While that sounds like a good way to keep track of conversation, the beat sheet is apparently actually a way of organizing the story into recognizable segments/events that apparently almost all screenplays follow in some form.
PROJECT TITLE: Dash Gunmetal the Movie
GENRE: So gritty you can file your nails with the script.
DATE: 4:22 is a time, not a date. Now you know.
1. Opening Image (1): A ruined cityscape. The screen pans past a sign labeled "BERLIN DURING WORLD WAR 2." The unserious, often patently absurd nature of the story is established immediately.
2. Theme Stated (5): So-bad-they're-badass one-liners, excessive growled dialog, super-fast pans and closeups, and the like suggest a theme of trying too hard. The story takes itself very seriously, and doesn't understand why no one else does.
3. Set-Up (1-10): The movie begins with a motorcycle chase similar to the one in the original story. Dash defeats them with his sunglasses-bomb, then heads to a bar and explains why he's in Berlin. His mentor, Commander Wolf Grayskull, was killed and the star of power taken. The nature of the star of power or why it's important is never explained, beyond "It glows, it's probably important." Dash has followed him all the way to Berlin and has finally caught up.
4. Catalyst (12): Dash mentions the name General Snakeeyes (The villain) and the rest of the bar attacks. Dash is joined by Venom Nightstar, Russian spy and Femme Fatale. She explains that her brother, Blade Nightstar, was also killed by General Snakeeyes, and she seeks revenge. They join forces and attack a futuristic stronghold where they believe General Snakeeyes is.
5. Debate (12-25): During the attack, General Snakeeyes causes an explosion, and the building will soon collapse. Dash must decide to chase Snakeeyes down or save Venom, who won't be able to escape if Dash goes running off. After much deliberation and ass-kicking/name-taking, Dash lets Snakeeyes escape and saves Venom.
6. Break into (Act) Two (25): Venom is infuriated, saying that Dash should've stopped General Snakeeyes. A lot of extremely dark and grim dialog takes place, and Venom splits up with Dash, saying he's incompetent and doesn't have what it takes to stop General Snakeeyes. In addition to breaking into act two with a sudden twist, it also literally breaks the team in two, and it's unclear whether or not they will reunite (of course they will)
7. B Story (30): Dash has realized in his short time with Venom that she is the perfect badass partner (and maybe more? No. Dash Gunmetal does not feel love) and struggles to make up for her loss.
8. Fun and Games (30-55): Dash and Venom continue to pursue General Snakeeyes on their own, continually running into each other and sharing awkward moments, including a short fight scene. This segment is lighthearted, but still very grim and dark and dark and grim. Dash teams up with a temporary sidekick, Steel Brutesmash.
9. Midpoint (55): As the two, working separately, continue to take out General Snakeeyes bases and kill his men, tensions between them mounting all the while, Dash discovers that General Snakeeyes is making an army of robot Nazi vampires to stop them, and that Venom is heading into a trap. I'll figure out just what kind of trap and how this happens later.
10. Bad Guys Close In (55-75): Dash rushes to save her and they are both caught in a sudden massive attack by robot Nazi vampires. Much ass is kicked and it is very awesome.
11. All Is Lost (75): General Snakeeyes attacks suddenly and kills Venom. Dash gives a Big No and battles General Snakeeyes, but it's apparent he isn't powerful enough alone. Steel Brutesmash is no longer in the story, killed at some point earlier by Dash. ( I see it happening like this: Dash climbs up a building with a grappling hook, and then lets Steel do the same. Steel is almost up when Dash casually lifts up the hook and drops it off the side, saying "I work alone." Hilarious and badass)
12. Dark Night of the Soul (75-85): Dash is soundly defeated by General Snakeeyes and thrown out a window. He fights his way through more robot Nazi vampires (Sadly this time, the humor is that he is still being badass but at the same time looks really depressed and not into it at all) It would seem Dash has lost his spirit.
13. Break into Three (85): Dash is visited by the spirit of Commander Wolf Greyskull, who upbraids him for his weakness, and reminds him that Dash Gunmetal is an unstoppable psychic vampire cowboy.
14. Finale (85-110): Taking Wolf's advice, Dash attacks General Snakeeyes' headquarters. After fighting his way through Robot Nazi Vampires, werewolves, possibly some dinosaurs, and Adolf Hitler, Dash faces Snakeeyes. A long and epic battle follows, and it would seem Dash may not win. As things are beginning to look grim, suddenly Venom leaps into battle! She reveals that she was, in fact, a robot all along and survived because of same. They fight and defeat Snakeeyes together, and destroy his city of evil. They both nod curtly to each other and go their separate ways, for love is not the way of the psychic vampire cowboy or the robot.
15. Final Image (110): The camera remains in the ruined building, watching as the silhouettes of Dash and Venom shrink in the distance. The clouds are parting and the sun is shining for the first time in the movie (All previous scenes are indoors/at night/overcast). Suddenly, just in front of the camera, General Snakeeyes slowly sits up.
THE END
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Topic: SCRIPT FRENZY: It's own our personal Writing Arc. (Read 16102 times)