This is the most informative video on the writing process that I've seen. Because of you, I've ordered the book and subscribed to the Save the Cat software.
Jamie - this has to be the best lecture on screenwriting structure and character development that I have ever listened to. Character and plot go hand-in-hand and it's not either/or. Thank you so much for this invaluable advice. I bought and read Save the Cat seven or so years ago but this really brings everything together. I also live in the Mid-atlantic area so please let us know of any local workshops or events. Would love to say thank you in person.
This is brilliant and builds on Blake Snyder’s book in a most informative way. Also, it’s a great way to sell your books! You’ve managed to sell your books to this tight little Yorkshire Tyke and that really is quite an accomplishment!! 😂Thank you. Beginner writer here but I feel so much better armed with the right tools now. 👍🏻
I found this perspective on dissecting stories incredibly insightful and practical. Recently, I've been engrossed in the Blue Eyes Samurai animation, and it aligns seamlessly with this approach. However, I must admit, despite my admiration for such remarkable work, I harbor some skepticism about strictly adhering to formulas in creative processes. Could this potentially result in a proliferation of clichés throughout the narrative, akin to what we often observe in movies and series? So, I pose this question: is it really as simple as applying the principles of Save the Cat and adding a dash of flair to churn out a story? Could this be achieved in just a day? It leaves me wondering, are writers facing an inevitable demise?"
Hey Fernando! Thanks for checking it out. I believe cliches and same-ness are born from the answers to the questions and not the questions/prompts themselves. I come from a world of Improvisation... where we use prompts but the fun is the surprising way you complete the mission in a satisfying but surprising way. A way that has a unique 'voice' and 'spin'. I think cliches are often spun out of answering the same question with the same answers as similar movies... it's not the questions that are the problem, it's the answers. I have heard four movies off the top of my head that use STC -- How to Train Your Dragon, Dallas Buyers Club, Good Grief(Dan Levy's movie on Netflix), and Mean Girls... it's hard to watch any of these and see some emerging patterns. In fact, I bet if I showed you all of these films and then showed you Wall-E and Iron Man... you probably couldn't identify the Save The Cat-driven movies. It's because the voice/creativity is in the details. This is just the math, the process and even that has a lot of interpretation and wiggle room.
Hey Jamie, thank you so much for all the knowledge you dished out. I started becoming really interested in screenwriting months back. This is actually the second time I'm going through this webinar. I want to screen write but I read physics in school and can't go for a second degree. Where do i start from?
Many screenwriters are self-taught. There's a college degree worth of information online (or in books!). Get the basics down and just start writing. It takes awhile, so jump in right away. I used to write as a moonlighting gig (I was a software guy). After about 8 years of it I was making enough $$ to transition to fulltime writer.
This webinar is awesome and Mr. Nash seems like a very kind person. I wonder if he would be interested in doing a workshop for Brazilian professional writers. It would be high level experience for us here in Brazil.
Please note we are doing a webinar class with Jamie in the next few weeks as well - limited seats...savethecat.com/event/save-the-cat-beat-sheet-workshop-with-jamie-nash
Thanks so much! Nice of you to say. Love to do stuff for the international community! Had some writers from Brazil travel to an in person a couple of years back. Talk to the Save the Cat! people! Love to make something happen.
I seem to have a different potential log line for every time the stakes are raised for my character. At first she just wants to find out what happened to her missing sister but by the end she's facing forces of the elite powers of the world to keep her from ending the worldwide oppression of a set of false religions. Perhaps my scope is just too wide, but this is the story I want to tell. I bought your workbook. It's coming tomorrow. And actually, I'm having a lot of trouble with the flaw as well. I think it's that my main character is a fearful teenager with no power over her own life and needs to empower herself. Difficult to see the growth though. I fear she needs a less universal flaw. It's not really ironic like Liar Liar. Perhaps she's similar to Walter White in that way. Anyway, thanks for the tips! So far this has been the most helpful writing video I've seen on UA-cam. ❤
Hey there! The logline would have the stakes that are established at the Break Into 3. Stakes can/will get raised as the story goes on. The hardest part about the flaw is sometimes 'putting words around it'. That's why I included the flaw list in the workbook... but you can find other lists. See if they help. Sounds like your flaw is pretty universal to me. Good luck!
One of the greatest B stories is in Hamlet - meeting Polonius for real, and the refusal of Ophelia. Without that B story, the A story actually falls apart - doesn't work. Pretty cool!
Everywhere. Dropping exposition about world and magic systems in fantasy is one of the trickiest and most varied things. Some movies/stories give a big dump in a prelude...think LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. But most teach you on the fly. think Star Wars (scifi/fantasy)... it's teaching you about the world minute by minute. After a quick scroll, it dumps you in and shows you the world. There's spaceships, rebels, robots, princesses, Jedi's, light sabers, Clone Wars, Hyperspace... we learn on the fly. Similar with Game of Thrones TV show. We're dumped into the White Walker scenes. Move to Ned & family. We learn about wolves and politics and legends of dragons on the fly. Never do we really stop to say "here's the rules"... the scenes are constructed for us to learn on the fly. It's an art and it's not easy. But the less your readers notice the exposition the better.
How ‘bout this: Pathetic kid has no friends because he Thinks he’s pathetic but discovers his pathetic condition has certain super powers ; not only that he learns the core of what makes him “appear “ pathetic actually wins friends. B story: alien boy from planet Photon teaches “pathetic is good.” Turns out his whole planet has the same “condition “ as our kid hero, but it is what allowed a brilliant civilization to evolve. Now earth kid no longer thinks himself pathetic and now has a loyal friend, even though he is alien. Could this be a series? Because alien kid has finished his Science Fair Project studying human culture and is being called to return to Photon where his mom is sick. But he doesn’t want to go because of his new Earth friend. Oh no. B story has become A story. That’s what you get when you ask your characters What happens next?
This is the most informative video on the writing process that I've seen. Because of you, I've ordered the book and subscribed to the Save the Cat software.
Thanks CD!
I was just thinking the same thing. All this video does is make me want to spend my money on Save the Cat stuff. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you soo Much now i can understand the 15 beat sheet.GOD bless
Jamie - this has to be the best lecture on screenwriting structure and character development that I have ever listened to. Character and plot go hand-in-hand and it's not either/or. Thank you so much for this invaluable advice. I bought and read Save the Cat seven or so years ago but this really brings everything together. I also live in the Mid-atlantic area so please let us know of any local workshops or events. Would love to say thank you in person.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was awesome, Jamie. Just ordered your workbook. The guidance is exactly what I need. I’m a first-year screenwriting student at UC.
Just received my copy of “Save the Cat Beat Sheet Workbook”- I’m excited to get my script off and running!
Thanks! Can't wait to see what you do next!
This is brilliant and builds on Blake Snyder’s book in a most informative way. Also, it’s a great way to sell your books! You’ve managed to sell your books to this tight little Yorkshire Tyke and that really is quite an accomplishment!! 😂Thank you. Beginner writer here but I feel so much better armed with the right tools now. 👍🏻
Can this be used for novel writing as well?
Great question - yes, several novelists have been using the workbook to help develop their idea successfully
Fabulous webinar, you are a great teacher. Just ordered the book, cant wait to use it:)
Thank you Michael!
I found this perspective on dissecting stories incredibly insightful and practical. Recently, I've been engrossed in the Blue Eyes Samurai animation, and it aligns seamlessly with this approach. However, I must admit, despite my admiration for such remarkable work, I harbor some skepticism about strictly adhering to formulas in creative processes. Could this potentially result in a proliferation of clichés throughout the narrative, akin to what we often observe in movies and series? So, I pose this question: is it really as simple as applying the principles of Save the Cat and adding a dash of flair to churn out a story? Could this be achieved in just a day? It leaves me wondering, are writers facing an inevitable demise?"
Hey Fernando! Thanks for checking it out. I believe cliches and same-ness are born from the answers to the questions and not the questions/prompts themselves. I come from a world of Improvisation... where we use prompts but the fun is the surprising way you complete the mission in a satisfying but surprising way. A way that has a unique 'voice' and 'spin'. I think cliches are often spun out of answering the same question with the same answers as similar movies... it's not the questions that are the problem, it's the answers. I have heard four movies off the top of my head that use STC -- How to Train Your Dragon, Dallas Buyers Club, Good Grief(Dan Levy's movie on Netflix), and Mean Girls... it's hard to watch any of these and see some emerging patterns. In fact, I bet if I showed you all of these films and then showed you Wall-E and Iron Man... you probably couldn't identify the Save The Cat-driven movies. It's because the voice/creativity is in the details. This is just the math, the process and even that has a lot of interpretation and wiggle room.
btw, thanks again for watching and for such an insightful question! Appreciate it!
Excellent guide. Bought the book.
Love it! Thank you Kevin.
Hey Jamie, thank you so much for all the knowledge you dished out. I started becoming really interested in screenwriting months back. This is actually the second time I'm going through this webinar. I want to screen write but I read physics in school and can't go for a second degree.
Where do i start from?
Many screenwriters are self-taught. There's a college degree worth of information online (or in books!). Get the basics down and just start writing. It takes awhile, so jump in right away. I used to write as a moonlighting gig (I was a software guy). After about 8 years of it I was making enough $$ to transition to fulltime writer.
Excellent! I just ordered the book thanks to this great presentation!
Wonderful! Hope you enjoy it!
Love it!
Really enjoyed this video. My notebook looks like a mess, but its given me so many ideas.
If it's a mess you're doing it right.
So happy to hear this! If you're using the workbook send us pics!
This webinar is awesome and Mr. Nash seems like a very kind person. I wonder if he would be interested in doing a workshop for Brazilian professional writers. It would be high level experience for us here in Brazil.
Hi hi - happy to discuss this - please email jason.kolinsky@savethecat.com
Please note we are doing a webinar class with Jamie in the next few weeks as well - limited seats...savethecat.com/event/save-the-cat-beat-sheet-workshop-with-jamie-nash
Thanks so much! Nice of you to say. Love to do stuff for the international community! Had some writers from Brazil travel to an in person a couple of years back. Talk to the Save the Cat! people! Love to make something happen.
Great information 👍🏽
This was awesome. I'm definitely grabbing the book.
Hope it opens new doors! Let me know what you think.
This is great! I purchased a book for myself and two other family members.
Wonderful!
I seem to have a different potential log line for every time the stakes are raised for my character. At first she just wants to find out what happened to her missing sister but by the end she's facing forces of the elite powers of the world to keep her from ending the worldwide oppression of a set of false religions. Perhaps my scope is just too wide, but this is the story I want to tell. I bought your workbook. It's coming tomorrow.
And actually, I'm having a lot of trouble with the flaw as well. I think it's that my main character is a fearful teenager with no power over her own life and needs to empower herself. Difficult to see the growth though. I fear she needs a less universal flaw. It's not really ironic like Liar Liar. Perhaps she's similar to Walter White in that way. Anyway, thanks for the tips! So far this has been the most helpful writing video I've seen on UA-cam. ❤
Hey there! The logline would have the stakes that are established at the Break Into 3. Stakes can/will get raised as the story goes on. The hardest part about the flaw is sometimes 'putting words around it'. That's why I included the flaw list in the workbook... but you can find other lists. See if they help. Sounds like your flaw is pretty universal to me. Good luck!
Amazing! Thank you 🙏🏾
Make chapters 😢
One of the greatest B stories is in Hamlet - meeting Polonius for real, and the refusal of Ophelia. Without that B story, the A story actually falls apart - doesn't work. Pretty cool!
Thanks.
Love This!
Thanks Darren!
Wow, SO helpful.
If I am developing a fantasy story, where should I present the world and the world's rules?
Everywhere. Dropping exposition about world and magic systems in fantasy is one of the trickiest and most varied things. Some movies/stories give a big dump in a prelude...think LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. But most teach you on the fly. think Star Wars (scifi/fantasy)... it's teaching you about the world minute by minute. After a quick scroll, it dumps you in and shows you the world. There's spaceships, rebels, robots, princesses, Jedi's, light sabers, Clone Wars, Hyperspace... we learn on the fly. Similar with Game of Thrones TV show. We're dumped into the White Walker scenes. Move to Ned & family. We learn about wolves and politics and legends of dragons on the fly. Never do we really stop to say "here's the rules"... the scenes are constructed for us to learn on the fly. It's an art and it's not easy. But the less your readers notice the exposition the better.
“I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence” - Break Into 2, National Treasure.
🤣
Is it possible to buy itves an ebook?
Not yet. We've discussed a way to do it since it's so interactive. Hopefully one day!
Anyone with yellow spectrum blindness can’t use STC. They refuse to make it available in other colors. Oh well.
How ‘bout this: Pathetic kid has no friends because he Thinks he’s pathetic but discovers his pathetic condition has certain super powers ; not only that he learns the core of what makes him “appear “ pathetic actually wins friends. B story: alien boy from planet Photon teaches “pathetic is good.” Turns out his whole planet has the same “condition “ as our kid hero, but it is what allowed a brilliant civilization to evolve. Now earth kid no longer thinks himself pathetic and now has a loyal friend, even though he is alien.
Could this be a series? Because alien kid has finished his Science Fair Project studying human culture and is being called to return to Photon where his mom is sick. But he doesn’t want to go because of his new Earth friend. Oh no. B story has become A story. That’s what you get when you ask your characters What happens next?
I hate most of the books referenced in the book kind makes me hard to follow.