SHREK 1&2 FOLLOW THE BEATS!

SCREENWRITING INSIGHT!: SHREK and SHREK 2, which grossed of over 1.4 billion dollars, faithfully follows the Something Startling Happens minute-by-minute story beats! To prove my point, I placed their stories side-by-side:

MINUTE  1:  ATTENSION!
SHREK: The narrator says, “The Princess had “an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort”
SHREK 2: The narrator says, “They saw that she was cursed with a frightful enchantment”   
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
SHREK: Shrek makes a “Beware Ogre” sign  
SHREK 2: The Prince finds a wolf in the Princess’s bed 
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
SHREK: Villagers hunt for Shrek
SHREK 2: Little Red Riding hood screams when she sees Shrek and Fiona
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
SHREK: Shrek scares away the villagers
SHREK 2: Villagers try to kill Shrek and Fiona
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
SHREK: A donkey speaks!
SHREK 2: The sign says, “Beware Ogres”—jaw dropping words to read
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
SHREK: Donkey and his mean master fight (FIST)
SHREK 2: Shrek tells Donkey that he’s bothering him (FIST)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
SHREK: Shrek protects Donkey from the knights (FRIEND)
SHREK 2: Shrek yells at Donkey (FIST)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
SHREK: Donkey startles Shrek
SHREK 2: Shrek startles Fiona by saying, “And who says I want to be a part of this family?”
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
SHREK: Donkey pursues Shrek through the woods
SHREK 2: Donkey keeps asking if they are “there yet” (he pursues an answer)
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
SHREK: Donkey and Shrek discuss whether Donkey can stay at his place
SHREK 2: Shrek and Donkey discuss “Far, far away”
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
SHREK: Shrek slams the door (a warning to Donkey that he’s not allowed to sleep inside)
SHREK 2: Shrek warns Donkey not to make noise
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
SHREK: Shrek gives Donkey a harsher warning: “I thought I told you to stay outside”
SHREK 2: Shrek says, “We are definitely not in the swamp anymore” (a warning to Fiona that he is uncomfortable in this strange new city)
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
SHREK: Shrek sighs and lays down his fork and knife
SHREK 2: Shrek stands there helplessly while everyone stares at him
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
SHREK: Shrek sees many unwanted visitors outside his house
SHREK 2: Fiona’s disaproving parents approach Shrek
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
SHREK: The visitors applaud when Shrek says he will help them (Whew, that was close if he didn’t) 
SHREK 2: Fiona belches at the table, but Shrek laughs (Whew, that would’ve been embarrassing if he didn’t laugh)
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
SHREK: Gingerbreak man is concerned about what Farquaad might do to him
SHREK 2: Fiona’s parents are concerned about her living in a swamp
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
SHREK: The soldiers have found the mirror
SHREK 2: Shrek and Fiona’s father argue
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
SHREK: The mirror tells Farquaad he’ll become king if he marries a princess
SHREK 2: Fiona runs out
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
SHREK: Farquaad picks Fiona to marry
SHREK 2: Fiona’s happiness is threatened
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
SHREK: Brave Shrek approaches Farquaad’s castle
SHREK 2: Fiona orders the Fairy Godmother’s creatures to “Let go!”
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
SHREK: Shrek notices that the castle is “Too quiet”
SHREK 2: The Fairy Godmother says it can’t be right that Shrek is Fiona’s husband
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
SHREK: Shrek to Donkey: “You’re going the right way for a smacked bottom”
SHREK 2: Shrek: “I told you coming here was a bad idea”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
SHREK: The soldiers point their sharp swords at Shrek
SHREK 2: Shrek growls at the dog
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
SHREK: The soldiers try to kill Shrek
SHREK 2: The King says their daughter married a monster
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
SHREK: The soldiers point their crossbows at Shrek
SHREK 2: The Fairy Godmother and the Prince yell at the King
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
SHREK: Farquaad orders Shrek to find Fiona
SHREK 2:The Fairy Godmother says that Fiona and the Prince will be together
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
SHREK: Shrek and Donkey walk through the sunflowers to get to the road
SHREK 2: The King rides his horse towards the tavern
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
SHREK: Shrek and Donkey prepare for the long journey ahead
SHREK 2: The King looks for someone to kill Shrek
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
SHREK: Shrek and Donkey prepare to enter the castle
SHREK 2: The King hires Puss N’ Boots to kill Shirek
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
SHREK: Shrek needs to get across the bridge
SHREK 2: Shrek needs to know how Fiona feels
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
SHREK: Donkey is distress about the lava
SHREK 2: Shrek is distressed to find out that Fiona obsessed over Prince Charming
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
SHREK: The spooky place scares Donkey
SHREK 2: The King is at the door and wants to talk to Shrek
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
SHREK: A dragon chases Donkey! (Oh no!)
SHREK 2: A sword-bearing cat comes to kill Shrek! (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
SHREK: Donkey charms the dragon
SHREK 2: Donkey kicks Shrek in the groin
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
SHREK: The dragon doesn’t kill donkey (+), but she carries donkey away (-)
SHREK 2: Puss N’ Boots doesn’t kill Shrek (+), but Shrek learns that the King paid to kill him (-)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
SHREK: Fiona wants to know Shrek’s name, but he doesn’t tell her
SHREK 2: The Fairy Godmother remains hidden inside the card until a tear is shed
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
SHREK: Fiona is a handful (Shrek may be in over his head)
SHREK 2: Puss N’ Boots shows Shrek his big eyes (Shrek’s over his head)
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
SHREK: Shrek saves Donkey from the dragon
SHREK 2:Shrek and Puss N’ Boots become friends
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
SHREK: Shrek carries Donkey and Fiona as they try to escape from the dragon
SHREK 2: Fiona and her father talk about her being with Prince Charming
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
SHREK: Fiona thinks Shrek is wonderful for rescueing her
SHREK 2: Donkey is jealous that Shrek likes Puss N’ Boots
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
SHREK: Fiona wants to kiss Shrek (ROSE), but he doesn’t want to show her his face (THORN)
SHREK 2: Shrek finds the Fairy Godmother’s castle (ROSE), but she’s not taking any visitors (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
SHREK: Shrek removes his helmet and reveals his ugly face to a surprised Fiona
SHREK 2: Shrek surprises the Fairy Godmother
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
SHREK: Shrek throws a surprised Fiona over his shoulder
SHREK 2: A cart pushing worker surprises Shrek and the Fairy Godmother
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
SHREK: Fiona learns she will meet Lord Farquaad tomorrow
SHREK 2: Shrek finds the potion room
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
SHREK: Shrek gives in to Fiona
SHREK 2: Shrek asks for a Handsome potion
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
SHREK: Donkey realizes Shrek doesn’t want him to live with him
SHREK 2: An alarm goes off. Shrek realizes he’s in trouble
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
SHREK: Donkey forces Shrek to admit what’s wrong (he escorts Shrek towards the truth)
SHREK 2: The hook escorts Shrek across the room
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
SHREK: Donkey tells Shrek he didn’t think he was a “big ugly ogre” (Shrek needed to hear this)
SHREK 2: Shrek learns that if he drinks the potion he and Fiona will be happy
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
SHREK: Farquaad is falling for Fiona
SHREK 2: Donkey tells Shrek that once he drinks the potion there’s no going back
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
SHREK: Fiona’s singing blows up the bird
SHREK 2: Dark clouds approach
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
SHREK: Robin Hood grabs Fiona
SHREK 2: The potion knocks out Shrek
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
SHREK: Shrek watches helplessly as Robin Hood sings at him
SHREK 2: Fiona passes out 
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
SHREK: An arrow strikes Shrek’s butt   
SHREK 2: Beautiful women surround Shrek
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
SHREK: Shrek realizes that Fiona tricked Donkey
SHREK 2: Shrek finds out he must kiss Fiona by midnight to make the potion permanent   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
SHREK: Donkey sees blood and faints 
SHREK 2: Shrek’s pants fall down 
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
SHREK: Shrek (to Fiona about the castle): “There is it, Princess. You’re {dark} future awaits” 
SHREK 2: Shrek says he will repay the traveler, unless he can’t find them or he forgets 
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
SHREK: Shrek (to Donkey): “You look awful”  
SHREK 2: Shrek hears his wife scream. “Fiona!” he says
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
SHREK: Fiona and Shrek fall in love
SHREK 2: Prince Charming approaches Fiona 
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
SHREK: Fairy Godmother locks Shrek in the room 
SHREK 2: Prince Charming pretends he’s Shrek  
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
SHREK: Fiona’s not there! (10 seconds later in this case) 
SHREK 2: Shrek has lost Fiona to Prince Charming!

And so on...

To learn much more about all 120 minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles. http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know

And try the #1 Bestseller, The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories: http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348519200&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriter%27s+fairytale+the+universal+story+within+all+movie+stories

Todd Klick Writing Services: www.toddklick.com

CONTAGION Uses the Minute-by-Minute Beats!

SCREENWRITER ALERT: Whether it’s a horror classic like John Carpenter’s Halloween, a Disney favorite like Lion King, or Stephen Soderberg’s newest thriller, Contagion (which grossed over $120 million so far), every genre uses Something Startling Happens’ universal minute-by-minute beats. All successful stories do. See how here:

MINUTE  1:  ATTENSION!
Sexual tension between Beth and her lover over the phone    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
An Asian man, and young woman are extremely sick     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
A young woman dies
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
A bus strikes the sick Asian man
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Alan Krumwiede makes the jaw dropping comment that this may be a government cover-up
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Alan and a pregnant journalist debate about the outbreak (FIST)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Mitch takes care of his stepson (FRIEND)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Beth collapses and convulses in the kitchen!
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
When Mitch learns that Beth died, he pursues why
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Mitch and the doctor discuss what happened to Beth
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Clark’s stepson dies, too—a warning that this disease is contagious
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
The virus spreads in the most populated city on earth 
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Beth lays dead while the coroners drill open her skull
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
The doctors see that the virus “obliterated” Beth’s brain
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Dr. Ellis is relieved to know that Dr. Elin is prepared (Whew, that was close) 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
Mitch’s daughter is concerned that he’s sick
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Mitch’s daughter learns that her brother died
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
The staff Dr. Erin works with want to keep the schools and stores open
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
People can be contagious without showing symptoms
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Dr. Erin debates with the mean staff lady
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
The virus seems to be “amplified”
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Alan says: “This is a biological weapon”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Homeland Security wonders if someone “weaponized the bird flu”
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Reports say a teacher and students died from the virus
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Dr. Erin tells Beth’s sick coworker to get off the bus immediately
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
Beth’s coworker learns that he has an infectious disease and is highly contagious
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Dr. Erin tries to find out where Beth travelled
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Dr. Ally Hextall  and Dr. Ellis study the virus (preparing to find out how to stop it)
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
The researcher and Dr. Ellis study the virus even more (preparing to find out how to stop it)
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Dr. Ally Hextall tells Dr. Ian Sussman: “We need to shut you down”
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Dr. Ellis holds a distressing news conference about the spreading virus
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
They believe there are 89,000 cases at this point and rising
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
The virus kills every animal the doctors experiment with
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
A coworker’s comment about his sick mother affects Dr. Leonora Orantes
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
Dr. Sussman is supposed to destroy the samples, but he keeps working on them
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
The doctors SEEK to distribute the vaccine, but that’s still months away (HIDE)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
A hedge fund man wants to pay Alan for his information (he may be in over his head)
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Dr. Erin tells Mitch he is immune
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Dr. Erin and Dave find an arena to bring patients
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD  
Dr. Erin is sad she had to tell Mitch his wife was cheating on him
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Mitch’s daughter’s boyfriend brought flowers (ROSE), but Mitch won’t accept them (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
The virus spread to first victim when she blew on a poker chip 
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
Dr. Erin wakes up sick
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Dr. Ellis learns that Dr. Erin is sick
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Strong Dr. Ellis puts his head in his hands
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Mitch learns that the funeral home refuses to bury Beth
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
Beth leaves a message for her lover -- she wants to take him to bed
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
Dr. Leonora Orantes learns that Beth and three other victims intersected at the casino
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Dr. Orantes learns her coworker’s mother died
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
Dr. Orantes makes a strange call -- he’s up to something bad
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
Dr. Orantes’s coworker kidnaps her
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Dr. Erin lays in bed, extremely sick   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
Lyle, the military man, tells Ellis there will be a run on the banks   
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
Alan tells his internet followers that he’s using a possible cure   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
Dr. Ellis tells Aubrey he wants her to leave Chicago (sideswiping news to her)  
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
The janitor and Dr. Ellis talk about Dr. Ellis’s unethical phone conversation   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
Aubrey tells her friend: “I’m going to tell you something, and you’re not going to repeat it”   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
The crowd breaks through the pharmacy window  
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Mitch and his daughter sneak into the unmanned grocery store   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Mitch learns that the border is sealed and the governor declared a quarantine   

And so on...

To learn much more about all 120 minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles. http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know

And try the #1 Bestseller, The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories: http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348519200&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriter%27s+fairytale+the+universal+story+within+all+movie+stories

Todd Klick Writing Services: www.toddklick.com

Lion King Hits Every Universal Story Beat!

Whether it's a time-honored film like Casablanca (see last post), a horror classic like John Carpenter's Halloween, or the hugely popular re-released Disney feature Lion King, all three stories share the same universal minute-by-minute beats. All successful movies do!: 

*NOTE: The story begins after the big musical opening

MINUTE  1:  ATTENSION!
Scar’s foot stomps on a tiny mouse    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
Scar warns Mufasa that he better not turn his back on him     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Scar warns Mufasa that he (Scar) has the brains
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH
Simba wakes his sleeping father
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Mufasa shows Simba the jaw dropping sunrise and the vast kingdom he will inherit
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Mufasa tells Simba about the cycle of life (FRIEND)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Mufasa shows SImba how to hunt (FRIEND)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Zazu screams “Sire! Hyenas in the Pridelands!”
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
Simba wants to go to the elephant graveyard
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION
Simba and Nala discuss going to a “great place” with their mothers
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Simba shushes Nala, warning her not to talk so loudly
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Simba (warning Zazu): I’m gonna be a mighty king, so enemies beware!” 
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Zazu says, “If this is where the monarchy is headed, count me out”
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
Large animals fall towards little Zazu
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Zazu thwarts Simba’s attempt to check out the elephant grave (Whew, that was close!) 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
Simba, Zazu and Nala see hyenas approaching!
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Hyenas threaten to eat them
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Hyenas corner Simba and Nala
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT
Scar watches in the shadows (a threat to Simba’s future safety)
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Mufasa scolds Simba
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT
Simba and Mufasa bond as father and son
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Mufasa: “Whenever you feel alone, those kings will be there to guide you, and so will I”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Scar shows up in the cave
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Scar wants the hyenas to kill Mufasa
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Scar says they will kill Mufasa, and Simba too
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
An army of hyenas line up to help Scar
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST
Scar leads Simba to a rock under a tree
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Scar asks Simba to stay on the rock (so hyenas can kill him)
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Hyenas wait until Scar gives them the signal
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Simba needs to escapes the stampeding wildebeests
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL
Distressed Mufasa sees Simba slipping from the tree branch
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Simba sees his father fall into the stampede!
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Simba finds his dead father (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Simba cries over his father’s lifeless body
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH
Scar tells Simba to run away, but then he tells the hyenas to kill him
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Simba hides from the hyenas while they seek to kill him
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
The lionesses cry over Simba’s death
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Pumbaa and Timon find a barely-alive Simba
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Pumbaa and Timon carry Simba to safety
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
We find out Pumbaa and Timon are “outcasts”
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Pumbaa and Timon teach Simba the positive phrase “Hakuna Matata” (the rose), but he’s still without a father and a kingdom (the thorn)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
Pumbaa’s surprise fart scares away all the animals  
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
The leaves part, revealing the surprisingly beautiful place where Pumbaa and Timon live
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Timon tells Simba: “If you live with us, you have to eat like us”
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Simba eats a grub
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Scar holds Zazu captive
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT
The hyenas escort Shenzi to Scar
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE
Pumbaa reminds Simba about the stars (which Simba needs to know to remember what his father said to him)
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Sad Simba remembers what his father told him about the stars 

MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
Simba collapses at the cliff’s edge, deeply saddened
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE 
A lion charges after Pumbaa
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE 
Pumbaa gets stuck in the tree roots   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION 
The lion pins Simba onto his back  
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB  
Simba learns that everyone thinks he’s dead   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE
Nala can’t believe that Simba is alive   
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT
Timon says Simba and Nala will fall in love (+), but their trio will now be down to two (-)   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS 
Simba sings: “So many things to tell her, but how to make her see?”   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT 
Simba and Nala fall in love   
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Simba lies to Nala and said he disappeared because he wanted to live on his own   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Simba and Nala have a big fight   

And so on...

  

To learn much more about all 120 minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them effectively to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles. http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know

And try the #1 Bestseller, The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories: http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348519200&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriter%27s+fairytale+the+universal+story+within+all+movie+stories

Todd Klick Writing Services: www.toddklick.com
 

Casablanca Follows the Universal Beats!

SCREENWRITERS: Casablanca faithfully follows the Something Startling Happens minute-by-minute story beats. Whether it's a 69-year old classic, a brand new Hollywood blockbuster, or a sleeper independent hit, every successful movie applies the universal beats.

MINUTE  1:  ATTENSION!
The narrator warns us about the coming of World War 2   
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
The telegraph operator says that a murderer is headed for Casablanca     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Officers shoot a suspicious man
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
A German plane approaches
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Nazi’s exit the plane
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Captain Renault has a friendly chat with the German officer (FRIEND)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Friends chat in Rick’s Bar about ways to get transit papers (FRIEND)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
The waiter tells the shocked owner of Amsterdam’s second largest banking house that Rick will not drink with him (a startling rejection of a very important person)
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
Rick sees a man trying to get into his bar, he heads him off at the door
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Ugarte sits and discusses the dead German couriers with Rick, and his exit visas
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Rick warns Ugarte that he doesn’t want to keep his exit visa overnight
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Rick warns Ugarte that he knows he got the transit papers off the dead German  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Bad guy Ferrari approaches quiet Rick
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
Friendly bartender sees Rick approaching and says, “Oh oh”
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Rick manages to pull his angry ex-girlfriend out of the bar before she makes a scene (Whew!) 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
The waiter is concerned because a patron won $20,000 francs
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Renault tells Rick that Major Strasser of the Third Reich is coming to his bar
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Renault tells Rick that famed Victor Laslo is coming to Casablanca and must stay in Casablanca
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
Renault threatens Rick not to give Laslo an exit visa
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Rick chuckles at the threatening Renault
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
The Gestapo come for Ugarte (Rick now owns the transit papers)
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Rick: “I stick my neck out for nobody”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Nazi Strasser wants to ask Rick questions
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Strasser has a dossier on Rick
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Sam sees Ilsa enter the bar
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
A man begging for money turns out to be a secret associate of Victor Laslo
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Ilsa wants to know more about the “boy at the piano”
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Laslo prepares to outwit Strasser who wants to stop him from leaving Casablanca
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Laslo “must find out what Berger know” (Preparing to leave Casablanca)
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Laslo needs to find Ugarte’s transit papers
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Ilsa asks a distressed Sam where Rick is
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Ilsa asks an anxious Sam to play “As Time Goes By”
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Rick sees Ilsa (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Ilsa’s remembrances of Paris affects Rick deeply
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
It seems that seeing Ilsa is good (+), but it saddens Rick (-)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Rick’s wants Ilsa, but she’s with Laslo
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
Drunk Rick slams his fist—”Of all the gin joints and towns in the world, she walks into mine”
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Sam plays piano for Rick
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Rick and Ilsa bond in a Paris flashback
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Ilsa tells Rick the other man in her life is dead
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Rick and Ilsa kiss (+), but the Nazi planes fly overhead (-)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
We see Sam play for Rick and Ilsa in Rick’s bar in Paris  
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
The Gestapo is expected in Paris tomorrow
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
The Germans are 35 miles away
Sam says there’s a price on Rick’s head
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Bachelor Rick asks Ilsa to marry him
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Ilsa’s not at the train station
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
Sam escorts Rick to the train
The train escorts Rick out of Paris
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
Ilsa tells Rick she wouldn’t have come if she knew he was here
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Ilsa tells Rick about being with wonderful Laslo before she met Rick
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
Rick says hurtful things to Ilsa, she leaves
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
Strasser tells Laslo that he must stay in Casablanca
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Laslo listens to Strasser   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
Strasser tells Laslo that Ugate’s dead (his connection out of Casablanca) 
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
A local says that Ferrari is “a good man to know”  
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
Ferrari makes a generous offer to Rick for the transit papers  
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
Rick talks with Ilsa, but she doesn’t want to talk with him   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
Ilsa tells Rick that she will be “leaving Casablanca soon and they will never see each other again”   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
Ilsa confesses that Victor Laslo is her husband, and was when she knew Rick in Paris  
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Laslo tells Ilsa that he would take the visa if there was only one, but he’s lying  
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Ilsa and Laslo are shocked to find out that Rick has the transit papers   

And so on...

To learn much more about all 120 minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles.http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know

And try the #1 Bestseller, The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories: http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348519200&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriter%27s+fairytale+the+universal+story+within+all+movie+stories

Todd Klick Writing Services: www.toddklick.com

Twilight Zone's classic, TO SERVE MAN, Follows the Universal Beats!

Whether you're writing for the big screen or small, if it's a good story, it will faithfully follow the Something Startling Happens' universal minute-by-minute beats. Let's examine Twilight Zone's classic episode, To Serve Man:

MINUTE  1:  ATTENSION!
Mr. Chambers argues with the speaker Voice    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
“This is the way nightmares begin,” the narrator says     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
The narrator warns of something ominous in mankind’s future
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
Humans spot a UFO
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
A 9-foot tall space representative enters the conference!
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
The spaceman greets the council with “peace and friendship” (Friend)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
The spaceman wants to help the people of earth (Friend)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
The spaceman claims he can prevent earth’s natural and unnatural catastrophes (a startling claim to make!)
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
The Russian councilman pursues the truth, by questioning the spaceman
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Russian councilman: Is there an ulterior motive?
Spaceman: There is nothing ulterior in our motives, nothing at all”
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
The narrator warns us about the spacemen’s real intentions
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
“This is a tough nut,” says the decoding specialist, “a real tough nut”  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
The decoding specialist admits that they might be out of a job
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
The General orders the decoding specialist to figure out what the book says
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
The lie detector detects when the spaceman is lying and telling the truth (Whew, that was close—there was a chance it might not work on him)
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
The council is concerned whether or not the spaceman is lying
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
The spaceman promises no more war or suffering for mankind, which would turn their world upside down
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
The narrator suggests that the spaceman’s promises came true, but it may have been a set up
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
The Russian councilman threatens another man in line
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
The assistant says that things seem “odd”
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
The ease at which man complies to the spacemen baffles the decoding specialist
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
“The capital letters {the spacemen} use are different than ours” says the assistant
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
The frightened assistant tells the decoding specialist not to get on the ship—the book is a cookbook!
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
The spacemen tell the decoding specialist to “eat hardy” (they want him to be plump for when they eat him)
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Rod Serling says that we will be “the ingredient in someone else’s soup”

To learn much more about all the minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles.http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know

And try the #1 Bestseller, The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories: http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348519200&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriter%27s+fairytale+the+universal+story+within+all+movie+stories

Todd Klick Writing Services: www.toddklick.com