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In this blog post we are going to take a look at how scenes are constructed using beats.

The big important scenes in your screenplay are the ones that can be broken down into beats that closely follow the same three act structure as the overall screenplay.

As we know, strong scenes are composed of a protagonist locked in conflict with an antagonist. The tension rises as the protagonist (or antagonist) pursues their goal through rising conflict, followed by a midpoint twist, an all is lost moment, and then the climax.

These scene beats can be thought of in these terms:

Establishing

Call to Action

Big Event

Midpoint

All is Lost

Climax

Denouement

Each scene, therefore, is a mini movie in itself. For example, in Sideways the scene in which Miles and Jack meet Maya in the bar can be broken down like this:

Establishing—Miles and Jack enjoy a drink at the bar

Call to Action—Maya enters and Jack says hello

Big Event—Jack tells Maya they’re celebrating the publishing of Miles’s book

Midpoint—Maya asks them what they’re up to tonight

All is Lost—Miles says they’re going to crash

Climax—Maya leaves

Denouement—Jack berates Miles

In American Beauty, the scene in which Lester seduces Angela looks like this:

Establishing—Lester hears music coming from the family room

Call to Action—Lester finds Angela and they make small talk

Big Event—Angela says she had a fight with Jane… over him.

Midpoint—They kiss

All is Lost—Angela says “this is my first time.”

Climax—Lester can’t go through with it and covers her up

Denouement—Lester comforts her

Do your major scenes fit the three act beat structure? Re-watch the scenes in the above examples and / or read them in the actual screenplays to see how they work. Study your favorite scenes from your favorite movies to test the theory and then make sure your major scenes adhere to the same technique.