Beat by Beat

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Don't Skip This Part!
Four Things You Need to Know (Before Reading This Book)
Frequently Asked Questions
1 Minute = 1 Screenplay Page
Top 10 Movie Archetypes
Essential Elements
4-Act Structure
Turning Points
ACT 1
1 Attension!
2 The Build
3 The Ratchet
4 Another Notch
5 Jaw Dropper
6 Friend or Fist
7 Friend or Fist 2
8 Something Startling Happens
9 The Pursuit
10 The Discussion
11 The Warning
Inciting Incident
12 Harsher Warning
13 The Submission
14 Danger Watch
15 Whew, That Was Close!
16 The Big Concern
17 World Upside Down
Turning Point 17
18 Trouble Turn
19 The Threat
20 Push Back
21 The Great Effect
22 Truth Declared
23 Scary Stuff
24 Scary Stuff 2
25 Scary Stuff 3
26 The Big Unexpected
27 The Mini-Quest
28 Big Quest Prep
29 Big Quest Prep 2
30 The Need
Act 1 Checklist
The Quest
ACT 2
31 Distress Signal
32 Anxiety Amp
33 Ominous Oh No
34 Friend Effect
35 Bait and Switch
36 Hide and Seek
37 Over His Head
38 Positive Reconnect
39 New Journey Bond
40 Ally's World
41 Thorny Rose
42 Surprise Reveal
43 Surprise Reveal 2
44 New News
45 Out of the Ordinary
Turning Point 45
46 The Revelation
47 The Escort
48 Needed Knowledge
49 Foreboding Fact
50 The Portent
51 The Engage
52 Say Uncle
53 The Intimidation
54 The Lightbulb
55 Sideswipe
56 Dark Twist Chat
57 Difficult Words
58 Vital Event
59 The Deception
60 The Shocker
Act 2 Checklist
The Midpoint
Things to Keep in Mind for Act 3
ACT 3
61 Plus Minus
62 Flirtin' with Disaster
63 Ally Attack
64 Bad Guy Threat
65 The Resistance
66 Positive Step
67 Hero Effect
68 Ally Aid
69 Captivating Concern
70 New Journey
71 Bad to the Bone
72 Badder to the Bone
73 Baddest to the Bone
74 Put into Peril
75 Skull and Crossbones
Turning Point 75
76 Death Tap
77 The Rumble
78 Mystery Mission
79 Mystery Mission 2
80 Tick Tick Boom
81 Surprised Hero
82 Surprise-Surprise
83 Gotta Go!
84 Gap Subtract
85 Bad Guy Boo-Boo
Act 3 Checklist
The Final Quest
ACT 4
86 Worry Wound
87 Damage Done
88 Double Damage Done
89 Red Alert!
90 Rescuing Ally
Turning Point 90
91 Suffer the Weak
92 Hugs 'n' Kisses
93 Hugs 'n' Kisses 2
94 The Aggressor
95 The Separation
96 Death and Dying
97 Taping the Knuckles
98 Kiss or Spit
99 Kiss or Spit 2
100 Kiss or Spit 3
101 Deeper Deeper
102 The Blow-Up
103 The Blow
104 The Upper Hand
105 The Deceit
Turning Point 105
106 The Dodge
107 Good Does Bad
108 Sense of Finality
109 The Extraordinary
110 Strong Statement
111 Turn for the Worse
112 Charging Shark
113 The Cage Slam
114 Gets the Better
115 Bleak Meek
116 Kick 'Em While They're Down
117 Reprieve
118 Hope Might Be Lost
119 One Bullet Left
120 Powder Keg
Act 4 Checklist
What If My Screenplay Is More Than 120 Pages?
Sacrificing the Flaw
That's a Wrap!
Glossary
Beat by Beat Timeline
Filmography
About the Author