Hey all you ghouls and goblins, I did a minute-by-minute analysis of Michael Jackson’s THRILLER for you. I wanted to prove that the SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS’ universal story beats not only work for feature films, but they also apply to iconic 12-minute music shorts as well. If it’s a successful story, no matter what the length, it uses the minute-by-minute beats!
MINUTE 1: ATTENSION!
A young couple’s car stalls on a scary back road
MINUTE 2: THE BUILD
Michael Jackson acts weird when the full moon appears
Michael Jackson acts weird when the full moon appears
MINUTE 3: THE RATCHET
Michael turns into a werewolf and chases the girl
MINUTE 4: ANOTHER NOTCH
The werewolf catches the girl and raises his deadly claws
MINUTE 5: JAW DROPPER
Michael Jackson breaks into a song and performs jaw dropping dance moves
MINUTE 6: FRIEND OR FIST
Michael and his girlfriend laugh and joke around (Friend)
MINUTE 7: FRIEND OR FIST 2
Michael Jackson and his girlfriend enjoy each others’ company some more ((Friend)
MINUTE 8: SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Zombies crawl from the graves!
MINUTE 9: THE PURSUIT
Zombies pursue Michael and his girlfriend
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION
Michael sings (tells) his girlfriend that this is “Thriller Night”
Michael turns into a werewolf and chases the girl
MINUTE 4: ANOTHER NOTCH
The werewolf catches the girl and raises his deadly claws
MINUTE 5: JAW DROPPER
Michael Jackson breaks into a song and performs jaw dropping dance moves
MINUTE 6: FRIEND OR FIST
Michael and his girlfriend laugh and joke around (Friend)
MINUTE 7: FRIEND OR FIST 2
Michael Jackson and his girlfriend enjoy each others’ company some more ((Friend)
MINUTE 8: SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
Zombies crawl from the graves!
MINUTE 9: THE PURSUIT
Zombies pursue Michael and his girlfriend
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION
Michael sings (tells) his girlfriend that this is “Thriller Night”
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
Zombies chase the girl to the house (a warning that her life is in danger)
Zombies chase the girl to the house (a warning that her life is in danger)
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
Zombies break into the house and close in on her!
Michael Jackson’s eyes turn a sinister yellow!
THE END
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
Zombies break into the house and close in on her!
Michael Jackson’s eyes turn a sinister yellow!
THE END
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
