesting a beat sheet from a writer to evaluate their take on an adaptation.
A showrunner using a season-long beat sheet to plan character arcs across multiple episodes.