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