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Post Day 7 Assignment Here
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6 Replies
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Emmanuel’s High Speed Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is the beat sheet helps with fleshing out the overall story. The quick writing process using the 7 rules is unique and nerve-wracking at the same time. I like the idea of using placeholders if you don’t have the scene fully realized yet. This keeps the writing process going. Overall, this process produces holes in the script but keeps you moving forward.
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Lee’s High-Speed Writing Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment…is that if I keep at it and don’t stop to think too much, I can accomplish this relatively quickly, and it even makes sense.
HIGH SPEED BEAT SHEET
INT. MILLY’S HOUSE – DAY
Opening – Milly goes through her morning routine with her father. They are very affectionate and open until…
AS THEY PART…
TE 1 – Milly’s Dad calls her something like “my darling little alien.” Milly rebukes him, tells him not to call her that. He says it’s only the truth—someday she’ll accept it.
She heads off to school, he to his work at a local research lab.
INT. MILLY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Inciting Incident – After Milly comes home, she finds that her Dad doesn’t come home. Not for all night.
EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS – DAY (MONTAGE)
TE 2 – She and friend Justin call the lab, police, etc. Lab says that her dad never worked there. Police offer no help. Justin says they should go look for him. Milly says that’s crazy.
INT./EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Turning Point – TE 3 –Next night, unknown assailants show up at the house, along with a heavily armed old woman. She says she’s Milly’s grandmother. She says Milly’s Dad’s been kidnapped, taken to (some place), they must leave now, and not to forget her dad’s collection of “toys”, miniature weapons and military vehicles. There’s a fierce fight. Milly and Justin escape. Grandma holds off assailants, fate is unknown.
Act 2
INT. JUSTIN’S HOUSE – DAY
New plan – Justin steals one of his parents credit cards and some cash. They head out for (some place) where Granny said Dad was hidden.
PLACEHOLDER – Justin has to be around 16—can drive but probably just with permit, or maybe just got a license. How do they move about—car, dirt bike, etc. Do parents stop payment on credit cards, does Justin know the PIN and withdraw a bunch of cash.
EXT. THE COUNTRYSIDE – DAY
TE 3 – Very little goes right. They run out of gas, use the credit card, find they’re chased by unknown assailants. They barely escape (because of something quasi-miraculous that Milly does unawares).
EXT. DESERT – DAY
Midpoint – TE 4 – Milly discovers that saying “the magic words” causes her fathers “toys” to become life-sized and functional.
Act 3
EXT. SECRET LAB – DAY
Rethink everything – Milly and Justin, using new knowledge, arm themselves with “toy” weapons and vehicles. They go to where there dad’s being held.
PLACEHOLDER – I’m thinking maybe there’s a Jeep, some guns, maybe even a tank? But they’re all of an older vintage, which the kids don’t understand.
EXT. SECRET LAB – DAY
A reconnaissance of the area, various obstacles to overcome.
INT./EXT. SECRET LAB – DAY
New Plan (using new ways) – Milly and Justin attack the place where Dad is being held.
INT./EXT. SECRET LAB – DAY
Antagonist can undo the “magic” that made toys come to life. Or he launches a counterattack with much more modern weapons, even futuristic weapons.
TE 5 – Attack fails miserably. Justin and Milly are captured, thrown into a cell.
Act 4
INT. JAIL CELL – NIGHT
TE 6 – Milly’s “dead” mother is in the cell with Milly and Justin. She reminds Milly of who she really is (a human alien with amazing abilities). She advises Milly how to unlock them—she’s their only hope.
INT. JAIL CELL – NIGHT
PLACEHOLDER – Mother was captured by Janus years ago. Dad didn’t find out about it until a few days ago.
INT./EXT. – SECRET LAB – DAY
Climax – Milly, fully accepting who she is, uses her abilities to defeat Janus and his minions and free her father.
INT. SECRET LAB – DAY
Government authorities show up to shut down the lab, haul off Janus.
EXT. MILLY’S HOUSE – DAY
Resolution – Back home, Milly jokes with Justin about maybe she’ll become a superhero, and he could be her sidekick.
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Lisa’s High Speed Beat Sheet
What I learned doing this assignment is to keep moving, even if I’m stuck and don’t know how a part is going to resolve. It was difficult to do that because the perfectionist in me wanted to figure it out first.
Act 1
INT. KAI AND DIANE’S BEDROOM- NIGHT
After tucking in his two kids, Kai (8), and Diane (4), David Sterling has an argument with his wife Mayla. She storms out of the house, to go out partying. David starts drinking. He drinks himself to sleep and passes out on the couch
INT COURT ROOM/ THEATER- NIGHT
TE 1: David finds himself in the afterlife. He drank himself to death. He wants to go back and see his kids again. His guides tell him he has already served his purpose in their lives and he will never see his kids again, and all other positions have been filled. They show him how Mayla is treating the kids, yelling at them, punishing them for no reason, and even hitting them.
David pleads with his guides to let him return. He’s so remorseful. They make an exception. He can go back as the family dog. David accepts the offer.
EXT RURAL STREET CORNER- DAY
TE 2: David, now a pitbull puppy, is abandoned in a box in the rain as a puppy.
A man finds him and brings him to a shelter.
Act 2:
INT. SHELTER- DAY
David is lonely and feels helpless. He can’t remember where he used to live in his human life. The shelter is cold and sterile. Days and weeks go by. different people come by every day and bring home their new pets, not wanting to adopt him because he is a pitbull and they think he will be ferocious.
INT. SHELTER- DAY
David is adopted by a family, but it’s not his family. David is quiet the whole car ride to his new home.
INT. JANE’S ROOM- DAY
JANE (6) dresses David up like a babydoll and tries to put a bow on his head.
INT. MAYLA’S CHURCH
Mayla is acting like the perfect mother at church. Her kids are there with her. People compliment her on her parenting skills. KAI and DIANE are quiet.
EXT. MAYLA’S HOUSE- DAY
Mayla drops off Kai and Diane. She says she has to work
EXT. STREET CORNER- DAY
Mayla poses for photographer in a skimpy dress
INT. MAYLA’S HOUSE- NIGHT
Mayla arrives home with the kids. Tells them to make some sandwiches for dinner, and heads out for the night
INT. JANE’S HOUSE- NIGHT
David looks around for ways to escape. There are no open windows or doors. David goes to sleep on his mat.
Montage: David goes on walks, tries to get away, but it too small. He’e sent to a kennel for training. He gets bigger.
INT. JANE’S HOUSE- DAY
Jane’s dad, ROBERT (30’s), comes throught the front door with DAVID, now a grown pitbull. He takes the leash off David. THe mailman arrrives to drop off the mail. Robert tells him he has a piece of mail to send out. He reaches out to grab it and David escapes, bursting throught the front door, runnnign into the mailman, and he keeps running and running
EXT. DOWNTOWN- EARLY EVENING
David find a dumpster thats open and rummages through it trying to find food. He eats some table scraps.
INT. MAYLA’S HOUSE- NIGHT
DIANE and KAI look for food in the fridge and cabinets. There’s nothing.
Mayla arrives home and asks her why they’re up. She gives them her leftover takeout food and tells them she shouldn’t have given them anythign because they’re too fat anyway.
EXT. STREET- DAY
David is looking for food in a dumpster. A houseless man, Charlie offers him some of his sandwich. They become friends. Charlie names him Danny.
INT. MAYLA’S CHURCH- DAY
A man, GREG (30’s), introduces himself to Mayla. She introduces him to her kids.
EXT. STREET- DAY
Charlie and David collect money and food from strangers.
David eats takeout food with Charlie.
Charlie talks to David. David communicates back by barking.
They decide to travel to David’s old city where he lived
EXT. STREET- NIGHT
TE 3: Winter comes and it gets very cold one night. David snuggles up to Charlie to keep each other warm. Charlie keeps drinking to stay warm. David wakes up shivering and Charlie has died, leaving David on the streets again.
INT.GRANDMA MAY’S HOUSE- CHISTMAS DAY
Mayla, Kai, and Diane are spending Christmas with David’s mother, May. May says she wants to see the kids more, and that she can help out if she needs help. Etc.
EXT. STREET-DAY
David goes through a dumpster looking for food. A STORE OWNER yells at him, tries to beat him with a broom to make him go away.
Act 3:
EXT. STREET- DAY
TE 4: David sees his kids walking down the street with their mother and her boyfriend. David tries getting their attention. The kids stop to pet him and they want to keep him, but Mayla doesn’t let them. She puts the kids in the car and drives off. David tries to keep up and he can’t.
INT. MAYLA’S HOUSE- DAY
Mayla calls animal control and claims a pitbull attacked her.
Mayla and the kids are packing boxes to move in with Greg.
Diane says she wants to move in with Grandma instead.
EXT. CITY STREET- NIGHT
David gets picked up by animal control. He’s so mild tempered, they dont think he’s the right dog.
He gets sent to an animal shelter.
EXT MAYLA’S HOUSE- DAY
The kids load the last of their things in the car. Greg drives the truck ahead of them.
KAI opens the window and sticks his arm out as they are riding to their new house.
INT ANIMAL SHELTER- DAY
David is adopted by a scruffy looking man, JIMMY (40)’s
INT. JIIMY’S CAR- DAY
David recognizes some of the streets from his previous human life.
Flashback of human David driving down the same streets.
Jimmy tells David he’ll be a good fighting dog
David and Jimmy arrive at a rundown looking house in the country. There’s lots of barking heard from behind the house. Jimmy puts a collar on David and tries to take him to the back of the house. There are dogs in cages in the back. David struggles to get away, and bites Jimmy. Jimmy lets go, adn David runs away. Jimmy pulls out a gun, shoots, and misses. David keeps running.
MAYLA AND GREG’S HOUSE-NIGHT
KAI comes home with a black eye. Some kids beat him up after school. Mayla tells him it’s because he should learn how to fight back and not be like his father.
It’s becoming harder for her to keep her secret that she’s abusing her kids.
MONTAGE
Flashback of Human David driving down certain streets and seeing different street signs.
Dog David passes the same streets on foot from day to night.
This goes back and forth between human David and dog David
EXT. DAVID AND MAYLA’S OLD HOUSE- NIGHT
TE 5: David finds his old house, but it’s empty and for sale. He picks up his kids’ scents, and tries to trace them.
He seems to lose the scent in the driveway, but keeps sniffing around. He picks up a scent and follows it.
Act 4
EXT. GREY AND MAYLA’S HOUSE-NIGHT
David finds the new house. Mayla and Greg, her new husband, are having an argument. Greg storms out of the house. Mayla puts the kids to bed and gives them benadryl and packs a bag. She plugs in a bunch of things to an outlet and several power strips and starts a fire. She walks out the door and David bites leg and growls, ferociously. Mayla runs, leaving the door open. She gets in her car and drives off.
TE 6: David goes into the house and wakes up Kai, Kai brings himself and Diane out a window and David is trapped inside. Firefighters arrive, and pull David out of the house, but he’s unconscious. They try to revive him. After a couple minutes he wakes up.
EXT. MOTEL- DAY
TE 7: Mayla is arrested for multiple charges and is put in jail.
EXT. REMAINS OF GREG AND MAYLA’S HOUSE-DAY
Reporters stand outside covering the news. David is recognized for being a hero. Kai and Diane get to keep him and they all live with their grandmother.
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Lesson 7 – Beat Sheet, Speed writing
AMERICAN MAO
OPENING
ACT 1
EXT. URBAN AREA – DAY
Anti-gun protest. FRAN, mid 50’s, shouts out slogans while law enforcement pays for volunteer gun-owners to turn in their guns. We see there’s a scam going on where the collected guns are being recirculated out the back door.
SANDY, late 20’s, approaches with a group of revolutionaries. He asks Fran to help retrieve something from his van, which she does, unwittingly. We see they know each other when she reminds him to remember his anger issues.
Sandy and the revolutionaries, spying a cross in the distance, toss their bombs there. Instead of a church it’s a Taco Bell. Tacos, chips, refried beans and workers fly through the air. Sandy and revolutionaries brandish guns and shout Communist jargon in celebration. Sandy gives Fran a thumbs up. She’s shocked, saying “I thought this was peaceful.”
INT. FRAN’S HOUSE, SUBURBIA – NIGHT
Placeholder – see Fran’s very nice suburban house, meet her daughter RUTH, early 30’s, and son-in-law, perhaps a younger son. See the son-in-law made a killing from trading in guns for a local gang and getting paid multiple times for them. Daughter a party girl?
INT. COURTHOUSE – DAY
Fran tells a Judge she didn’t realize what was happening. She’s innocent. Anyway, “Taco Bell is a capitalist corporate bloodsucker anyway.” Judge agrees and dismisses her because of her good intentions.
Sandy and his revolutionaries take over the courthouse, but now it’s a huge army. They kill the Judge and declare the People’s Republic of California (PCR) is now in charge. Fran is mortified and says something like “maybe I should’ve reported him to the police.”
INCITING INCIDENT
EXT. FRAN’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Sandy and Army move in with trucks, floodlights, bullhorns, announcing everyone is to leave their homes. Can take one bag. Sandy yells at Fran, ”it’s happening, just like I told you.”
They point guns at Fran and make her leave her house. She objects, saying “but I’m black.” Sandy says “you live in a white supremacist zip code. So, you are one of them.”
She grabs her mother in law’s silver and her cat. Staring down the guns, she turns to Sandy, “I thought you were against guns?” She smirks.
The Army separates her from her family. Ruth, her husband and brother are taken in a different truck. Fran pleads to stay together but Sandy says “families are no longer allowed. It’s against policy.” They are piled into trucks and taken away.
EXT. TURLOCK RANCH – DAY
Trucks unload Fran and her neighbors near the cows and the slaughterhouse. Cows eye them. Fran reassures them, “I’m vegetarian.” It stinks and there are flies everywhere.
Sandy and the Army steer them toward farmhand huts. They “liberate” the farmhands, who cheer, say Adios and jump on the trucks. Sandy: “You’re going to live in a beautiful home.” Farmhand: “Do you have Netflix?”
Fran and the neighbors object and question Sandy. “This is just temporary, right?” He says, “How long did the Cultural Revolution last in China?” Some professor says after awhile, “After 20 million died.” The group screams and tries to run back to the truck but one of the Army shoots a woman and injures her. Sandy: “it’s for the cause, you dirty elitist pigs. This is resettlement for re-education.”
ACT 2
INT. HUT-TURLOCK RANCH – DAY
Fran wakes up, crammed into small, dirty hut with 8 other people – 3 sets of bunk beds. She falls from top bunk, injures knee. Releases her cat to chase rats. Someone says, “what did we do to deserve this?” “we’re white” – they all look at Fran and she says “wrong zip code.”
Fran tries to buy into the experience…says it’s to give us a taste of how our struggling workers live. Good to help open our eyes. Develop empathy and appreciation. Learn a new skill set. Think of it as camp.” Everyone looks at her skeptically. One neighbor says, “I’m sure my dad will be happy he spent $200,000 on my medical education so I can shovel shit.” Fran, ever the optimist and therapist says, “Let’s make the best of it.”
INT. RANCH SLAUGHTERHOUSE – DAY
Fran and others, sweating. They eye the cattle. Fran says “Just so you know, I’m a vegetarian.”
A Revolutionary Cadre Leader (former accountant) directs them, spouts numbers, quotas, performance metrics. Fran says, “But what are we supposed to do?” Cadre Leader says “Did you think cows poop hamburgers? Line ‘em up and execute them.” Fran objects and secretly releases cows from fenced in yard. Cadre shoots at her feet and makes her retrieve them from dung-filled fields.
INT. HUT – NIGHT
Fran holds a group therapy session, using her “Socialist for Dummies” manual to train the group in socialist jargon. They question the dictates. She tells them to face their white guilt and get over it. Sandy joins them, uses a white board and puts an X through white people. Doctor says “as in exterminate us?” Sandy: “Oh no, just take away everything of value from you, make you real workers and eliminate you from leadership positions. You’re dust.”
When Sandy leaves, the group disintegrates and starts complaining and whining and beating up on each other. Fran tries to counsel them in traditional therapist manner but it’s all ludicrous.
Suddenly, the room is smoke bombed. Sandy and the Army have been eavesdropping on them, knows their every word. Punishes them by making them sleep outside with the cows, “like the animals that you are.”
EXT. FEEDLOT – DAY
PRC troops come into to increase force an increase production (there’s a backlog and people are beginning to starve). But they make their point by pepper spraying the cattle with bullets, killing cattle and a few people in the process. “Get it?”
INT. SLAUGHTERHOUSE – NIGHT
Carcasses come through on an assembly line. A few workers try to cut them up a lot Lucille Ball, but there’s a back-up. No one knows what they’re doing. They review a large chart showing animal parts of cow. Doctor tries to help. Doesn’t work. Finally, they just throw the whole bodies into the back of the trucks.
EXT. FANCY CITY RESTAURANT OR GROCERY STORE – DAY
Trucks arrive and dump whole cow carcasses. Workers pissed and unsure what to do. None of them know what they’re doing, they’re all IT workers.
MIDPOINT – TURNING POINT
INT. HUT – NIGHT
Fran calls daughter – “where are you?” Ruth tells her she’s living in a ghetto near their old house, over the hill. Ruth reveals to Fran that she’s pregnant. Fran is so excited, “I’m going to be a grandmother.” But Ruth tells her the Commandant said they have to abort. Fran asks if she wants that. She’s not sure, but has no choice. Abortion is set for ____ date in future (5days?). Ruth says “maybe it’s the best thing since who wants to bring kids into the ghetto.” Fran says, “look we can go home, have the baby.” Ruth shows her a video of their home overrun with 3 Mexican families now living there, taco trucks in driveway, low riders cars in neighborhood, Madonnas gracing every tree, wet clothes drying on shrubs, homes now painted paint and turquoise, strumming Mexican musicians, gangs roaming around with the guns from scene one. Ruth, “we can’t go home.”
ACT 3
INT/EXT. SLAUGHTERHOUSE OR FIELD – DAY
Fran whispers with friend “I’ve gotta get out of here.” Friend, “but how?”
EXT. SLAUGHTERHOUSE – DAY
Fran and group digging ditch.
INT. HUT – DAY
Fran and the group hunting for something.
EXT. HUT – NIGHT
Guard notices something sparkling in grass. He sees Fran’s piece of silver and goes to retrieve it. He picks it up then notices another in the distance, goes to pick it up, eventually falls in shit ditch they dug.
Fran takes remaining silver set, the steak knives, and jumps in bus. She drives out of there with a neighbor friend, and they head toward Oakland.
EXT. REMOTE FIELD – DAY
Friend trains Fran on tossing knives at scarecrow. They shoot a rat and eat it?
EXT. MERCED – DAY
Their bus breaks down. Counterrevolutionaries (underground group) threaten Fran and friend. But they identify as counterrevolutionaries, too. They challenge her and say “you’re black, how is that possible?” Fran says “wrong zip code.” “How racist.” They help them to continue on their way to Oakland.
EXT. SLAUGHTERHOUSE – DAY
Sandy arrives, learned about Fran’s desertion, tortures hut-mate who reveals where Fran has gone and why.
EXT. I-5 OR HWY 99 – DAY
A line of trucks of revolutionaries in hot pursuit of Fran and friend.
EXT. MERCED – DAY
Counterrevolutionaries get word of pursuing revolutionaries, set up intersection with banner of Mao and Marx. Sandy thinks they’re being welcomed. But shoot out ensures. Guns, bombs, etc. One of the counterrevolutionaries throws a gun to Fran and a samurai knife to her friend. They escape, by way of motorcycles?
EXT. GHETTO – DAY
Fran watches from afar as PRC health van picks up Ruth and son-in-law. Cuffs them and drives off.
EXT. URBAN STREETS – DAY
Fran and friend follow the van to Hospital or clinic.
INT. PCR PRECINCT – DAY
Fran shows up, spouts a lot of Communist jargon and convinces them she’s with the revolution. She demands they replenish her supplies (guns.). They comply and she gets guns.
INT./EXT. ABORTION CLINIC – DAY
Fran breaks into clinic. Points gun at Doctor, “release my daughter.”
Sandy and revolutionary army break in with a tank and military aviation support, guns in hand. There’s a stand-off. Fran drops gun but stabs Sandy with steak knife. Fran’s friend (the doctor?) takes the sumarai sword he was given and fillets a few of the troops into tenderloins, chops, etc. just like on diagram at slaughterhouse.
EXT. ABORTION CLINIC – DAY
Fran, the doctor set off bombs and Ruth and her husband escape with Fran.
EXT. NEVADA STATE LINE – NIGHT
Fran, doctor, Ruth and son in law stopped by a truck, looking just like PRC truck. Frightened. But learned it’s full of nice folks who offer to take them to the hospital.
INT. HOSPITAL – DAY
Ruth gives birth to a baby girl. Doctor asks her race “Black, white?” They say “who cares, she’s beautiful.”
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Ying’s High Speed Beat Sheet
What I learned was that the big changes and Transformational Events are left for Act 3 of a Four Act screenplay. This is later than I have previously had them.
Act 1: 25 to 30 pages — Set up and see Old Ways.
Opening: Introduce us to the lead characters in action. Show us the Old Ways as their natural way of being.
Tutor (Chinese) wanders away from the fortified city of Maoming into the jungle during a full moon where he is surrounded by wildlife. He is dressed in an ungainly maid’s uniform performing kata that looks like a dance. Ting and Long (both 11) spot Tutor and leave Ying (9) behind to play with her doll to capture Tutor. Tutor is about to commit suicide. Tutor surrenders easily and is tied to a tree at the boys’ hideout. The boys are suddenly attacked by a tiger, but Ying who secretly followed them jumps out and throws her doll at the tiger hitting it on the nose. This surprises the tiger for a moment, just long enough for Tutor to escape and distract the tiger just as it is about to attack again. As the tiger leaps to kill Tutor, it is shot with arrows mid-air by Benli and Yan tribe chiefs and the children’s fathers.
TE 1- Ying literally throws away her doll to participate in more warrior like pursuits
Set us up for the journey that starts with the Inciting Incident.
Tutor is asked to teach the tribe’s children. Ying is an eager learner and even asks to learn the katas Tutor was doing in the Opening. Ying is taught by her father (Benli) to be both an excellent archer and sword fighter at the tribe’s ancient redoubt that has been neglected from lack of use. Transition to 8 years later.
Emperor tries to impose taxes on the tribe. Benli scoffs and tells the emperor that he should be the one taxed! Sun attacks farming village killing the inhabitants and setting the fields on fire. Benli ambushes Sun and runs them off, but he loses warriors.
TE 2- Ying starts to open herself to people and ideas outside the tribe.
Inciting Incident: This is the call to go on the journey. It creates the opportunity to live outside the box and take on the New Ways.
Benli wonders whether it is worth the fight. Tutor tells Ying there could be benefits to peace, and Ying recommends her father try it. The two symbols of tribal leadership are a sword and jade necklace. Benli gives the sword to Ting and the necklace to Ying. He suggests to Ying that she might make a good leader, but leaves his chosen successor open.
TE 3- Ying realizes that there are other ways of doing things besides the tribe’s Old Ways.
Turning Point: Lock in the journey. There is no going back from here.
Benli agrees to a peace treaty and meets with Sun, but is ambushed and murdered by Sun. Ting, Ying, and most of the warriors barely escape with their lives.
TE 4- Ting is thrust into a new world with no father to guide her decisions and her tribe in crisis.
Act 2: 20 to 30 pages — Challenge the Old Ways.
Reaction: They are now outside the box. It is uncomfortable, maybe unbearable. But the Hero can’t go back. They must move forward in some way.
Ting and Ying take over the leadership of the tribe, despite being young.
TE 5- Ying must up her game. She now shares leadership of the tribe with her brother, but he is only into Old Ways that have not been working.
The Plan: They struggle, flail, and try the first plan that comes to mind…which will quickly fail.
Ting and Ying lead their tribe against a stronger Sun force using guerilla warfare. Tutor suggests learning to think like their enemy, Ting refuses but Ying begins to learn. Ying suggests they refurbish the ancient redoubt and this is done. Ting and Ying both scoff when Tutor suggests allying with Feng Rong the governor of Maoming believing all Chinese to be the same.
TE 6- Ying starts making independent suggestions for the tribe that are independent of Ting. But, they are still Old Ways.
With every step, they use their Old Ways, but they don’t work. Those Old Ways are challenged from lightly to heavily.
Ting and Ying learn of a tax shipment that will both deal Sun a major defeat and bring the tribe much needed funds. They take all of the tribes warriors except a few of the youngest. The tax shipment is just a decoy to tie up the tribe’s warriors. Sun’s main force attacks the tribal village. Ying leaves to save the tribe while Ting disengages the warriors from the tax shipment battle. Ying rushes back to the village. The tribe has retreated to the redoubt. Ying saves the day and when the warriors return they help defeat Sun’s force.
Remember, all it takes to challenge the Old Ways is to simply have them not work. You don’t need to have the characters lecture them or directly spell out their Old Ways in dialogue. For now, just create a list of attempts to solve the problem or to make themselves feel better… then have those actions fail or make things worse.
Turning Point 2: MIDPOINT:The journey is still moving in the same direction, but the meaning has changed in a big way that shifts reality.
It could be any of these:
The forces of antagonism are 10 times bigger than we thought.Reality has changed (The Matrix). We’re through the looking glass.The whole first half of the movie was a con.They discover who has been betraying them.Everything they based their success on is wrong!
Whatever shift you choose, it completely disrupts the Hero’s reality.
TE 7- Ying has won the battle with her preparations of the redoubt, but the tribe’s village is burnt to the ground… She is losing the war.
Act 3: 20 to 30 pages — With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways.
This Midpoint changes everything.
This is an important part of the Hero’s transformation.
A. They have multiple insights into why things weren’t working.B. They see that the Old Ways won’t cut it anymore.C. They must up their game, which means they must change!
New Plan: Now, the hero creates a new plan and pursues it. With that, they embrace the need to change.
This could involve training sequences, bringing on new partners, or taking actions they never would have taken during the first half of the movie.
Ying now embraces Tutor’s suggestions. She reluctantly meets with Feng Rong. She learns Tutor’s katas can be used in fighting and starts practicing this application of the katas. She thinks the movements too slow and not sure how they can help, but then Tutor shows them how they can be used. Ying is amazed. She befriends surrounding tribes.
Turning Point: The “All is lost” or “lowest of the lows” moment where everything has failed.
Ting feels the recent defeat of Sun’s forces is a golden opportunity for the tribe to attack Sun. Ying does not challenge Ting’s idea, but thinks it is not a good idea. The attack fails terribly and Long is killed. The tribe is in full retreat. Ying has a bad feeling. She smells a trap. Ying sends a scout that races ahead of the retreating tribe. Ying stops the tribe’s warriors at a junction while she waits for the trap to be confirmed. Ting resists but Ying persists until the scout returns.
TE 8- Ying begins to see how she is able to lead and even a better leader than her brother and his Old Ways.
Act 4: 25 pages — Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways!
With Turning Point 3, the Protagonist embraces a new way, which gives them a fighting chance in Act 4.
Climax: The Test. This is the ultimate expression of the conflict. Face to face with the Antagonist for the ultimate fight! This is an impossible situation that the Hero can only win with the change they have made in their lives. It is the ultimate expression of the New Ways.
Ying leads the tribe through a ravine that will be a death trap if her alliances fail. The constriction keeps Sun’s overwhelming forces limited to the fighters in the front. Ying who has always fired arrows from the back of the battle lines now leads the fight with the combination of her old fighting skills and her new kung fu skills. Her alliances not only hold previously enemy tribes come to their assistance. Her new fighting technique breaks the enemy’s line.
TE 9- Ying takes over the leadership of the tribe and proves her new approach is the key to success.
Resolution: The change has been made or tested. We now see the new status quo of the Hero.
At the victory celebration, Ting acknowledges Ying as the best leader for the tribe and bequeaths the family sword.
TE 10- The tribe recognises Ying as the best leader of their tribe.
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Ed’s High Speed Beat Sheet.
What I learned doing this assignment is as Hal mentioned more creative process when the focus is not on what’s missing or not working but more on what is known. Surprisingly more than I thought! Free flow writing I added hints of dialogue, although that’s not part of the lesson, best I note it before I forget.
HIGH SPEAD BEAT SHEET: DRAFT ONE 9/26
Act 1:
SUPER:
A SINGLE ONLINE POSTS: @HENRYPLOVES TOYS- WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? #TOYS, #CHRISTMAS, #HOTTOYS, #PELZNICKELTOYS
Slowly replies pop on the screen, faster, and faster, overlapping. As fast as they started they fade away. The COMMENTS, LIKES and SHARES are underwhelming.
INT. PELZNIKEL TOYS FULFILLMENT CENTER – DAY
Opening – HENRY, 12, wanders through his family’s toy companies fulfillment center. Despite the activity around him his attention is to his phone. He demands attention but gets none. He carries little weight despite being the son of the owner.
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – FLOOR – DAY
Conveyors, forklifts carts, buzz of energy. employees wear santa hats, christmas light necklaces. Elf Ears, Toy orders picked, packed , scanning. Follow a package traversing the network of conveyors
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – OFFICE – DAY
FRANK PELZNIKEL – 40’s , owner , and GEORGE, 50’s, accountant , watch over the floor, concerned more than excited. Business is not robust. A drone buzzes past the window.
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – FLOOR – DAY
Henry Henry flying a drone . Not paying attention he wanders in front of a forklift. The driver jerks away into the sortation belt. Crash – the operation comes to a grinding halt.
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – OFFICE – DAY
Frank and George watch Henry on the floor- Frank – I’ve told him to stay off the floor. Pick’s up a walkie talkie – Get my son off the floor,NOW..
INT. PELZNIKEL FULFILLMENT CENTER – OUTSIDE OFFICE – DAY
enry outside off overhearing arguement on order delays. Christmas will be a mascre for those not delivering. Frank , George and another man is a florecent vest agrue over the state of the business – not good, should have gotten into online sales earlier, bonus not paid, man enters – we’re cutting you off, nothing leaves here until we’re paid. Got to work in Henry overhearing this.
INT. FULLFILMENT CENTER – OFFICE – DAY
TE1 – Henry jumps on a computer terminal – posting Pelznickel will deliver everyone’s toys by Christmas – Guaranteed! – @Henrylovestoys, #SantaSucks, #SantaEpicFailure, #Santanonbeliever.
INCITING INCIDENT . Imagery of post sharing , liking, and popping up across the country.
INT. FULLFILMENT CENTER – OFFICE – DAY
Stern looking man and a sheriff enter office – shut down Pelznikel Toys for unpaid bills.
INT. CONTROL ROOM – NIGHT
A series of monitors, lights, a flashing beacon- List of toy companies , Pelznikel Toys, Close Up , mouth and headgear – Pleznikel Toys has gone off line. A crooked smile unkown origin.
INT. FULLFILMENT CENTER – OFFICE – DAY
Frank worst day – reacts to what Henry has done – Henry’s Promise furious – Why don’t you do something useful! Direct Henry his mother needs his help.
INT. SHOPPING MALL – DAY
Henry DEJECTED wanders mall past prime days long gone – closed shops, cheaps stores – PELNIKEL TOYS – Hi MOM – CAROL PELZNIKEL – Get’s a hug. Phone PINGS – Henry what did you do? Honey you can’t make promises you can’t keep. You’ve put us in an impossible situation.
INT. SHOPPING MALL – SANTA CASTLE – DAY
Lonely Santa – no kids – Locking Up. despite the lack of attention the Santa acting genuine. Henry nothing to loose makes his wish. What do you want for Christmas, Henry ? How you know my name ? Henry – made a promise I want to keep it. SC- most kids ask for toys – H – Most kids dont ruin a family’s legacy. I know a little something about legacy. If you believe your wish will come true, then it will. Here – text for a chance to win a trip to the NP. Henry POV the NP is tacky set up. Santa’s got to stay up with the times. TE#2
INT. PELZNIKEL HOME – HENRY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Muffled arguments from downstairs. Phone PINGS – text -‘Window” Neighbor – MARCUS, thick glasses, Dude, what you do? Henry’s optimism vs Marcus reality. Before going to bed Henry text the message from Santa’s card.
EXT. NIGHT SKY – NIGHT
Twinkling stars, Snow gently swirls, jingle bells in distance coming closer. Christmas lights flicker. There’s magic in the air.
INT. HENRY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Henry’s in deep sleep. There’s a THUMP somewhere above him. Then another, load enough to wake Henry. He stumble from bed, checks the hall, all is quiet. Another thump. He opens the window, no Marcus. He hear jingle of bell from above.
EXT. PELZNIKEL HOME – ROOF – NIGHT
A magnificent beast, a reindeer, splendid, turns toward Henry, nods implying for Henry to GET ON.
INT. HENRY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Henry scramble to change. Throws a backpack. Leaves phone on night stand.
EXT. HENRY’s ROOF – NIGHT
The beast snorts and stomps. Breath steam from nostrils. Henry climbs on it’s back. The reindeer leaps into flight. Henry screams in delight.
EXT. HENRY’S BEDROOM – ROOF – NIGHT
INT. ROCHELLE’S BED ROOM – NIGHT
ROCHELLE, Neighbor, 12, secret admirer. The commotion awakens Rochelle she, looks out the window, see a blur of Henry and Reindeer. By the time she gets his glasses on – GONE.
EXT. SEATTLE SKYLINE – NIGHT
Henry and reindeer zoom across the sky diving and climbing among the buildings. Henry shouts a whoo! Circles the Space Needle and are gone into the darkness framed by the moon.
INT. HENRY’S ROOM – DAY
Soft knock at the door – MOM enters, searches calls – No Henry – Text phone – PINGS on Table . Runs out -down the hall – FRANK!
EXT. NORTHPOLE – DAY
The reindeer circles a castle atop a ice mountain. Waterfalls, crystals. WONDER. Henry – No way!
INT. NORTHPOLE CASTLE – REINDEER PADDOCK – DAY
Reindeer lands – EIGHT oak, Mahagony Stalls line the Hallway. Henry Climbs off. He walks outside the other beast, all magnificient. ENTER – SAMWISE – Old STABLE ELF, he got wheel barrel, shovel. Grumbling about Christmas. The reindeer. THERE YOU ARE. Out for a midnight run? Heards the animal back into the stall. Turns to find a STUND HENRY. WHO ARE YOU? Youw want to get me fired? H- You’re an ELF? You’re a human? Not polite – Dude. V Voices – Quick, get in. Henry get’s in Wheel Barrell covered by a blanket. Dialogue getting the sleigh ready for test run. TODAY SAMWISE – Testy Exchange pushing Samwise. You know he does’nt like to be kept waiting. SW-Okay kid spill it, who you working for? Pelznikel Toys – I knew it. I won a tour. Hands over the card. Mistake?
INT. NORTHPOLE – WORKSHOP – DAY
Samwise leads Henry through tradtional workshop. ELF’s Hard out work making toys – For show only.
Henry wanders off – pushes through a hidden door into….
INT. HENRY’S HOUSE – DAY
Police – notepads – Frank & Carol Plus Rochelle’s parents – What did Rochelle see? Really can’t say. Heard anything – Yeah Bells – Jingle Bells? Okay kid. Is this realted to his posts? Any threats?
INT. NORTH POLE – OFFICES – DAY
Henry emerges from gthe hidden door into a corporate offices – cubicles, conferences rooms, the buzz that comes from two days before Christmas. GIANT COUNT DOWN CLOCK, He wanders through – ELFS too busy to notice. SEE – NP Melting relocation plan (find acronym)
INT – NORTH POLE OFFICES – CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
VICE PRESIDENT ELFS – POWERPOINT. ALFREDA is speaking. Data analysis of social media positive results. Voice in the darkness, at what cost, ALFREDA? – All heads turn to SANTA CLAUS – KRIS to the inner circle. Red suite blue jeans – causual shoes. Topic – Negative Posts
INT. NORTH POLE OFFICES – DAY
Samwise catches up to Henry. Qucik disguise-elf hat pulled down low, a vest. Through the glass conference room the two are spotted – Kris taps on the glass, motioned to come in. SW – Don’t say a word.
INT. CONFERNCE ROOM – DAY
Samwise and Henry – enter. Henry sees his posts on the conference room screen!
Dialogue with Santa about sleigh ready and new navigation system. Henry in AW nad surprise of Santa’s Appearence. Ready to go. Welcome to the NP…? Henry, KRIS – Henry.
Who is this? Winter Intern. Alfreda – I started in the stables as well, and look at me now. Henry only nods and smiles. Alfreda sense of recognition but from where???
INT. NORTH POLE OFFICES – DAY
Samwise hustles Henry out of there before anymore questions. I don’t know who you are but your not getting me fired I got one more Christmas to go. Nine Days to go to retirement. I got a pension to worry about.
INT. REINDEER PADDOCK – DAY
The paddock is empty – reindeer are gone. Samwise goes to get Henry a ride home. Henry wanders off. Samwsie returns with a old animal of somesort.Henry? Kid wanders off more than a penguin.
INT. NORTH POLE – AIRSTRIP – DAY
On the strip -there it is- Sleigh and Reindeer. It’s impressive deep red and gold. The reindeer, obedient, magastic. Henry – WOW. He marvels at it. Samwise finds him. Kid – get away from there! Henry climbs up into the sleigh. SW – No , No No. SW jumps in the back. Henry takes the REINS – No not the before he can finish the sleigh whooh is off, Samwise nearly thrown off. He climbs back on. The sleigh circles the castle.. TURNING POINT ACT 1
INT. NORTH POLE CONFERENCE ROOM
Through the glass windows, Kris attention is drawn outside – the other VP’s follow his look. They jump out of their seats watch the sleigh swoop towards the window, it going to hit before it zips away.
INT. SANTA’S OFFICE – DAY
The panic room, ELF rushing about trying to get the sleigh back. Tech ELF – I don’t understand – it’s not responding. FIX IT! ALFREDA – Powerplay – Not yet. Let’s not panic – yet. Old Sleigh – no reindeer. Let Johnathan and his team do their jobs.
EXT. NIGHT SKY – NIGHT
With Henry at the reigns the sleigh bobs and weaves about barely under control. Samwise yelling instructions, Henry’s failing at it. Land it!
EXT. TOP OF SEATTLE SPACE NEEDLE – NIGHT
The sleigh lands – H & SM – Do you know what you’ve done? Borrow it , got something to do. SW-You don’t know these people. Dialogue about Alfreda & helping Santa regain popularity. Henry’s PLAN.
ACT 2
INT. PELZNIKEL TOYS FULLFILMENT CENTER – NIGHT
NEW PLAN GOAL – Get these toys delivered!! Big overhead door raises, Rochelle is there? Or Later? closed up – quiet – the sleigh arrives pulls in and lands. Rochelle is amazed. Who’s that? SW I was an ELF up to now. Need to load up the pending orders. Start by hand until SW introduces some magic.
Voice – technically those belong to the bank. H-technically noted, Let’s ride.
NOTE – WHEN TO GET ROCHELLE BACK INTO STORY
INT. NORTH POLE – SANTA’S OFFICE – DAY
THE TIME LOCK – COUNT DOWN CLOCK TO CHRISTMAS -SC – I’ve never missed a Christmas. To Alfreda. – I can’t let that happen. SC – any ideas to my sleigh back?
INT. LOCAL TV WEATHER PERSON STUDIO – DAY
Weather person finds Henry on Radar – Texts – ALFREDA !
EXT. SUBURBAN ROOF TOPS – NIGHT
Henry and Samwise busy delivering Pelznikel Toy orders. Stop for SELFIES – POSTS!
EXT. ROMANTIC SETTING – NIGHT
TE5 Henry finds and deals with the fact his neighbor Rochelle has a crush on him. Is she on a roof, does Henry see her? Signal?
INT. ALFREDA’S OFFICE – DAY
MIDPOINT TURNING POINT Alfreda pulls up the “NAUGHTY LIST” sends out a video message via a ZOOM like meeting. A – Christmas is in jeopardy like never before. Stop Henry Pelznikel! All Cost
EXT. LOCATION – BLANK SCREEN – DAY
Another explosion of posts, comments, shares, Henry Pelznikel wants to destroy christmas – must be stopped!!
EXT. MOUNT RUSHMORE – NIGHT Via Rochelle’s Phone – HENRY DISCOVERS HE’s HATED – NOT LOVED – DEstroyer of Christmas? WHAT? TIME CLOCK – sleigh back in time for christmas – But I’m not finished! Halfway to go. SW- Get the sleigh back, rest the reindeer load it up and HOOEVES UP Christmas eve. SW- HAS A WATCH-COUNT DOWN.
EXT. LAS VEGAS STRIP – NIGHT
TE – Henry’s gaming knowledge Billboards filled with Henry’s & SW images. SW- Alfreda , now were fisnished. First encounter with the Naughty List intervention & Escape. Fire rcokets snares off top of Vegas resort. Kid hanging on a rope, droped into pool or fountain. ACTION SCENE!
Act 3:
EXT. BEAUTIFUL LOCATION – SLEIGH – SKY – NIGHT
RETHINK EVERYTHING
Rethink everything – TE8- New plan-Henry accepts the real reason he was brought to the North Pole and Santa’s secret mission for him to save it. Henry discovers the beauty of the outdoors. Questions SW on what the acronym means – regards melting NP and relocation. HP- Can’t have Santa’s NP in ATL.
EXT. LOCATION – NIGHT
Henry launches counter message using Rochelle She sent away with news – North Pole is melting needs to relocate. How and where?
INT. LOCAL NEWSROOM – DAY
News flash – the North Pole is melting. Seeking relocation assistance. Cities are in a frenzy.
EXT. CLEVELAND – DAY
Mayor giving a pitch on relocation. Cold, windy, barren. Northcoast of America.
INT. TEXAS GOVERNOR’S OFFICE – DAY
Texas governor , surrounded by cowboy hat wearing aides gives his NP pitch – long as they don’t bring their NP values to TX.
EXT. FLORIDA – DAY
Bright sunny Florida Pitch – we got snow birds we take elves.
INT. NORTH POLE OFFICES – DAY
Santa’s watching TV reports of NP relocation pitches. He is suiting up. Expects the sleigh back. Questions Alfreda about how this news was leaked?
INT. ALFEDA’s OFFICE – NIGHT
Idea is hatched – yes of course why not think of that before.
EXT. TOP OF SAINT LOUIS ARCH – NIGHT
Turning Pint HUGE Failer – The Sleigh lands – a light snow begins to fall. The Reindeer paying close attention to it. Alarms Samwise – he knows something is up. Of course – Snow Flake Messenger. SW-Kid you got to set the SLEIGH go. Henry is about to, except only sets the reindeer free. SW- Goes with them. You’ve done all you can. Henry does, the sleigh rocks and slides down the arch – CRASH!
Act 4:
EXT. SAINT LOUIS ARCH – NIGHT
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict – TE9 Alfreda and Henry battle on top of the Saint Louis Arch for the sleigh
PLACE HOLDER Bridge abandoned Henry to North Pole saving plan
EXT. NORTH POLE – DAY
Henry watches as – Thousands of flying animnals all species, fly around the NP, faster and faster, creating wind, forcing away the warm air bring cold and snow back.
EXT. NORTH POLE – DAY
Christmas morning – Santa’s sleigh return to North Pole shocked to see it frozen once again.
INT. PELZNIKEL TOYS FULFILLMENT CENTER – OFFICES – DAY
Resolution TE11 HenryHenry does not take credit for saving the North Pole despite it would restore his reputation and gain millions of followers Santa & Henry resolution over Christmas meaning You made a differnce millions Henry. How about a selfie – No thanks.
EXT. NORTH POLE – DAY
Alfreda – posting the her plan saving to millions of followers , then hits DELETE.
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