Andy, it was my intention to offer one beat sheet (as an example) per each genre grouping, so that people will have an idea of what I’m talking about when I say that different genres are structured differently. Alas, I’ve been super busy! But will try to post more beat sheets in the coming weeks and months. Thanks!

Hi, check out my article on the types of beats. Ideally, when you’re outlining a script, each scene should contain one story beat and also one character beat (meaning, every scene moves the plot forward but also exposes character).

Scenes shouldn’t have more than one beat, because then you’re dumping plot, and the scenes can get very expository (a tendency for new writers).

That said, there can be many emotional reveals (or beats) within a scene, but they’re on the emotional level for the character. I don’t personally outline what the emotional beats are within a scene – well, other than the plot/character beats of the scene and perhaps writing a paragraph or two about that in a treatment or on a beat sheet before I go to page. If I outline what the major beats of the scene are, then I’ll usually be okay once I get to the page as to the character’s state of mind and the emotional reveals of the scene. I would say that in the outlining process (treatment or beat sheet), it’s only the major character reveal that you would include for any one scene and not every emotional turn needs to be outlined.

Within The Wedding Planner, any of the longer scenes (for example, when Mary meets Eddie/Steve at the park, there are many emotional ups and downs in that scenes, so there are several beats within that scene. However, for the purposes of outlining the story, it’s enough to know that this is their first date and an ‘almost kiss’ moment. The protagonist is smitten.

Or does each of these scenes have more than one beat, but it isn’t important to mark each little beat?

I guess I’m having trouble if each scene that is marked with the amount of time it takes to complete, is also just one beat. For instance can there be more than one beat in any one particular scene? Is there an example in the wedding planner, where one scene consists of many beats?

Thanks!