Save the Cat Beat Sheet template
Use a visual Save the Cat beat sheet template to map 15 screenplay beats, structural mirrors, and Act Two pressure before drafting.
Best for: Commercial genre films and screenplays with a clear protagonist arc.
What to map first
Put these beats down before you write the scene list. The order matters less than the connections: what causes what, what mirrors what, and where the story changes direction.
- 1Opening Image
- 2Theme Stated
- 3Setup
- 4Catalyst
- 5Debate
- 6Break into Two
- 7B Story
- 8Fun and Games
- 9Midpoint
- 10Bad Guys Close In
- 11All Is Lost
- 12Dark Night of the Soul
- 13Break into Three
- 14Finale
- 15Final Image
Place the 15 beats on the canvas before writing scenes.
Draw links between mirrored beats, especially opening image to final image.
Check whether the B story changes the protagonist before the finale.
Best fit
- Feature screenplays
- Commercial genre stories
- Writers who need a clear Act Two roadmap
Watch for
- Can feel mechanical if every beat is treated as a rule.
- Needs adaptation for ensembles and passive protagonists.
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