How To Create A 12 Sequence Screenplay Outline and Why It Works by Gary Goldstein

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[@doylestatus]

I love the simple yet super effective advice "just make something happen every 10 pages". Solid advice.

[@LTUM]

i just caught what you did there lmao

[@cpjds1]

Would love to see a bunch of specific examples of movies and their 12 points.

[@juju10683]

Studio binder has a bunch but I think they use the save the cat beat sheet

[@reddjinn911]

Um... whoa... i watcged this and applied it to my current project and whoever is watching this... you have to at least try it. A warning: its not a fast process so be patient but by doing this I found so many pacing issues within my previous outline. Just try it :)

[@mychalsimmons4177]

Wow makes a lot of sense to me I like it. Reminds me of my way of songwriting.

[@PermaPen]

I'm an ex-systems designer, so naturally develop my stories the same way, all tight efficiency and not a stray word. I do feel, though, that it loses the wildness that a pantsing approach might bring. I have no great wild streak in me, but I like a wild garden - I think I have to go looking in there for answers.

[@coloaten6682]

A very good explanation of the process, makes it seem quite simple and highlights the benefits of doing an outline. Previously I didn't use this method but I will from now on!

[@thereccher8746]

Overwriting is fantastic! When you overwrite there's bound to be a gem in the muck. It's just a matter of getting rid of the muck.

[@titanfighter12]

I get overwhelmed in the muck, and then I lose passion for the idea...does that ever happen to you?

[@JohnClaxon]

I have a tendency to overwrite as well. But that's never a bad thing. Better to overwrite than not write at all. But, when in doubt, I always follow Hemingway's Golden Rule: "Write drunk. Edit Sober." Works for me :)

[@waylongaye5020]

I’m inspired!

[@einsteindarwin8756]

@@JohnClaxon Hemingway scares me because he died by suicide. I’m afraid to drink when I write for that reason.

[@monkeyattackedmyass5435]

@@einsteindarwin8756 Good thinking. No doubt it was the drinking while writing that killed him. Stay away from that and you'll be fine. 👍

[@einsteindarwin8756]

Best advice I’ve seen so far on this website about outlining. I can actually apply this to my career now.

[@krishna201107]

I am trying this. Most useful and most practical advice. Thanks so much

[@jag5798]

It exactly how I organize my own writing. Thank you for the verification!

[@bharathreddy7029]

Description on lens,,Camera, Computer,,lighting ,,Editing is so good,, thanks🙏😊

[@annharding9634]

For me, this is the best advice on the structure procedure I've heard yet & how formula shows in movies!!

[@thereseember2800]

This was one of your best videos! Thank you!

[@mychalsimmons4177]

Wow that makes so much since.

[@phxJohn2010]

I tried pantsing a story once. I hated it. The lack of focus and clear direction was frustrating. I outline everything. I like weaving plot and character together, so I outline in several passes. The first pass is just the major events of the story: what's happening? Then I look at those and ask who is making those things happen, and who are those things happening to? That gives me my characters. Then I look at how the events will change the characters and how the charaters will change each other, and I go back through the plot outline to fill in the rest of the plot points that will give me those other things.

[@mychalsimmons4177]

Karen I even love the Ads here the lady said do an exercise have the character write a letter to YOU..... simplicity is genius isn’t it?Awesome

[@rickburke4]

Makes sense if each sequence is 10 minutes or ( 6:10 two 5 minute storys for each sequence then thats 120 minutes also) so the ten minute sequences adds up to 120 minutes alsob but 2 5 minutes storys for each sequence is a much tighter story l would guess!

[@Tom_Roberts]

This is like the "Top Down" design method used by software engineers. It works and it's logical.

[@VintageAfro91]

This is perfect! Loving this channel :)

[@filmcourage]

We like this one a lot. Glad you discovered it.

[@VintageAfro91]

Thanks. I'm in the middle of condensing my feature outline down to at least 5 pages for this Universal Screenplay Competition. This method was perfect.

[@eddiebear34]

What does the 4 quarters look like? Especially if it's 3 acts. I'm not getting that part

[@vehementlyflat8503]

reminds me of Steve Carell

[@bringingsafetytothemasses7233]

Could we get an example of this process posted?

[@thereccher8746]

I write while I outline. And nothings out of bounds when I outline. Beats, internal weakness, arcs, sub-plots, goals, motivations, scene beats, theme, possible plot-holes, genre, genre beats, pacing etc.

[@ThePlaceForThings]

pretty brilliant. can’t wait to try it

[@mickeykelly5612]

I always outline my movies. It helps me to stay organized.

[@ricardomiranda7737]

I like this approach

[@MarkowskyArt]

Excellent advice! If you have a limited amount of time, starting with the structure simply makes sense. If you have the luxury of not having a deadline or someone else paying your bills, you can take all the time you want to work on your script/story!

[@joannkelly7994]

Thank you. God bless,

[@CriticalNerdTheory424]

Great advice

[@mychalsimmons4177]

I learned something right there!

[@LauraBCReyna]

This is pretty much the way I outline. I use a 12 sequence method that I developed myself. But I don't write out the story in prose at the beginning. Instead, I use an old fashioned "beat sheet". I list all the major events in the story chronologically. I hone/rewrite them, & they become my 12 sequences. Sometimes I cut the story down to 10 or 11 sequences, or expand them to 14. I try to stay flexible. 8 sequences have been popular w some ppl but IMO that is too slow a pace for modern 90 min to 2 hr movies.

[@lorrainetong3349]

Brilliant!

[@jcribbs5819]

Actually learned something. Thank you so much!!

[@filmcourage]

Great to hear, cheers!

[@60million5]

can i know he mean 3 sequences is that 3 act he meaning ?

[@SForte-cb3qw]

VERY helpful.

[@babylonkid]

Can someone edit this? I cant listen to this guy for more than a minute.

[@LTUM]

i agree his voice fades into static neutrality

[@Rohme.33]

This is good stuff.

[@chrissystewart6268]

My Question to you how many screenplays do I need to read how do outline it?

[@llluuubluetigers4838]

Just craft it. Right . I like this method.

[@CW-dl2dd]

Would this work for a TV pilot script?

[@stepanzarubin]

No example :(

[@llluuubluetigers4838]

Wow.

[@tartansinatra]

At 2:52 he says "those 6 scenes will be 8.5 pages." Is this an error, as previously he said each scene might be 10 pages, so a 12 scene movie is 120 pages (...and at roughly a page a minute, that's a 2hr movie.)

[@filmcourage]

Hi Stu, we don't think 10 pages a scene would be right. 1 to 2 pages per scene would probably be more accurate. We interviewed a screenwriter yesterday who said approximately 40 scenes in a screenplay (give or take 5 to 10 in either direction).

[@tartansinatra]

@@filmcourage Thanks for the reply! Yes, 40 scenes x 3 pages (at a page a min) sounds about right as a guide, which goes to show how those 20min scenes in Reservoir Dogs broke the mould!

[@chrissystewart6268]

My question was how do I outline a screenplay what's the steps? explain to me on outline a screenplay

[@jambocan1]

When he says "sequence" does he mean the same as "scene" ? He seems to use those words interchangeably.

[@jasonkeene9834]

I was a little unsure about that as well, but he actually said that he lists the sequences, and then a list of scenes that will comprise each sequence.

[@elgonzo5]

“Light-bulb.” -GRU

[@natm5224]

I didn't get it. If he's gonna say 12 sequences, he should say what he means by a sequence.

[@NIKONGUY1960]

The sign of a genius is someone who stumbles over his words. His brain is working so quickly, his mouth struggles to keep up. I didn't understand a word he said.

[@titusdiodoros1876]

What's the difference between a sequence and a scene?

[@alicesrabbit7126]

sequence is some kind of event that moves the story along, from what i gather. think of it as a bus shuttling the audience through the movie making stops along the way to show the story in pieces, bringing the audience to the final stop at the last sequence. each sequence can have one scene or several scenes. i would watch a movie you know really well and try to dissect it. type up a script for it. you will see the formula for yourself. in "the matrix," without being too exact (i'm just starting my first screenplay and have listened to a lot of these videos!): sequence 1: introduction to life in the matrix. how many scenes was that? sequence 2: neo gets summoned by morpheus. how many scenes was that? sequence 3: neo is offered the red or blue pill. how many scenes was that? this jolts the movie into the second act with a major turning point in the story after neo chooses the red pill. now, we really get into the story because the premise has been set up, properly. good luck, hope that helps!

[@titusdiodoros1876]

Thank you!

[@alicesrabbit7126]

no prob, i hope to watch whatever movie you sell on the big screen! :)

[@burntgod7165]

Seek out Paul Gulino's book about the sequence approach to screenwriting.

[@JrCrawfordGA]

Broadway?

[@Giovannix51]

my outline looks more like a rough timeline

[@USALibertarian]

Kind of confusing.

[@llluuubluetigers4838]

I'm done. I've created the tone I want for a drama. It's Soul Food/Color Purple/New Jack City/The Wood. Yes, I'm done.

[@BrandonNinja]

I hate outlines

[@OhioProductionss]

Didn't help me at all