2013 Post 4- Beats

Beating is a Hollywood term for beating out an idea, a beat being when something occurs that moves along the plot. A short film will ideally have around 8-12 major ‘beat’s during the story so I have researched these in order to create my own for my short film. Below are examples of the type of Beats you may see in a film:

1. Introduces the environment the film will be set in
2. Introduces the main character
3. Introduces the problem
4. Shows how the main character chooses to solve the problem
5. The main character experiences a major set back
6. The main character is almost defeated
7. The main character rejects a solution to the problem
8. The main character discovers their own solution/or not

I looked at the beats in a short film called 'Paperman':

1. Introduces a train station as the environment and the film is set in a city
2. The main character is the man in the suit holding papers
3. The problem is introduced as the man not being able to reach the woman he met
4. His solution is to fly paper airplanes to her
5. The major set back is that the planes do not fly far enough
6. The main character is almost defeated as his boss tells him to stop
7. The main character does not want to stop
8. His own solution is to leave his job to follow after the woman but he loses her
9. The main character is almost defeated again as he gives up
10. The resolution is that the planes bring the two together in the end

From this I have planned the beats for my short film logline:

1. The environment is in the Swedish mountains
2. The main character is introduced
3. Introduces the problem being that Pappa is stranded
4. His solution is to try to start the car
5. The major set back is that the car does not start
6. Pappa is almost defeated by the harsh weather and wild animals
7. He does not want to give up
8. Pappa discovers he can follow the star at night
9. The resolution is that the star leads him safely back home to his family