Learning THIS Story Structure Changed My Screenwriting Career - Christian Elder

[@osw330904]

I feel the word “beat” is the most ambiguous term in all of screenwriting and filmmaking

[@user-vw6xp5nl6t]

Beat me to it

[@jackalkin6757]

@@user-vw6xp5nl6t Nice pun

[@markparkinson6947]

@@jackalkin6757 I know, right? Perfect punchline.

[@Thenoobestgirl]

That is so true

[@Thenoobestgirl]

@@user-vw6xp5nl6t get out lol

[@rockazar5436]

Thank you, Christian, for sharing your time and insights on story! Thanks Film Courage for bringing these interviews with pros to share with us. The efforts and variations on these themes is very much appreciated. I recognized the amount of work and prep required to bring these conversations to us and the information presented is precious for those who recognize it. The variety of speakers is pretty great as writers can hear variations on ideas and find the gold nuggets that resonate with them.

[@dulceypicante122]

I think creating a logline for each beat of the story (whether you use this 12 beat structure or something else entirely) is brilliant. Seems really obvious but it’s never occurred to me to do that.

[@filmcourage]

Guess you will have to test it out and see if it helps your process.

[@yorkipudd1728]

It certainly helped me to headline scenes in a quirky way: Bob pushes Claire off the cliff and everybody gasps. I also imagine a trailer, as discussed in another video, which helps me balance comedy/action/dramatic beats to hook the viewer in different ways. I have 90 seconds to grab your attention so visualise what scenes/lines/shots will show narrative and also create a reaction that makes my story be one you mentally note and want to see. Create a puzzle, put two pieces together in the trailer, and hope they want to see the whole jigsaw finished.

[@morningcoffee1111]

@@yorkipudd1728 do you remember which video that was?

[@yorkipudd1728]

@@morningcoffee1111 sorry, not without searching myself, but it was marketing based, not script craft. If I find it I'll reply.

[@NIKONGUY1960]

Life goals: be good enough to be interviewed by Film Courage.

[@mrcanarsie]

I think you just have to be breathing

[@rebeccaoliver7977]

@@mrcanarsie , different interviews resonate with people differently. So many factors weigh in -- experience, what's on our mind at the moment, the project or problem with which we're struggling. I've heard an interview and didn't get much from it only to hear it again a year later and find valuable meaning. I'm appreciative Film Courage took the chance on firing up this YT channel. This collection of interviews makes an incredible contribution to capturing what is on the minds of filmmakers at this point in history.

[@MOPFACE]

Life goal: interviewing Karen from Film Courage. She's probably heard more about writing than any single person who's been on the other side of the camera

[@GopalChatterjeeezioisgod]

Thanks

[@filmcourage]

Awesome, thank you Jacob's Lair! We appreciate you supporting this channel. Love that you are finding value here.

[@GopalChatterjeeezioisgod]

@@filmcourage You guys are my Film School, it is the least I can do, to be of service. Thank you. :)

[@filmcourage]

Thank you again! Is there is anything you would like to know more about? We may have video recommendations if we have already covered it.

[@GopalChatterjeeezioisgod]

@@filmcourage not at the moment... i have been archiving your videos into my library to get a better understanding of screenwriting, how to pitch to Netflix, golden rules and many more subjects, for the time being, Y 'all have done enough videos for me to study, if something comes up, I will definitely let you know in the comment section of your next video. Once Again, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, and keep up with such excellent, eye opening Knowledge drop videos.

[@filmcourage]

Cheers! We'll keep doing our best. And wishing you the best with your work.

[@ComicPower]

I really liked the EKG analogy. It made a lot of sense.

[@nesm2831]

I needed this direction badly. Thank you for posting this!!

[@filmcourage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Andrea-nom]

My big take was - find what is necessary for the story. Don’t overload the scene. I think the title of this video is a taaaaad misleading.

[@filmcourage]

Hi Andrea, thank you for your comment. We agree that this title is not quite right, please let us know if you have any suggestions.

[@Andrea-nom]

For me it was about Feeling the Story and finding your voice. The speaker spoke about his inspirations. One of his favorites taught him about the nuances of ones own writing. It the beats - because those are generic but the spaces in between. So maybe a title about finding once’s own style and voice.

[@waywardsuol]

if you have audible, Portrait of the Artist is included in the subscription

[@krepes8685]

Personally, I’ve found using Save the Cat generally useful for planning out my screenplay for my pilot. Beyond that, when I get writing, it generally just flows how I feel, and some ideas may change causing future plans and scenes to change. I feel flexibility is good, but a solid beat sheet can help you get off the ground.

[@concernedcitizen7385]

Great interview. Great content... and as someone who has also had a lifelong battle with a stammer, I really appreciate Christian’s effort here. 👍🏽🙏

[@ellenlewitt]

The funny thing is, as a musician, I totally get what Elder is saying when he describes the things expressed and what you "ff-ee--ee-ll" in-between chords. So why can't I use that analogy to understand the concept of the beat?

[@SCx4]

What he's saying about Monk's music and the space between beats reminds me of Hemingway's Iceberg Theory.

[@ianhtexas]

🍻 The music analogy is spot on. 🎶 I don’t think the spaces between the beats have ever really been like charted or mapped, diagramed or named or whatever lol.

[@dcgarrett68]

He says a lot without saying much.

[@shantelwithers758]

Alot of umms

[@hankbringhamsome9694]

AN INTERESTING WAY FOR A SCREENPLAY THAT I DEFINITELY SEEN IT LIKE A ZEENITH!!! THANK YOU & GOD BLESS YOU 🙏🏻🙏🏽🎚💯 LOVE IS LOVE 💫🤟🏼🎶♎

[@filmcourage]

How did you figure out your voice?

[@lonjohnson5161]

Still working on it.

[@SirHazeGaming]

The most goofiest things I put together from jokes and my flippant observations resonate with people the most.

[@choose2behappy699]

David Mamet is one of the best Author!

[@diegooland1261]

You lost me.

[@SuperBella7777]

I waste my time watching this tips. There is no tips here!

[@timharry5168]

Love this!!!?

[@damc8415]

You can edit out the first five minutes of this video and lose nothing.

[@AntonioSilva-ld4dq]

To me the beat is like a wave in the sea some are like those tubes where a surfer gets

[@therasbull]

Great summary

[@OneRising]

Thank you for finally interviewing some more People of Color in your channel!

[@filmcourage]

We always do our best. We encourage you to visit this playlist - bit.ly/3jxvEE3

[@lalbihari6663]

What is EKG??

[@rockazar5436]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnq9goWgoNyJb7M

[@rockazar5436]

The heart beat representation looks like the up and down pattern used to describe the plot.

[@soft8460]

???🤔 i see beats as points at which the mood and tone changes...

[@jasonhughes9653]

this helped me a lot. Thanks Christian and film courage :)

[@filmcourage]

Nice to hear that, thanks for sharing Jason. Our best to you and your work.

[@walkerstark4564]

Who are these people on this channel who are supposed to be such storytelling experts? What has this guy done? I'm not just being a dick, he sounds intelligent but what has he done to be able to impart such wisdom? I looked at his imdb it's pretty slim. Maybe he has some great screenplays being developed or in his draw I don't know. How about getting a Paul Schrader, Robert Towne, someone with a resume that's worth listening to ?

[@filmcourage]

Hi Walker, we found an interview with Paul Schrader. Maybe you will enjoy this one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iX6WXmdrqceXhrc

[@leonoradompor8706]

I am just an ant comparing to Hollywood filming.

[@Lark572]

JUST WRITE IT. Twelve best outline might drive you insane and keep you from getting it done

[@Lark572]

Meant to say beat not best obviously

[@BlackPhi1ip]

Agreed. I feel like any sort of structures or outlines help in rewrites, but at least for me all that matters is I get the story on the pages

[@melodymundy5985]

@@BlackPhi1ip so true! Just write the story and after a few table reads use or not the suggestions then do a beat sheet. Now you really know your story to make changes.

[@sidorovnikita8652]

That was nice to come and give his opinion but his tone and voice are so pretentious ... i just remembered the south park episode when everyone was driving hybrid cars.

[@juju10683]

People talk like that after speech therapy

[@Wordsley]

These Rock!

[@theonicommittee8402]

Very pretentious

[@User1billionnd1]

🤫🤫

[@rockazar5436]

The man shared his time and insight for the benefits of others. I’m grateful for his sharing.

[@nesm2831]

He knows more than most of us. Any advice or direction is highly useful.

[@juju10683]

Most people in film are highly highly pretentious