BlakeSnyder'sSAVETHECATBeats&GenresCheatSheet

RemixandoriginalanalogiesbyGeoffPlitt.Getupdatesathttp://bit.ly/stc_cheatsheet

THELOGLINE
Onthevergeofastasis=deathmoment,a
flawedprotagonististhrownacatalyst
curveballbutasheresponds,changes,and
thenreachesapointofnoreturnmidpoint,
hemustlearn[
theme
]beforeallislost.

THEBEATS

ActOne

/
OpeningImage(s)
(p.1)"thesis",normalworld,"kansas".
Setup
SaveTheCathelpthehelplessORhurtthehero.
Home/Work/Play.Hero/Victim/Villain.

ThemeStated
a
question
thatoccursatkeytimes.
Catalyst
(p.12)oroccasionallya
doublecatalyst.
statis=death.
THEPITCH
Debate
denial/hesitation.thenacceptance/response/action...
OpeningImage
(openon/it'sastoryabout
aguywho___)

ActTwo

(p.30)"antithesis",bizarroworld,"oz".
Catalyst
(sowhen___)
BStory
romanticorphilosophical.wantsvs.needs(innerconflict).
Response
(herespondsby___)
FunandGames
sex/drugs/rock&roll.
Midpoint
(butwhen___happens)
whatwouldbeontheposter?thepromiseofthepremise.
AllIsLost
(hethinkshe'llnever___)
weavewithBstory.
Theme
(heaskshimself/realizes___)
touchstonescenememorablequote/image.
Finale(
andfaces___)
Midpoint
(p.55)"pointofnoreturn"
FinalImage
(andasitends,he___)
sometimesafalsevictory/defeat.always"noturningback".
sometimesapublicdisplay:bigpartyOR"kingoftheworld"moment.
STORYGENRES
(byfunction,notsetting)
BstoryinfluencesAstory:firstkissor"sexatp60".
OutOftheBottle
Wish,Spell,Lesson.
BadGuysCloseIn
a.k.a."demonssneakup"
.
internalorexternal.
TheLittleMermaid
AllIsLost
(p.75)2ndcatalyst,lessinnocent.awfultruths
DudeWithaProblem
InnocentHero,Sudden
DarkNightoftheSoul
2nddebate.
Event,EpicBattle.
DieHard

w
h
i
f
f

o
f

d
e
a
t
h
.

h
i
n
tsrevealed.inverttheflaw.

RitesOfPassage
LifeProblem,WrongWay,

t
h
e
m
e

r
e
v
i
s
i
t
e
d
.

m
o
mentofclarity.newgoal/focus/impetus...
Acceptance.
LittleMissSunshine

BuddyLove
IncompleteHero,

Lover/Friend,
Complication.
LethalWeapon

ActThree

(p.85)"synthesis",newworld,"themanbehindthecurtain".
Whydunit
Detective,Secret,DarkTurn.
Finale
stormthecastle.
Seven
gathertheteam.strapontheguns.

FoolTriumphant
Fool,Establishment,
triggertheplan.justcrazyenoughtowork.sacrificesnecessary.
Transformation.
ForrestGump
hightowersurprise.overconfidentmistake.traps.miniallislost.

Institutionalized
IndividualofGroup,
digdeepdown.mysteriousstrength.minidarknightofthesoul.
Difficultchoice,Sacrifice.
Gattaca

SuperHero
SpecialPower,Nemesis,Curse. finalthresholdmastery.destiny.improv.VictoryorTragicDefeat
FinalImages
(endsp.110)oftentheoppositeofopeningimages.
Batman

MonsterintheHouse
Monster,Houseor
theworldhaschanged.
Road,Sin.
CableGuy
theBstoryisresolved.

GoldenFleece
Path,Team,Prize.
Wizard
theprotagonisthastransformed.
ofOz