Monday, April 30, 2012

THE SCREENWRITER'S FAIRY TALE

Thought I'd share an excerpt from my International Bestselling eBook The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories:
PREFACE

When my first book Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know hit Amazon's Top 5 for Film and Television books in December of 2011, and then #1 on Kindle for Screenwriting, it blew my mind and humbled me. You see, originally the information in that book wasn't meant for the world at all. It was my own secret passion project to sharpen my writing skills. When you see the book on the shelves now, it's all clean and tidy, but in reality the research process accumulated messy reams of dog-eared and tea-stained legal pads, a scratched stopwatch, a casualty of spent pens, and piles of over 300 scuffed-up DVDs of classic films.

This new work you're about to read went through a similar process.

Why did I research so many movies? I wanted to get to the bottom of how stories worked so I could tell better yarns. The process reminded me of my teenage years. I loved peeking underneath the hood of my beat-ta-crap Chevy to see how the heap was put together. I would disassemble the individual parts that smelled of oil and gas, and study how they fit to make the engine rumble. I'm that same way today with stories.

When you immerse yourself that deeply into figuring things out, you can't help but walk away with a few insights. When I emerged from those four bleary-eyed years of story engine analysis, the knowledge I gained helped propel my stories towards the top of major screenwriting competitions, attracted options and script sales, and launched my book into the bestseller list, which led to other writing deals. But the coolest thing I gained from this whole journey, by far, was the worldwide emails from screenwriters who loved the book and benefited from it. It was those positive messages that inspired me to share even more insights.
Thus this new fable.

I adore screenwriters — we noble story warriors who toil countless hours alone in our rooms and in coffeeshops because we love movies so damn much. We savor how the stories make us feel, and we want — so desperately — to make others feel that same way. What a beautiful, precious cause.

This fable is dedicated to you.

In just a bit, you'll be reading the exact same four-act fairy tale I wrote for myself to help me assemble the bare bones of a story; it's also the template I use to write all my treatments. It's a distillation of what I've found to be common in all successful movies — an archetypal story pattern used since the ancient Greeks. To help you even further, I included a matching paragraph-by-paragraph example of the Academy Award-winning film, The King's Speech.

All the very best, Noble Warrior.

CHAPTER ONE

Once upon a time, in every great movie ever made, there was an incomplete Boy who lived his normal everyday life in his normal everyday world. This Boy, who was orphaned in some way, desperately wanted something and thought that if he got that particular something, it would fix his incompleteness. He didn't realize, however, that he had a much deeper problem on his hands -- he possessed a stubborn flaw, which he was blind to. In fact, this flaw prevented him from getting what he really needed in his life: true happiness or enlightenment.

Going about his usual business, the Boy interacted with friends or a love interest and discussed that thing he desperately wanted. Some of his friends were nice and helpful, while others were mean. But just when the Boy was going to continue on repeating his same ol' everyday habits, a predicament interrupted his life — a predicament that would eventually lead to the exposure of his flaw. The Boy found this predicament unsettling and feared it. In some cases, however, the predicament thrilled the Boy — he saw it as an opportunity. In this circumstance, his disquieted friends expressed fear for the Boy instead.

Soon after, the Boy met with a mentor. Sometimes the mentor was older and wiser and offered words of wisdom. Other times, the mentor appeared wise, but offered the wrong advice. Mulling over his chat with his mentor, the Boy realized that he still lacked something in his life. But the Boy didn't understand why he lacked this something because his flaw still blinded him. In the midst of all these happenings, a bully made his presence known — a powerful adversary who would eventually find a way to exploit the Boy's flaw in order to defeat him. As the Boy tried to maintain his bearings within his unraveling world, a startling life-changing event propelled him into uncharted territory.

End of excerpt.

Buy today for only $2.99 at http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM

Monday, March 12, 2012

How Steven Spielberg's Movies Follow The Universal Story Beats!

A minute-by-minute analysis of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, WAR OF THE WORLDS and SCHINDLER’S LIST by Todd Klick
MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
Schindler: Subtitles tell us German forces defeated Poland in two weeks
War of the Worlds: Intelligent beings watch our planet with envious eyes
Raiders: Indiana Jones and his crew head deep into a dangerous jungle    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
Schindler: Lines of displaced Jews register amid crying babies     
War of the Worlds: The aliens “drew their plans against us”
Raiders: Indy finds a deadly arrow
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Schindler: A man (Schindler) pins a Nazi symbol to his lapel
War of the Worlds: Ray drives his Mustang down the street at high speeds
Raiders: Satipo says, “The Hovitos are near. The poison is still fresh”
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
Schindler: Schindler’s eyes study Nazi officers
War of the Worlds: Ray’s ex-wife and husband glare at him for being late
Raiders: A man pulls a gun on Indy
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Schindler: Schindler gives the stunned waiter $50 to buy the Nazi’s a round of drinks (the equivalent of $782 today, a jaw-dropping amount)
War of the Worlds: Ray’s ex-wife’s jaw drops when she sees that Ray is not helping their daughter; There’s a car engine in Ray’s kitchen
Raiders: A jaw dropping number of spiders crawl onto Indy and his ally’s back
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Schindler: Schindler invites the Nazi officers to sit at his table (FRIEND)
War of the Worlds: Ray and his wife argue (FIST)
Raiders: Indy saves Satipo from falling (FRIEND)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Schindler: Schindler dines and drinks with a large table of Nazis and their dates (FRIEND)
War of the Worlds: Ray and his wife share a tender moment and a laugh (FRIEND)
Raiders: Indy saves Satipo’s life again (FRIEND)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Schindler: The Nazi officer says, “This is not the Romans, this storm is the SS”—a startling comment, suggesting that the Nazi’s are superior to the Roman Empire
War of the Worlds: Anchorwoman says “Freakish lightning of catastrophic proportion struck the Ukraine”
Raiders: The crumbling temple startles Indy!
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
Schindler: The newly-arrived Nazi officer gestures towards Schindler and asks the waiter, “Who is that man?”
War of the Worlds: Ray pursues a civil conversation with his son, but fails
Raiders: Indy pursues Satipo who stole the idol
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Schindler: Disgruntled Jews discuss their concerns with the council
War of the Worlds: Ray and Rachel discuss how to get through to Robbie
Raiders: Belloq and Indy discuss the idol
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Schindler: The Jewish man warns the Jewish woman that the Germans will shoot her
War of the Worlds: News warns of more storms
Raiders: Belloq warns Indy to hand over the gun or the Hovitos will kill him
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Schindler: Schindler wants to hire Itzhak Stern, a request Jewish-Stern feels threatened by 
War of the Worlds: Ray sees that his car is gone—a warning that his son took it
Raiders: Hovitos try to kill Indy
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Schindler: Silent Stern stares at Schindler for a long time
War of the Worlds: Ray stops and stares at the black sky
Raiders: Indy remains seated as a snake slithers in his lap
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
Schindler: Schindler stares at Stern and says, “{The Jews} should be interested {in my business venture},” suggesting that their lives are at stake
War of the Worlds: Wind blows towards the ominous-looking black sky
Raiders: Indy watches Marcus approach with ominous news
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Schindler: Jewish men scatter when they hear Schindler talking with their friends in the temple (Whew, that was close!)
War of the Worlds: Lightning strikes dangerously close—Whew, that was close 
Raiders: Indy explains to Marcus that he had the idol in his hand — it was this close
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
Schindler: The Jewish men are deeply concerned about Schindler’s inquiries
War of the Worlds: Ray and Rachel hide under the table to protect themselves from the intense storm
Raiders: Concerned Indy learns that army intelligence has come to see him. “Am I in trouble?” he asks
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Schindler: The Jews are forced from their homes and ordered into the ghetto
War of the Worlds: Everything has shut off—electricity, phone and wristwatch
Raiders: Government agents tell Indy that Hitler is looking for an important artifact
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Schindler: German kids throw rocks at the Jews
War of the Worlds: All vehicles have stopped working
Raiders: Indy learns that Hitler wants the ark so he can obtain great power
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
Schindler: The wealthy Jewish family moves into a slum apartment
War of the Worlds: Neighbors surround a threatening-looking hole
Raiders: Nazis (obvious bad guys) threaten to find the Ra headpiece first
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Schindler: The Jewish man yells at his wife, “How could it be worse?!!”
War of the Worlds: Ray picks up one of the broken street chunks
Raiders: Indy — who was intimidated by Belloq, the snakes, and now the agents — pushes back with his superior knowledge of the ark
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
Schindler: Schindler meets with wealthy Jewish men
War of the Worlds: The street splits and the building breaks
Raiders: Marcus tells Indy that the government wants him to find the ark
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Schindler: Schindler says, “I said what I’ll do, that’s our contract”
War of the Worlds: Cop says, “We gotta clear this area!”
Raiders: Marcus tells Indy: “Faith is the path of least resistance”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Schindler: The Jews have to give their wage to the SS
War of the Worlds: A car spits out of the hole
Raiders: Indy shows Marcus his (scary) gun
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Schindler: The Jews talk about places to hide
War of the Worlds: A giant alien tripod rises out of the earth
Raiders: Marion plays an intense drinking game with a scary looking local
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Schindler: A Jewish man is taken to the condemned line because he is not “an essential worker”
War of the Worlds: The tripod revs up its engine
Raiders: Marion almost passes out and loses the drinking game
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
Schindler: Stern saves the condemned man with forged papers
War of the Worlds: The tripod starts killing people!
Raiders: Marion punches Indiana Jones in the face!
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Schindler: Stern leads Jews to the registration table
War of the Worlds: Ray hides from the tripod
Raiders: Indy tells Marion that he needs the bronze medallion (Indy’s Mini-Quest before searching for the ark)
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Schindler: The Jewish workers learn how to make pots for the Germans
War of the Worlds: Ray and his kids prepare to leave
Raiders: Indy gives Marion money to get the medallion
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Schindler: Schindler interviews possible typists for office work
War of the Worlds: Ray and his kids gather supplies to take with them
Raiders: Nazis enter Marion’s bar (preparing to take over the medallion so they can find the ark)
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Schindler: “We’re going to need several boxes of Cuban cigars,” Schindler says (he needs to impress Nazi officers
War of the Worlds: Ray needs to leave immediately
Raiders: The Nazi needs the medallion
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Schindler: Jewish workers burn their hands on the pots
War of the Worlds: The tripod fires lasers all around Ray’s car
Raiders: Indy sees the red-hot poker moving toward Marion’s face
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Schindler: Irritated Schindler wants Stern to toast, but he won’t
War of the Worlds: Rachel freaks out
Raiders: Bad guys shoot at Indy
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Schindler: Schindler wants Stern to acknowledge his thanks, but he doesn’t want to
War of the Worlds: Ray thinks that the attackers might be from “somewhere else” (oh no!)
Raiders: A flame races toward Indy’s face
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Schindler: Schindler’s wife shows up
War of the Worlds: Ray finds his ex-wife’s house
Raiders: Sallah brings Indy and Marion to his home
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH    
Schindler: "Three hundred and fifty worker with one purpose,” Schindler says (BAIT). “To make pots and pans?” His wife asks. “To make money for me,” Schindler replies (SWITCH)
War of the Worlds: Ray grabs the box of food (BAIT), but all that’s inside are condiments (SWITCH)
Raiders: Marion befriends a monkey (who will later betray her)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Schindler: “There was always something missing,” Schindler says“
War of the Worlds: Ray tries to make food for his kids (SEEKS), but they refuse to eat (HIDE)
Raiders: The ark stays hidden, not found yet by Belloq or Indy
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
Schindler: A girl casts a flirting gaze at Schindler as he dances with his wife—he can’t resist flirting back (he is in over his head with women)
War of the Worlds: Overwhelmed Ray stares out the window
Raiders: Sallah thinks the ark should remain undisturbed (they may be in over their heads)
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Schindler: Schindler and his wife talk in bed
War of the Worlds: Robbie tells Rachel that he loves her
Raiders: Indy and Marion joke together at the market
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Schindler: An elderly worker thanks Schindler for giving him a job
War of the Worlds: Ray, Robbie and Rachel hide in a deeper part of the basement
Raiders: Indy helps Marion fend off the bad guys
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Schindler: Stern hires handicapped workers to save their lives
War of the Worlds: Rachel whispers “Are we still alive?”
Raiders: Marion clanks the guy over the head with a pan
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Schindler: The Jews sing a happy song on the way to somewhere (ROSE), but a German soldier starts yelling at them (THORN)
War of the Worlds: Ray reaches the upstairs (ROSE), but it is completely destroyed (THORN)
Raiders: Indy shoots sword-guy and is temporarily safe (ROSE), but he still has to find Marion (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
Schindler: The German soldier kills the one-armed Jew 
War of the Worlds: Ray sees a man climbing out of the wrecked plane
Raiders: Marion is hiding inside the basket  
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
Schindler: The Jewish worker discovers Schindler having sex
War of the Worlds: The news lady tells Ray there’s more than one tripod
Raiders: Marion dies!
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Schindler: Schindler learns they’ve taken Stern
War of the Worlds: The news’ lady shows Ray how aliens rode the lightning into the ground
Raiders: Indy learns Belloq is in town
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Schindler: Schindler boldly lies to the soldiers and orders them around
War of the Worlds: Selfish Ray acts really caring towards his daughter
Raiders: Indy threatens to kill Belloq in a public place
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Schindler: Schindler finds Stern in one of the train cars
War of the Worlds: Robbie wants to go back and fight the aliens
Raiders: Sallah reveals that he is willing to risk his children to save Indy
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
Schindler: Soldiers escort Schindler off the train platform
War of the Worlds: Ray pulls over so his daughter can go to the bathroom
Raiders: Sallah says he will take Indy to the old man
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
Schindler: The Jewish man learns the Germans yanked dead Jew’s teeth for the gold fillings
War of the Worlds: Ray learns Robbie wants to join the military
Raiders: Sallah tells Indy the Nazis had a headpiece
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Schindler: The Jewish woman in the ghetto says, “This is it, this is the bottom”
War of the Worlds: Robbie tells Ray that he only wants to dump them on his ex-wife
Raiders: The old man cautions Indy that the medallion warns against disturbing the ark
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
Schindler: Amon Goeth, the head German officer, arrives
War of the Worlds: Emergency broadcast system plays on the radio
Raiders: Sallah spots the dead monkey and catches the poisoned date before Indy eats it
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
Schindler: Goeth looks over the Jewish woman; he needs a maid
War of the Worlds: Ray and his kids engage the angry crowd
Raiders: The Nazis yell at Indy
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Schindler: Goeth stares at Helen; she can’t meet his gaze  
War of the Worlds: Ray puts on his seatbelt
Raiders: Nazis take Sallah away from the well opening, leaving Indy stuck inside
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
Schindler: Goeth orders the Jewish engineer to be shot   
War of the Worlds: The angry mob breaks through the car windows   
Raiders: Nazis keep Sallah away from the well hole — Indy can’t get out
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
Schindler: Helen realizes that Goeth is an evil man   
War of the Worlds: Ray realizes that a man has a gun to his head
Raiders: Indy discovers that the sun’s rays really do work through the medallion
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
Schindler: Goeth tells his men that they’ve wiped out the Jew’s history in Krakow  
War of the Worlds: Rachel runs to Robbie for comfort, not her dad, which makes Ray cry 
Raiders: Sallah drops the Nazi flag onto a surprised Indy
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
Schindler: Nazis talk about invading the ghetto Jews   
War of the Worlds: Man in the crowd says, “If they’re all over the place, we’re dead”
Raiders: Indy is excited to find Marion, but then he re-gags her   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
Schindler: A Jewish father tells his children the Germans are coming   
War of the Worlds: Woman with bullhorn says they have “more blood than they can use”
Raiders: Indy to Marion: “I’ll come back to get you”
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
Schindler: The soldiers order the Jews out of their homes and shoot a man  
War of the Worlds: A tripod walks towards them 
Raiders: Major Toht shows the medallion impression burned into his palm
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Schindler: The Jewish man tells his wife they will hide in the sewers   
War of the Worlds: Boat worker says they’re not going to take any more people (but the crowd doesn’t know it)   
Raiders: Indy and the workers dig at nightfall to avoid detection
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Schindler: The soldier shoots a boy!
War of the Worlds: They won’t let Ray and his kids on the boat!
Raiders: The monster-like statue scares Sallah!  

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com
 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

See How AVATAR and THE TERMINATOR Use the 120 Universal Story Beats!

A minute-by-minute analysis of AVATAR and THE TERMINATOR by Todd Klick,
using the Something Startling Happens story beats:
MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
AVTR: Jake says, “When I was lying in the VA hospital, with a big hole blown through my life...”
TERM: Strange lightning frightens a garbage man        
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
AVTR: Jake sees his dead twin brother
TERM: Roughhousing punks see a naked man walk towards them        
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
AVTR: They want underqualified-Jake to take over for his scientist-brother
TERM: The Terminator kills a punk  
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
AVTR: The sergeant says, “If you lose your masks, you’ll be dead in four minutes”
TERM: Strange lightning scares a homeless man; a naked man, in pain, appears  
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
AVTR: Jake rolls onto the new planet for the first time—a jaw dropping experience for him
TERM: The naked man asks what year it is, which makes the cop’s jaw drop  
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
AVTR: Jake depends on his wheelchair to get around (object as FRIEND)
TERM: The naked man keeps the gun (object as FRIEND)   
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
AVTR: Norm shows Jake around (FRIEND)
TERM: The naked man finds clothes to wear (object as FRIEND)  
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
AVTR: Jake see his own Avatar for the first time, which looks like him!
TERM: The naked man (Kyle) steals a shotgun and eludes the cops!  
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
AVTR: Jake asks the other scientists a question (pursuit of knowledge)
TERM: Kyle and The Terminator pursue Sarah Connor  
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
AVTR: Norm discusses Na’vi with Grace
TERM: Sarah chats with her disgruntled customers  
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
AVTR: The scientist warns grunt-Jake to “try and use big words” around Grace
TERM: The Terminator grabs a bullet—a warning that he’s about to do something bad 
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
AVTR: Grace warns Parker, “I need a researcher, not a jarhead dropout!” 
TERM: The Terminator shoots the gunshop owner  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
AVTR: Grace submits to Parker’s demand to “get results”
TERM: The Terminator shoots a woman; she falls dead  
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
AVTR: Angry Grace approaches Jake
TERM: Sarah watches the news, which says someone with her name was murdered  
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
AVTR: The scientist says grunt-Jake’s brain has “gorgeous activity” (whew, that was close—he’s not dumb after all)
TERM: A machine rolls right passed Kyle (Whew, that was close—it didn’t see him)  
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
AVTR: Handicapped Jake, in his new avatar-body, hopes his new legs work ok
TERM: Kyle’s friend is killed  
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
AVTR: Handicapped Jake can wiggle his toes and stand in his avatar body!
TERM: Kyle’s car turns upside and starts on fire!  
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
AVTR: Jake/avatar heads out the door, which is big trouble for the scientists!
TERM: Sarah gets an obscene fall call  
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
AVTR: Jake/avatar runs into threatening Grace/avatar
TERM: Ed the cop finds out two women by the name of Sarah Connor were killed  
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
AVTR: “I thought you’d never ask,” tough Jake says to Trudy, when she asks for a door-gunner
TERM: Sarah gets ready for a date  
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
AVTR: Jake talks with tough Colonel Quaritch for the first time
TERM: Sarah’s date cancels on her  
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
AVTR: Col. Quaritch: “A recon gyrene in an avatar body is a potent mix. Such a marine can provide the Intel I need”
TERM: A reporter says: “These two killings occurred in the same order listed in the phone book”   
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
AVTR: Col. Quaritch wants Jake to go undercover for him
TERM: No one’s answering at Sara’s place  
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
AVTR: Grace tells Jake to “keep his mouth shut and let Norm do the talking”
TERM: Sarah hears that another woman by her name was killed  
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
AVTR: They land in the “hostiles’ territory”
TERM: Sarah finds out she’s the next name on the list  
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
AVTR: Jake/avatar swings his gun towards the lemurs who suddenly appear
TERM: Sarah sees a man following her!  
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
AVTR: Jake/avatar takes a look around while the scientists do their thing
TERM: Sarah tries to call the police  
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
AVTR: Jake/avatar runs at the rhinoceros-looking animal, showing he has courage for the big quest ahead
TERM: The boyfriend grabs a lamp to fight The Terminator  
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
AVTR: Jake/avatar learns that some animals are hostile as he prepares for the big quest ahead
TERM: Sarah calls her roommate for help  
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
AVTR: Jake/avatar needs to survive the attacking animal
TERM: Sarah says, “I need you and Matt to come and pick me up”  
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
AVTR: The attacking animal closes in on Jake/avatar!
TERM: Sarah spots the strange man who was following her earlier!  
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
AVTR: Jake/avatar is in the jungle by himself with no gun
TERM: The Terminator closes in on Sara  
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
AVTR: The scientists can’t find Jake/avatar—oh no!
TERM: The Terminator points the gun at Sarah’s forehead (Oh no!)  
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
AVTR: Jake/avatar uses a torch to ward off the pursuing animals
TERM: Kyle shoots The Terminator  
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
AVTR: Jake/avatar fends off animals with his torch (BAIT), as other animals sneak around him (SWITCH)
TERM: We think The Terminator died in the explosion (BAIT), but he leaps out of the flames (SWITCH)  
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
AVTR: Neytiri, who had been hiding, seeks to kill the pursuing animals
TERM: Kyle and Sara drive away (HIDE), while The Terminator SEEKS them  
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
AVTR: Jake/avatar realizes he’s in way over his head in the jungle
TERM: Sarah finds out she’s been “targeted for termination”—she’s in over her head  
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
AVTR: Jake/avatar thanks Neytiri for saving him
TERM: Kyle saves Sara from the cops, and then continues telling her what’s going on  
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
AVTR: Jake/avatar and Neytiri bond because Jake has “a strong heart.” They walk together further into the jungle
TERM: Kyle pulls over the car and tells Sara more about what’s going on  
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
AVTR: We see that Neytiri is used to running along high tree limbs
TERM: Reese says he feels pain, and he’s not sure if he can stop The Terminator  
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
AVTR: Seeds of the Sacred Tree float towards Jake (ROSE), but he swats them away because he thinks they’re dangerous (THORN)
TERM: Cops search for Kyle and Sara (THORN), but Kyle and Sara find a car to hide in (ROSE)  
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
AVTR: Armed Na’vi warriors surprise Jake/avatar 
TERM: Kyle reveals that a nuclear war destroyed everything     
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
AVTR: They take Jake/avatar towards the Sacred Tree
TERM: Kyle says that the machines decided humans’ fate in a microsecond  
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
AVTR: Jake is taken into the heart of the Na’vi tribe
TERM: Sarah learns that her son, John Connor, saved the human race  
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
AVTR: Jake/avatar offers to shake the chief’s hand
TERM: Kyle shoots at The Terminator while driving  
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
AVTR: The Na’vi find out Jake is a warrior
TERM: Sarah realizes they’re driving towards a wall!  
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
AVTR: Neytiri leads Jake to a tribal campfire
TERM: The police escort Sarah to the station  
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
AVTR: Neytiri shows Jake where they sleep for the night
TERM: The police let Sarah know that her roommate was killed   
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
AVTR: Parker wants Jake to find out what “the blue monkeys want”
TERM: The Terminator doesn’t feel pain  
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
AVTR: The Nav’i’s tribe lives right above the richest unobtainium deposit and the corporation wants it
TERM: The cops think Kyle is crazy  
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
AVTR: Parker chats with Jake and wins him over to his way of thinking
TERM: Kyle engages the enemy: the disbelieving psychologist  
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
AVTR: Jake submits to Grace’s request to “not do anything stupid”
TERM: The Terminator takes out his damaged eye          
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
AVTR: Tsu’tey tells Jake/avatar to “go away”
TERM: The Terminator grabs guns and continues his hunt for Sarah     
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
AVTR: The scientist realizes Col. Quaritch and Parker are conspiring with Jake 
TERM: It dawns on Sarah that Kyle might be crazy     
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
AVTR: The scientists are moving Jake further away so Col. Quaritch can’t micro-manage him
TERM: Sarah learns that Kyle is definitely crazy        
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
AVTR: Norm: “We can’t see anything. Trudy: “Ain’t that a bitch”
TERM: The Terminator says he’s looking for Sarah Connor (so he can kill her)         
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
AVTR: Jake: “Grace didn’t miss a thing. She knew I was talking to the Colonial”
TERM: The cop yells “Gunshots!”         
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
AVTR: Jake/avatar meets his first dragon-like predator (banshee)
TERM: The Terminator is killing all the cops inside the police station        
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
AVTR: Jake is deceiving the scientists by withholding his true military intentions
TERM: Sarah hides under the table       
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
AVTR: Neytiri calls Jake/avatar a “moron”
TERM: It’s not The Terminator coming through the door—it’s Kyle!           

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com

Friday, February 24, 2012

How PIXAR Uses the 120 Universal Story Beats!

A minute-by-minute analysis of UP by Todd Klick, using the Something Startling Happens' story beats.
MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
The narrator says, “Who would dare set foot on this inhospitable summit?”   
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
Scientists accuse Muntz of fabricating the skeleton and strip him of his membership     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Carl slams into the stump
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
Ellie yells at Carl for trespassing
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Carl falls through the floor, and breaks his arm!
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Ellie shows Carl her adventure book (FRIEND)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Ellie and Carl get married and work on their house (FRIEND)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
All the clouds turn into babies!
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
Ellie and Carl put money in the jar so they can go to Paradise Falls
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Carl thanks the travel agent for the tickets she sold him
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Ellie dies
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Carl lives a lonely existance without Ellie 
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Carl gives up all his efforts of leaving the house and sits on the porch instead
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
Carl receives an ad from Shady Oaks retirement home
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Carls expects to open the door to the construction company boss, but it’s a boy scout instead (Whew!) 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
The boy scout won’t leave Carl’s porch
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
The truck backs into Carl and Ellie’s mailbox
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Carl strikes the construction worker and it draws blood
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
A police car shows up; the judge orders Carl into a retirement home
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Carl makes a promise to himself and crosses his heart
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
Thousands of balloons spring out of Carl’s house and lift it into the air
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Carl says, “I’ll send you a postcard from Paradise Falls!”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
The house flies at a dangerous height
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Carl hears a knock on the door—Scared Russell is on the porch!
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Scared Russell runs into the house
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
They’re headed towards a big lightning storm!
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Carl tries to steer away from the storm
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Carl and Russell prep for their trip to South America
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Carl wants to drop off Russell so he {Carl} can continue on
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Carl needs to go higher or they will wreck!
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Carl and Russell dangle over a cliff!
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Russell can’t climb the rope, which causes Carl great anxiety
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Carl is stuck on the wrong side of the rock (oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Russell walks along with Carl
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
Dogs chase the bird (BAIT), but Carl’s hearing aide scares them away (SWITCH)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Russell spots an animal’s tracks (HIDE), and Russell goes looking for it (SEEK)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
The bird is HUGE. Russell may be in over his head
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Russell and the bird play
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
The bird follows Carl and Russell
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Russell secretly feeds the bird chocolate so it keeps following
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
The dog has a talking collar (ROSE), but Carl thinks it might be radioactive (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
The hidden bird tackles the dog  
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
“Squirrel!”
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
The dogs discover that there’s a boy with their dog friend
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Russell yells at everyone
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Carl realizes he can’t escape the dog and bird
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
Russell points to the tent he made for Carl
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
Carl learns that Russell’s dad and stepmom don’t care for him
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
“What have I gotten myself into?” Carl asks Ellie
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
The bird is taking the food
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
The mean dog asks Dug where the bird is
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Carl gives into the dogs   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
Many mean dogs surround Carl   
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
Russell realizes the old man is his hero, Charles Muntz!   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
The mean dogs put “the cone of shame” on Dug   
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
Muntz played gin rummy with President Roosevelt, but he would cheat   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
Muntz says thieves have come to steal what’s rightfully his   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
Muntz learns that Russell lured the bird with chocolate   
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Muntz believes Carl is decieving him about why he’s here   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Muntz sees the bird on Carl’s house and sets the dogs on them!   

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com

Thursday, February 16, 2012

STAR WARS & HARRY POTTER Share The Same Universal Story Beats!!!

Minute-by-minute analysis of STAR WARS and HARRY POTTER by Todd Klick.

MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
SW: Text informs us that “Its a period of civil war...”
HP: An old wizard walks alone on a spooky night and steals lantern light       
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
SW: Space ships fire at each other
HP: Dumbledore says “the bad” rumours are true    
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
SW: C3PO says, “We’re doomed”
HP: The baby will be left with “the the worst sort of muggles imaginable”
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
SW: Stormtroopers burst through the door
HP: Harry’s mean aunt screams at him to get up
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
SW: Darth Vadar, a striking dark figure, boards the alliance ship
HP: The relative’s treatment of Harry is stunningly mean
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
SW: C3PO and R2D2 argue (FIST)
HP: Harry’s uncle scolds him (FIST)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
SW: C3PO and R2D2 argue even more (FIST)
HP: Harry talks with a snake (FRIEND)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
SW: Darth Vadar accuses Princess Leia of being traitor!
HP: The escaping snake makes all the children scream!
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
SW: “Send a detachment to retrieve {the plans},” Darth says
HP: Harry pursues the letter that his cousin stole from him
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
SW: R2D2 and C3PO discuss the “mission” R2D2 is on
HP: Harry’s aunt and uncle chat outside the house
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
SW: C3PO walks alone in the hot dry desert (a warning that he might rust)
HP: Hundreds of owls land outside Harry’s relative’s house—a warning that they better let Harry open the letters
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
SW: Sand creatures shoot R2D2
HP: Hundreds and hundreds of letters pour into the house—a harsher warning that they better let Harry open his letters  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
SW: Sand creatures carry the immobilized R2D2 away
HP: Harry’s family submits and moves to a secluded island
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
SW: R2D2 sits helplessly as a vacuum tries to suck him inside
HP: Harry’s uncle points his shotgun at Hagrid
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
SW: C3P0 finds R2D2 (whew, that was close—he thought he’d never see him again) 
HP: Hagrid pulls something out of his coat, but it’s only an umbrella (whew!)
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
SW: C3PO says, “We’re doomed.”
HP: Hagrid wants to take Harry to the wizardry school, which causes Uncle Vernon great concern
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
SW: Sand creatures lead droids outside to be sold
HP: Harry learns that his parents didn’t, in fact, die in a car crash
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
SW: Luke meets the trouble-making duo, R2D2 and C3PO
HP: Hagrid puts a piggy tail on Harry’s cousin
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
SW: Uncle Owen threatens Luke to get his chores done
HP: Harry enters a threatening bar
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
SW: Luke works hard to fix the droid
HP: Harry urges Hagrid to tell him why he’s famous
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
SW: Princess Leia’s hologram message carries bad news
HP: Hagrid taps the wall and the bricks reconfigure to show Harry Diagon Alley!
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
SW: “She’s a person of some importance,” C3PO says to Luke about Leia
HP: The “Nimbus 2000 is the fastest model yet!”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
SW: The hologram disappears!
HP: The ugly looking goblin shoots Harry a scary look
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
SW: Uncle Owen and his wife exchange concerned glances when Luke mentions Obi-Wan (they’re scared Luke might find out who he is)
HP: The goblin leads Harry into the bowels of a scary cavern
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
SW: Uncle Owen tells Luke he must stay for another year, which causes Luke great distress
HP: Harry stares at the ominous looking package
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
SW: Luke discovers that R2D2 has left!
HP: Harry waves his new wand and the files fly out!
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
SW: Luke has to find R2D2 (Luke’s Mini-Quest before he heads off to battle the Death Star)
HP: Mr. Ollivander tries to find the correct wand for Harry
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
SW: Luke drives the land cruiser to look for R2D2 (he needs him for the Big Quest)
HP: Mr. Ollivander preps Harry for his life as a wizard
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
SW: Ben Kenobe saves Luke (he needs him for the big quest)
HP: Hagrid preps Harry about Voldemort
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
SW: Injured Luke needs help
HP: Harry needs to know what Voldemort did
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
SW: Ben shows distress when he hears Luke say “Obi-Wan”
HP: Evil Voldemort is still out there
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
SW: C3PO shows great anxiety when he discovers that his arm is ripped off
HP: Harry realizes Hagrid’s no longer there to help him
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
SW: Luke wishes he could’ve met his father (which concerns Obi-Wan, who knows the truth)
HP: Harry has to somehow run through a solid wall (oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
SW: Luke’s friend Obi-Wan tells him about the Dark Side
HP: Harry makes friends with Ron
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
SW: Princess Leia’s hologram pops up (BAIT), but she carries bad news (SWITCH)
HP: Ron thinks he’s sitting with a regular boy (BAIT), but discovers it’s the famous Harry Potter (SWITCH)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
SW: Luke wants to go home (HIDE), but Obe-Wan (SEEKS) his help
HP: Harry wonders (SEEKS) where the picture of Dumbledore went (HIDES)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
SW: Luke realizes he must learn the ways of the force (he may be in over his head)
HP: Ron can’t make his magic spell work—he’s in over his head
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
SW: Darth Vader reconnects with Tarkin
HP: Harry reconnects with his friend Hagrid
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
SW: Darth Vader and Tarkin agree on a plan of attack
HP: The boats take the kids towards the school
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
SW: Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru’s house is on fire
HP: We see that Professor McGonagall has authority at the school
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
SW: Luke finally reaches home (ROSE), but finds his aunt and uncle burned to death (THORN)
HP: Harry likes the school (ROSE), but dislikes unsavory students like Malfoy (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
SW: Luke tells Ben he wants to become a Jedi
HP: The opening doors reveal a surprisingly huge hall filled with young wizards and floating candles!    
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
SW: Obi-Wan tells Luke (about Mos Eisley Spaceport), “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious” (they may die there)
HP: Dumbledore reveals that the 3rd floor will cause “a most painful death”
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
SW: Obi-Wan can change stormtroopers’ minds with the force
HP: Harry feels pain in his scar when Snape looks at him
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
SW: Luke enters the dangerous cantina with Obi-Wan
HP: Loner Harry stands in front of the entire student body
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
SW: The bartender reveals his prejudice by telling Luke (concerning the droids), “we don’t serve their kind here”
HP: Harry learns that Dumbledore approves of him going to Gryffindor
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
SW: Obi-Wan takes Luke away from the fight
HP: Percy gives Harry information about Snape (Harry’s escort towards useful information)
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
SW: Han tells Obi-Wan and Luke that his spaceship is fast
HP: Harry is told about the changing stairs
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
SW: Han wants way too much money to fly Luke and Obi-Wan to Alderaan
HP: The scary pictures move
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
SW: Weapon-carrying Stormtroopers look for Obi-Wan and Luke
HP: Harry sits by himself, still the outsider
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
SW: Han shoots Greedo, which draws the attention of the other bad guys
HP: Professor McGonagall scolds Harry and Ron for being late
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
SW: R2D2 and C3PO hide from the Stormtroopers
HP: The students listen quietly to intimidating Snape       
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
SW: Jabba wants his money from Han
HP: Snape intimidates Harry with questions he doesn’t know the answers to      
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
SW: Han learns that Jabba will give him more time to pay his debt
HP: Harry and Ron realize that the “mail’s here”       
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
SW: Stormtroopers fire at Han Solo
HP: Harry learns that someone broke into Gringotts      
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
SW: Han talks with Chewbacca while Imperial Troopers chase them
HP: Ron says “up” but the broom whacks him in the face instead       
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
SW: Obe-Wan: “I felt a great disturbance in the force”
HP: The teacher says to the wounded student: “Oh dear, it’s a broken wrist”     
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
SW: Tarkin says he will blow up Alderaan
HP: Harry and Malfoy duel on their brooms      
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
SW: Tarkin deceives Leia into thinking he won’t blow up Alderaan if she tells him the rebel
base’s location
HP: Malfoy spins and keeps the object from Harry   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
SW: Tarkin blows up Alderaan!
HP: Harry learns that he’s the new “Seeker”!  

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com

Sunday, February 12, 2012

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS Follows the Universal Story Beats!

A minute-by-minute story beat analysis of MIDNIGHT IN PARIS by Todd Klick
MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
Gil and Inez argue about Paris. He loves it, she doesn’t    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
Gil chats with Inez’s parents, who aren’t fans of Paris either     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Inez and her parents glare at Gil over his opposing political views
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
Gil doesn’t want to hang out with Inez’s friends Paul and Carol
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Inez makes the jaw dropping statement that she had a crush on Paul in college
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Gil and Inez hang out with Paul and Carol (FRIEND)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Inez and Paul make fun of Gil and his novel idea (FIST)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Paul makes the startling statement that Paul is flawed because he can’t cope with living in the present
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
The couples follow a tour guide as they pursue art knowledge
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Gil and Inez discuss his lie about reading a biography on Rodin
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Paul warns Gil that alcohol “fuels the desire but kills the performance”
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Inez warns Paul about getting lost if he walks alone  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Paul gives in and realizes he’s lost
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
Drunk French strangers insist Gil jump in their car with them
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
The French strangers turn out to be fun (Whew, that was close!) 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
Gil stares uncomfortabley at everyone dressed in ‘20s attire—something doesn’t seem right
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Gil meets a couple named Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, which blows his mind
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Gil is realizing that something really strange is going on
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
The Fitzgerald’s invite Gil to a seedier party
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
At first freaked out, Gil now smiles and has a great time
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
Gil meets Hemingway!
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Hemingway tells Fitzgerald that he’s a writer who needs time to write
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Hemingway verbally attacks Fitzgerald and tries to get Gil in the middle of it
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Hemingway says he hates Gil’s novel, even though he hasn’t read it
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Gil doesn’t know where he’s supposed to meet Hemingway
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
The restaurant where Gil met Hemingway is no longer there! It’s a laundrymat!
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Inez wants Gil to go to the furniture shop with her
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Gil takes Inez to the spot where he had the amazing adventure
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Gil and Inez wait for the old car to pick them up
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Gil says to himself that “maybe I need to see a neurologist”
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Hemingway tells a distressing story about war
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Gil is anxious about meeting Gertrude Stein
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
Gertrude Stein criticizes Picasso’s painting (Oh no!, he thinks)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Adriana says she likes Gil’s writing
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
Adriana tells Gil she loves the past, too (BAIT), but she loves a different time period (SWITCH)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Adriana is coy about talking about herself (HIDE), but Gil is interested (SEEK)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
Gil is smitten with Adriana. He’s in over his head
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Adriana tells Gil she’s fallen madly in love with his book
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Gil heads out with Hemingway, Picasso and Adriana
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
The Parisian girl tells antiques
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Gil is happily lost in Cole Porters music (ROSE), but Inez interrupt him (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
Inez shushes Gil—she’d rather hear Paul speak 
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
Gil reveals his impressive inside information about the Picasso painting they’re looking at
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Inez’s father wants to have Gil followed
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Gil goes out of his way to find Adriana
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Hemingway intends to steal Adriana away from Picasso, which Gil is jealous about
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
Adriana leads Gil on a walk by the river
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
Gil shares his knowledge of Paris’s specialness with Adriana
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Drunk Zelda is about to throw herself into the water
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
Gil says he’s been taking valium since getting engaged to Inez
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
Adriana and Gil talk about his engagement
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Gil gives in and sits with Salvadore Dali   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
Gil is suddenly surrounded by three great surrealists   
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
Gil tells the surrealists he’s from another time in the future   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
Inez resists Gil’s sexual advances because Paul wants to take them to an Inn for lunch   
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
Gil asks the tour guide if it’s possible to love two woman at once   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
Inez’s father hires a detective to follow Gil   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
Adriana has left Picasso and flown to Africa with Hemingway  
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Gil deceives Inez so he can get out of a weekend trip with her and her family   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Gil sees the parisian antique dealer he saw before, and has a meaningful connection with her   

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Oscar-nominated MONEYBALL Follows The Universal Story Beats!

A minute-by-minute story beat analysis of MONEYBALL by Todd Klick

MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
Tense playoff game. A’s take 1-0 lead    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
The As cause two errors     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Billy Beane listens to the tense game alone
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
Billy’s team loses
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Billy freaks out and stomps his radio
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Billy and the team owner commiserate (KISS)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Billy and the owner fight about money (FIST)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Billy's friend screws him over and he looses a key player
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
The A’s scouts pursue cheap but good players
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Billy says, “Guys, you are just talking—la, la, la” (they’re discussing which player to pick
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Billy warns the scouts—they don’t know what the problem is
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Billy warns the scouts again, saying: “The runt of the litter dies”  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Billy submits to his scouts’ request to let them do their job
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
The Indian’s secretary comes to get Billy for a key meeting
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Billy chuckles when the negotiator takes a dig at him (Whew, that was close—he could have lost the other execs’ respect) 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
The execs reject all Billy’s offers, which causes him deep concern
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Billy can’t get one deal make, which turns his world upside down
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Billy confronts Peter
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
Billy says to Peter, “I don’t give a rat’s ass what your name is”
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Meek Peter speaks his mind to Billy
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
Peter tells Billy that losing Damen opens up a lot of interesting possibilities
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
The scout says, “Very rare do you come upon a young man like Billy...”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Young Billy will have to pick between college and pro ball
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Billy’s parents put the big decision on his shoulders
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
Billy takes a big risk by buying Peter from the Indians
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
Peter evaluates 51 players instead of the expected 3
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Peter sets up his computer and goes to work
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Peter prepares Billy for finding value in players nobody wants
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Peter continues to prepare Billy for finding undervalued players
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Art needs to talk to Billy
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Art wants his contract extended
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Billy rejects his scouts’ choices, which ups their anxiety
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
“Billy, that’s trouble,” the scout says to Billy’s player choice
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Peter gets Billy’s back by saying: “Because he {the player Billy chose} gets on base”
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
Billy says, “He can’t throw and he can’t field (BAIT), “but what can he do? He gets on base (SWITCH)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Billy says, “This is not a discussion (HIDES), but his scout SEEKS to change his mind
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
None of the guys Billy chose can play first base (he may be in over his head)
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Billy says to out-of-work Scott, “The good news is, we want you at first”
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Billy tells Scott that they’re going to teach him to play first base
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Scott hugs his wife and daughter, happy to be hired
We see how Billy’s ex-wife lives with her new husband
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Billy chats politely with his ex-wife and her husband (ROSE), but it’s extremely uncomfortable for all of them (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
Billy is surprised to hear that his daughter has a cell phone 
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
Billy’s daughter’s beautiful guitar playing surprises him
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
Billy’s learns that his daughter is a great singer
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Young Billy strikes out and fails as a player
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Peter tells Billy about “The Greek God of Walks”
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
The head scout escorts Billy to the conference room to talk
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
The head scout is telling Billy that he’s discounting what scouts have done for 150 years
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
Billy informs his head scout that he doesn’t know if a kid is gonna be a good or bad player
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
Billy fires his head scout
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
Billy’s new players look bad, and Art the coach isn’t happy
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Art gives into Billy   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
Billy says to Peter: “This better work”   
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
One player has knee braces, one’s a partier, one’s old and one lacks confidence—this doesn’t appear to be a good team   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
Chad sideswipes Billy by saying he’ll be praying for him   
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
Billy tells Peter that he’s going into the clubhouse—he doesn’t watch the games   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
The radio announcer says, “It’s the third Ranger to be hit today”—difficult words for Billy to hear on opening day   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
Art and Billy butt heads over the team’s direction   
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Billy lies when he tells Art: “Good talk. Every time we talk I’m reinvigorated by my love of the game”   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
The guy who came up with the Moneyball theory was a security guard at a pork and beans company   

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com
 

Monday, January 30, 2012

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Follows The 120 Beats!

A minute-by-minute story beat analysis of RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES 
by Todd Klick

MINUTE  1:  AT-TENSION!
Men attack apes with machetes    
MINUTE  2:  THE BUILD
Men capture an ape     
MINUTE  3:  THE RATCHET
Stephen tells Will he’ll need the boards approval to continue his experiments
MINUTE  4:  ANOTHER NOTCH 
Will presents his argument to the board
MINUTE  5:  JAW DROPPER
Bright Eyes violently attacks the scientist!
MINUTE  6:  FRIEND OR FIST
Stephen smiles at Will’s proposal to the board (FRIEND)
MINUTE  7:  FRIEND OR FIST 2
Stephen stands side by side with Will (FRIEND)
Stephen scolds Franklin (FIST)
MINUTE  8:  SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Stephen threatens to fire Will!
MINUTE  9:  THE PURSUIT
Will looks for Franklin
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION 
Will and Franklin discuss “putting down” Bright Eyes’ newborn
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Will’s father mistakes Will’s work proposal as a chemistry test (a warning to Will that his father’s Alzheimer’s is getting worse)
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Will’s father is angry about losing his car keys (a harsher warning that his Alzheimer’s is worsening)  
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
Will reminds his father that he doesn’t drive anymore. “I know that,” his father says, looking down
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH 
Caesar’s intelligence increases at a rapid rate (dangerous to the human race)
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
Will’s dad almost hurts the nurse 
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
Will is concerned he might get caught for stealing the Alzheimer’s drug
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Will’s father is back to normal after taking the drug!
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
Caesar escapes out the window!
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT  
The neighbor swings a bat at Caesar
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
Will boldly asks Caroline for a date
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT  
Caroline comes over to Will’s house for the date
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
Caroline says (about Caesar): “You should give him open space”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
Will loses Caesar
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
Caesar walks to the end of a thin branch, which scares Will
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
A German Shepherd attacks Caesar
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
Caesar asks Will (through sign language) if he’s “a pet”
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST 
Will shows Caesar where he was born
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP 
Will explains why Caesar is so smart (to prepare him for being different)
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2 
Will explains to Caroline about Caesar’s unusual rise in intelligence, to prepare her for what Caesar may become
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
Will asks his dad if he’s ok—he needs to know if his father is relapsing
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL   
Will’s forgetful father wrecks the car, which causes the neighbor great distress
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
Caesar attacks the neighbor because he screamed at Will’s father
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
The scared neighbor runs from Caesar, but Caesar chases him (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT 
Will’s father hugs Caesar
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH  
Will tells Caesar to follow him inside the building (BAIT), but the building is really a prison for chimps (SWITCH)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
Will stays behind the glass (HIDES), while Caesar tries to get to him (SEEK)
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
Caesar is tricked into a cage by a mean worker (he’s in over his head)
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
Will promises his dad he will get Caesar back soon
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
Will puts him arm around his dad and then he looks for a more aggressive virus strain
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
Stephen is going through a roller coaster emotionally over Will’s behavior
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
Caesar laughs at the worker (ROSE), but the mean worker sprays him with water (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
Caesar draws an exact replica of his window at home  
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
Stephen surprises Will and Franklin. He wants to watch their progress
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
The chimp has a violent reaction to the drug
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Caesar joins the other apes in the playpen
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
Caesar realizes the other apes want to kill him
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT 
The ape shows Stephen that he’s getting more intelligent
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE 
Caesar learns that the orangutan can speak sign language
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
The mean worker and boss are shooting chimps with drugs and carrying them somewhere
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
The boss of cages tells Will he can’t have Caesar without a court order
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE     
The orangutan watches Caesar
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE     
Caesar wipes the dirt from the window, and realizes he can’t get out   
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION    
The mean worker yells at his coworker
Caesar stares down mean worker   
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB    
Caesar realizes his can pick the lock with the knife   
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE     
Caesar frightens the gorilla   
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT    
Caesar releases the mean chimp, but then communicates that he better submit or else the gorilla will tear him apart   
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS    
Will’s father shakes his head “no”—he doesn’t want the drugs anymore   
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT    
Will’s father is dead  
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION              
Will’s been deceived—Stephen has authorized testing behind his back   
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
Will quits his job!
Franklin is terribly sick with a deadly virus   

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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com

 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

SCREENWRITER'S SECRET WEAPON: THE MINUTE 5 JAW DROPPER!

Did you know that during minute 5 of any great movie, there's a Jaw Dropper moment? Something happens to the characters (or the audience) that they've never seen or heard before. It grabs attention and dazzles. Great writers instinctively know that on page 5 of their screenplay—midway to the Inciting Incident—that something extraordinary needs to occur to keep the audience watching. Here are a few examples: 

What's the Jaw Dropper during Minute 5 in The Sixth Sense? Anna and Malcolm see a half-naked man standing in their bathroom.

What's the Jaw Dropper in Top Gun? Maverick flies upside down and overtop the enemy’s fighter plane—an extraordinary flying feat! 
What about Star Wars? Ominous Darth Vadar enters the story for the first time, a Jaw Dropping moment in movie history.

The Godfather? Bonasera asks Godfather to murder the men who beat up his daughter—a jaw dropping request to make of someone.
Tootsie? Michael storms out of a play because he disagrees with the director—an extraordinary thing for a struggling actor, who hasn't worked in two years, to do.

Raiders Of The Lost Ark? An astonishing amount of spiders crawl onto Indy and his ally's backs. 
 
In The Matrix, Trinity executes an extraordinary, superhuman leap into a far away window, which literally makes the cops' jaws drop!

Juno tells Leah her extraordinary news—she's pregnant (Leah's mouth drops open in astonishment, another literal "Jaw Dropper").
 
 In Halloween, we find out that the person who stabbed the naked girl is a little boy!
In Pulp Fiction, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny hold up the restaurant, a Jaw Dropping moment in the patrons' lives.

Do you have a Jaw Dropper on Page 5 of your screenplay?

To find out more screenwriting secrets, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know. 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 Storieshttp://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 Serviceswww.toddklick.com