Key Takeaways
1. Craft a compelling logline to hook your audience
A good logline must have, the single most important element, is: irony.
Irony catches attention. A logline is a one or two-sentence pitch that summarizes your movie's concept. It should include four key elements:
- Irony: An emotionally intriguing hook
- A compelling mental picture: Implying the entire movie
- Audience and cost: Indicating tone, target audience, and budget
- A killer title: One that "says what it is" cleverly
An effective logline allows you to quickly communicate your movie's essence to producers, executives, and potential viewers. It's your first opportunity to grab their interest and make them want to know more.
2. Understand and leverage movie genres to structure your story
Give me the same thing… only different!
Know your genre. Snyder identifies 10 movie genres that encompass most films:
- Monster in the House
- Golden Fleece
- Out of the Bottle
- Dude with a Problem
- Rites of Passage
- Buddy Love
- Whydunit
- The Fool Triumphant
- Institutionalized
- Superhero
Understanding your movie's genre helps you structure your story effectively and meet audience expectations while finding ways to innovate within the genre's framework. Study successful movies in your chosen genre to learn the rules and find opportunities to subvert them creatively.
3. Create a relatable hero with a primal goal
Primal, primal, primal!
Make it universally relatable. Your hero should:
- Offer the most conflict in the situation
- Have the longest emotional journey
- Be demographically pleasing
- Have a primal goal (survival, hunger, sex, protection of loved ones, fear of death)
Create a character that audiences can identify with and root for. Use adjectives in your logline to describe both the hero and the antagonist, highlighting their conflict. Ensure that the hero's goal is clear, compelling, and primal, resonating with basic human desires and fears.
4. Use the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet for effective screenplay structure
The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet (The BS2) is here to help.
Master the 15 beats. The BS2 provides a structure for your screenplay, breaking it down into 15 key moments:
- Opening Image
- Theme Stated
- Set-up
- Catalyst
- Debate
- Break into Two
- B Story
- Fun and Games
- Midpoint
- Bad Guys Close In
- All Is Lost
- Dark Night of the Soul
- Break into Three
- Finale
- Final Image
Each beat occurs at specific page numbers in your script, ensuring proper pacing and story development. Use this structure as a guide to craft a well-balanced, engaging narrative that hits all the necessary emotional and plot points.
5. Visualize your story using "The Board" technique
The Board is perhaps the most vital piece of equipment a screenwriter needs to have at his disposal — next to paper, pen, and laptop.
Plan before writing. The Board is a visual representation of your screenplay:
- Divide a board into four horizontal rows (Act 1, Act 2a, Act 2b, Act 3)
- Use 40 index cards to represent scenes
- Include on each card:
- INT/EXT and location
- Basic scene action
- Emotional change (+/-)
- Conflict (><)
This technique allows you to see your entire story at once, easily rearrange scenes, and identify potential problems before you start writing. It's a powerful tool for plotting and refining your screenplay's structure.
6. Apply immutable laws of screenplay physics to enhance your script
Screenwriting is like solving a puzzle over and over. You get faster with practice.
Learn the rules to break them. Some key laws include:
- Save the Cat: Make your hero likable early on
- The Pope in the Pool: Creatively deliver exposition
- Double Mumbo Jumbo: Limit magical elements to one per movie
- Laying Pipe: Don't overload with backstory
- Keep the Press Out: Maintain focus on your main characters
Understanding these "laws" helps you craft a more engaging, believable story. They provide guidelines for common screenwriting challenges and help you avoid pitfalls that can weaken your script.
7. Identify and fix common screenplay problems
Is it primal?
Check for these issues:
- Inactive hero: Ensure your protagonist drives the action
- Talking the plot: Show, don't tell
- Weak antagonist: Make the bad guy badder
- Flat plot progression: Accelerate and reveal as you move forward
- One-note emotion: Use the full emotional color wheel
- Indistinguishable characters: Give each a unique voice and traits
- Starting too late in the character's journey: Take a step back
Regularly assess your screenplay for these common problems. Ask yourself if each element serves the story and resonates on a primal level. Be willing to make significant changes to strengthen your script.
8. Market yourself and your screenplay effectively
Every Sale Has a Story!
Build relationships. To sell your screenplay:
- Develop a list of potential agents and producers
- Make personal connections when possible
- Attend film festivals, classes, and industry events
- Consider creating a personal website
- Be persistent but professional
Remember that selling yourself is as important as selling your script. Focus on building long-term relationships in the industry. Be helpful, considerate, and always ready to pitch your ideas. Keep refining your approach and don't get discouraged by rejections – they're part of the process.
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FAQ
What's "Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need" about?
- Comprehensive guide: "Save the Cat!" by Blake Snyder is a comprehensive guide to screenwriting, offering insights and techniques for both novice and professional screenwriters.
- Focus on structure: The book emphasizes the importance of structure in screenwriting, providing a detailed breakdown of the elements that make a screenplay successful.
- Practical advice: It includes practical advice on creating compelling loglines, developing characters, and understanding genre conventions.
- Industry insights: Snyder shares insider knowledge from his own experiences in Hollywood, making it a valuable resource for aspiring screenwriters.
Why should I read "Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need"?
- Proven methods: The book offers proven methods and techniques that have helped many screenwriters succeed in Hollywood.
- Accessible language: Snyder uses accessible language and humor to make complex screenwriting concepts easy to understand.
- Real-world examples: It includes real-world examples and case studies from successful films to illustrate key points.
- Career advancement: Reading this book can help screenwriters improve their craft and increase their chances of selling a screenplay.
What are the key takeaways of "Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need"?
- Importance of structure: A well-structured screenplay is crucial for success, and Snyder provides a detailed beat sheet to guide writers.
- Creating compelling loglines: A strong logline is essential for pitching a screenplay, and the book offers tips on crafting one.
- Character development: The book emphasizes the need for relatable and dynamic characters that drive the story forward.
- Understanding genre: Knowing the conventions of different genres can help writers create more marketable screenplays.
What is the "Save the Cat" method in screenwriting?
- Hero's likability: The "Save the Cat" method involves creating a moment early in the screenplay where the hero does something likable or relatable to gain audience sympathy.
- Audience connection: This technique helps establish a connection between the audience and the protagonist, making them more invested in the story.
- Practical examples: Snyder provides examples from films like "Aladdin" to illustrate how this method can be effectively used.
- Controversial yet effective: While some may find it formulaic, the method is widely regarded as an effective tool for engaging audiences.
How does Blake Snyder define a "logline" in "Save the Cat!"?
- One-sentence summary: A logline is a one-sentence summary of a screenplay that captures its essence and hooks the audience.
- Four key components: Snyder emphasizes that a good logline should include irony, a compelling mental picture, a sense of audience and cost, and a killer title.
- Importance in pitching: A strong logline is crucial for pitching a screenplay to agents, producers, and studios.
- Examples provided: The book provides examples of successful loglines to help writers craft their own.
What is the "Blake Snyder Beat Sheet" and how is it used?
- 15 beats structure: The Blake Snyder Beat Sheet is a 15-beat structure that outlines the key moments in a successful screenplay.
- Guides storytelling: It serves as a roadmap for writers, ensuring that their screenplay has a solid structure and pacing.
- Detailed breakdown: Each beat is explained in detail, with examples from popular films to illustrate their importance.
- Universal application: The beat sheet can be applied to any genre, making it a versatile tool for screenwriters.
How does "Save the Cat!" address character development?
- Hero's journey: The book emphasizes the importance of a hero's journey and the need for characters to undergo significant change.
- Primal goals: Characters should have primal goals that resonate with audiences, such as survival, love, or revenge.
- Adjectives for clarity: Snyder suggests using adjectives to clearly define characters and their motivations in the logline.
- Archetypes and originality: While acknowledging common archetypes, the book encourages writers to put a fresh spin on characters to avoid clichés.
What are the "Immutable Laws of Screenplay Physics" according to Blake Snyder?
- Save the Cat: The hero must do something likable early on to gain audience sympathy.
- Pope in the Pool: Bury exposition in an interesting scene to keep the audience engaged.
- Double Mumbo Jumbo: Avoid introducing more than one piece of magic or suspension of disbelief in a story.
- Laying Pipe: Be cautious of overloading the screenplay with too much setup or backstory.
How does "Save the Cat!" help with understanding genre conventions?
- 10 genres identified: Snyder categorizes films into 10 genres, each with its own rules and conventions.
- Genre-specific advice: The book provides specific advice for writing within each genre, helping writers meet audience expectations.
- Examples from films: Snyder uses examples from successful films to illustrate how genre conventions can be effectively employed.
- Encourages innovation: While understanding genre is important, the book also encourages writers to innovate and put a fresh spin on familiar tropes.
What are some of the best quotes from "Save the Cat!" and what do they mean?
- "Give me the same thing… only different!": This quote emphasizes the need for originality within familiar story structures, encouraging writers to innovate while respecting genre conventions.
- "The hero has to do something when we meet him so that we like him and want him to win.": This highlights the importance of making the protagonist relatable and likable to engage the audience.
- "What is it?" is the name of the game.: This underscores the importance of a clear and compelling logline that captures the essence of the screenplay.
- "It's not enough for the plot to go forward, it must go forward faster, and with more complexity, to the climax.": This quote stresses the need for increasing tension and stakes throughout the screenplay to maintain audience interest.
How does "Save the Cat!" address the rewriting process?
- Identifying problems: The book provides guidance on identifying common issues in a screenplay, such as inactive heroes or flat dialogue.
- Practical solutions: Snyder offers practical solutions for fixing these problems, including making the bad guy badder or ensuring every character has an arc.
- Emphasis on structure: The importance of revisiting the screenplay's structure during the rewrite process is emphasized.
- Encouragement to persevere: Snyder encourages writers to persevere through the rewriting process, as it is a crucial step in crafting a successful screenplay.
What marketing and pitching advice does "Save the Cat!" offer to screenwriters?
- Crafting a killer logline: A strong logline is essential for pitching a screenplay, and the book provides tips on creating one.
- Understanding the market: Snyder emphasizes the importance of understanding the market and tailoring pitches to meet industry needs.
- Networking strategies: The book offers advice on networking and building relationships with agents, producers, and other industry professionals.
- Innovative pitching: Snyder shares examples of innovative pitching techniques that have successfully captured the attention of Hollywood executives.
Review Summary
Save the Cat! receives mixed reviews. Some praise its practical advice on screenplay structure and marketing, finding it useful for both screenwriters and novelists. Others criticize Snyder's formulaic approach and dismissive attitude towards unconventional films. The book's tone is described as both engaging and overly self-assured. While many appreciate Snyder's insights into Hollywood's workings, some question his credentials given his limited produced screenwriting credits. Despite its flaws, many readers find value in the book's straightforward guidance on story structure and industry navigation.
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