Since James Brown went to that big dance club in the sky, I am officially “the hardest working man in show business.†In addition to my movie that goes into production this year (my 13th spec script sale) and working out the two new scripts I plan on writing in 2007, we here at Save the Cat! are really excited about the upcoming events we have planned. Seminars, podcasts, the radio show, and of course our famous high–intensity structure weekends! All of these are designed to help you write stories that work, from initial concept to final fade out. And as you know, figuring out why stories work is my passion. I get a thrill every time a story method becomes clear to me — and I can’t wait to tell everyone I know.
I am finishing the manuscript for the sequel to Save the Cat! News comes from my publisher that STC! is the #1 best selling book in their catalog right now. Our numbers are blowing people away. Why? Because I not only tell the truth about what it takes to sell your script, I give you the tools to communicate your vision, your way. The new book that will be coming out this fall is “the graduate course†of STC! It takes the 10 genres I coined in the first Cat! and breaks down five movies in each category to show the range and breadth of each. Mostly, it is an easy reference so that if you are writing a “disaster movie†or a “buddy movie†or an “ensemble,†you can turn right to that chapter and see how others who came before you tackled the very same issues you are wrestling with right now. And this applies both to big-budget studio films and “low-concept†Indies — because guess what?
The “rules†of storytelling apply to all.
In the Indie category I will tell you why Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Napoleon Dynamite, Open Water, Crash, Brick, and Maria Full of Grace all follow my “rules†for what makes a good story. Do they always fit the BS2? Yes! And it’s amazing to me every time I see it unfold! But I will also show you how you can mix it up once you know the elements of structure, how say the B story often hits late — as it does in Ocean’s Eleven and Black Stallion — and how the Theme Stated beat can take place mid-movie, as in — Titanic. Successful stories hit all the beats; they don’t necessarily hit them in precise order. This new book should make clearer what I talked about in the first. It’s all about having a language we can use to get to the essence of any story challenge.
Gad! I’m excited!
Why a well-told story resonates with us is simple. We want to learn how to live our lives, and stories tell us how others do that. Thus finding what your story is “about†is key. I note that Babel won Best Picture – Drama last night at the Golden Globes. Just like Crash, which I break down in the “Institutionalized†chapter of my new book, Babel is an ensemble, multi-story, theme-driven tale about “transformation†— the true purpose of any story — and the reason we send heroes into the “transformation machine†aka Act Two.
More will be revealed, as they say “in and out of these rooms,†but I am having a transformation experience myself by getting to know all of you, and working out why every good story resonates. Thanks to everyone who made STC! such a runaway hit. Stay tuned for more mind-blowing structure tools!
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“…they don’t necessarily hit them [beats] in precise order.”
I had planned to talk to you about this when I see you – I think in romantic comedies, the “all is lost” moment is often in the middle of the third act and not at the end of the second. For example, the Harry without Sally sequence takes up the bulk of the third act. Thoughts?
Blake,
Your excitement is infectious. Your passion is overflowing. Your generousity is a gift received(and a model for giving). I admire you. Can’t wait for the next book. Grateful to you!
I watched Jaws again recently … first time since I read Save The Cat! … incredible that our intrepid explorers dont set sail on Orca until between 60-70 minutes into the movie … so whilst this feels like an Into Act 2 moment it must in fact be the Midpoint! is this correct? Incidentally Alex Kintner is eaten on the beach approx 15 minutes in … making this the Catalyst. Any other Jaws-related STC! observations anyone?
I think “When Harry Met Sally” is structured correctly. It’s just that the “Break into 3” and “Finale” beats are very short. To me this is how the script is structured (from All is Lost)
All is Lost – Harry and Sally have a bitter argument in which Sally slaps him and their friendship is over.
Dark night of the soul – Christmas alone. It’s clear that Harry and Sally’s lives are now empty without one another.
Break into 3 – Harry is out having an ice cream cone on New Years eve and reminisces about their history. Harry realizes that he loves Sally and starts to walk…then run to go find Sally at the New Years eve party.
Finale – Harry reaches the party right before new years and professes his love for Sally.
Closing Image – Harry and Sally doing an interview in the same documentary style as the opening.
THE END.
Break into 3 and the Finale all occur in about 2-3 pages. I think that’s why it was a great move to make the closing image the documentary. It lengthens the third act and makes the ending feel less “abrupt”.
To me, this story is about Harry’s transformation as a person. Sally doesn’t really change that much from the time you met her. But it is Harry’s philosophy and belief system that is tested and ultimately altered (Harry and Sally are both lovers and friends). He makes the change. Sure there are some minor changes to Sally’s personality, but basically she’s the same character as you meet in the beginning.
Well, thank god for that! :D
I’ve just seen the best example of how the BS2 works best.
I was watching my currently favourite TV show in Britain yesterday ‘The Mighty Boosh’ and I’d bought the boxed set. Now, all of the episodes were brilliant but one particularly stood out. It wasn’t the most exciting by concept, as the others were about such things as homeless, drug-addicted foxes, brand new, crazy inventions and a machine that could shrink people down to molecular levels, but it was by far the best structured. It hit all 15 beats.
I think that structure makes the story well-paced and puts the character in as many different situations as possible but also makes it something you can watch again and again.