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filmgreatness
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Mike Rinaldi
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filmgreatness
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filmgreatness
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philrocks
Cat
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 Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: |
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I found Blake's 5 Point Finale once using search.
Couldn't find it a second time. But I copied it the first time!!!!
| Quote: | The Five-Step Finale
But in teaching Cat! classes these last two years (Happy Anniversary to those of you who began with me in Christmas 2005 — one of whom sold a big spec in 2007!), I realize I’ve had a little trick all along that I should have disclosed in the book. I call it “The Five-Step Finale.” And I use it all the time.
For those of you wondering how to end your story, and what needs to get done in Act Three, try this:
Think of every Finale in terms of “storming the castle.”
Step 1: The hero, and the hero team, come up with a plan to “storm the castle” and “free the princess” who is “trapped in the tower.”
Step 2: The plan begins. The wall of the castle is broached. The heroes enter the Bad Guys’ fort. All is going according to plan.
Step 3: Finally reaching the tower where the princess is being kept, the hero finds… she’s not there! And not only that, it’s a trap! It looks like the Bad Guy has won.
Step 4: The hero now has to come up with a new plan. And it’s all part and parcel of the overall transformation of the hero and his need to “dig deep down” to find that last ounce of strength (i.e., faith in an unseen power) to win the day.
Step 5: Thinking on the fly, and discovering his best self, the hero executes the new plan, and wins! Princess freed, friends avenged, Bad Guy sent back to wherever Bad Guys go when they are defeated (Two Bunch Palms?) — our hero has triumphed.
This 5-step sequence can be seen in Gladiator, Die Hard, Star Wars, and recently in Enchanted. But in truth it is the basis of many finales.
Or, think of it as “storming the stronghold.”
Step 1: The hero and his team come up with a plan to “storm the stronghold” and beat the Antagonist who is “hiding there.”
Step 2: The plan begins. The stronghold is broached. The heroes enter the Bad Guys’ realm. All is going according to plan.
Step 3: Finally reaching the stronghold where the Antagonist is hiding, the hero finds… he’s not there! And not only that, it’s a trap! It looks like the Bad Guy has won.
Step 4: The hero now has to come up with a new plan. And it’s all part and parcel of the overall transformation of the hero and his need to “dig deep down” to find that last ounce of strength (i.e., faith in an unseen power) to win the day.
Step 5: Thinking on the fly, and discovering his best self, the hero executes the new plan, and wins! The Antagonist is vanquished, friends avenged, and our hero has triumphed.
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This belongs under TOOLS where it is easier to find.
Phil
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filmgreatness
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Mike Rinaldi
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| For 87 examples of this, watch the last five minutes of every episode of "House."
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The Slusho's gone? Why is all the Slusho gone?
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John J. Austrian
Saber Tooth Tiger
Joined: 26 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:02 am Post subject: BS2x |
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Here is a version of the BS2 I pasted together to add the Five Step Finale.
I give you the unofficial Blake Snyder Beat Sheet Extended aka " the BS2x":
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THE BLAKE SNYDER EXTENDED BEAT SHEET
PROJECT TITLE:
GENRE:
1. Opening Image (1):
2. Theme Stated (5):
3. Set-up (1-10):
4. Catalyst (12):
5. Debate (12-25):
6. Break into 2 (25)
7. B Story (30):
8. Fun and Games (30-55):
9. Midpoint (55):
10. Bad Guys Close In (55-75):
11. All Is Lost (75):
12. Dark Night of the Soul (75-85):
13. Break into 3 (85):
14. Plan to storm Castle (85-90):
15. Enter the Bad Guys’ fort (90-95):
16. “It’s a trap!” (95-100):
17. “Dig deep down” (100):
18. Final Battle (100-105):
19. Wrap-Up/Denouement (105-110):
20. Final Image (110):
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"There's only one kind of woman...or man, for that matter. You either believe in yourself or you don't. -- James T. Kirk (TOS: "Mudd's Women")
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Rachel T.
Ocelot
Joined: 15 Jan 2008
Posts: 183
Location: Michigan
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Brooke
Bengal Tiger
Joined: 29 Dec 2007
Posts: 226
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Rachel T. wrote: | But aren't these the same as the beats we've already got, just with different names and different explanations of what they do?
"Enter the bad guy's fort" is the False Victory. "We're surrounded! It's a trap!" is the same as Bad Guys Close In/All Is Lost. "Dig deep down" = Dark Night of the Soul. Same beats. Same functions. Different explanations. Galaxy Quest is the only movie I can think of that squishes this all, a second time, into Act 3.
Am I the only one who's confused??  |
Yes, you are Rachel. j/k  John uses all the beats plus incorporates the 5 step finale. The 5 step finale is in Act III. Break into III is when the hero decides what s/he needs to do, and the 5SF is the hero actually doing it.
It fits my screenplay perfectly.
Plan to Storm the Castle: At 85 the heroine decides to beat up the bad guy. Then the "old sage" tells her "wisdom"(stuff she didn't know before), which gives her direction.
Enter the Bad Guy's Fort: The heroine gets to where she needs to go.
"It's a Trap!": UH-OH, who let the bad guys in? They weren't supposed to be here!
Dig Deep Down: After getting beaten up a lot, the heroine almost gives in, but decides to give it one last shot(synthesis).
Final Battle: Hurray! The heroine beat the bad guy!
Wrap Up and Final Image: Yadda yadda, blah-blah, etc., actually it's very cool.
Solid gold, John. Thank you.
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Rachel T.
Ocelot
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Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| I know John included them all into the Act 3/Finale, Brooke, I'm just not sure I see many movies actually doing this in Act 3. But I've seen a lot of movies where this seems to be the entire second half. Can you suggest any good ones, where this is very clearly shown (other than Galaxy Quest)?
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Don't be afraid to admit that inside you is a seething, fiery core of ambition and lust for success that would appall Napoleon.
-Russell Galen
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Brooke
Bengal Tiger
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Posts: 226
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Princess Bride
Indiana Jones
Star Wars
Matrix
X-Men
Shrek
Dodgeball
.... and a ton more...
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Brooke
Bengal Tiger
Joined: 29 Dec 2007
Posts: 226
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Most Bond movies, Aladdin, Back to the Future, Clear and Present Danger, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Jewel of the Nile/Romancing the Stone, Independence Day, Lord of the Rings/Return of the King, The Lion King, Ocean's Eleven, Robin Hood, Rush Hour, Sneakers, Superman, The Emperor's New Groove, Willow, The Three Musketeers, and on and on....
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Rachel T.
Ocelot
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Location: Michigan
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Brooke
Bengal Tiger
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I have a long weekend in front of the tv ahead of me. . .