How To Write A Beat Sheet For A Screenplay - Paul Chitlik

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Paul Chitlik has written for all the major networks and studios in English and in Spanish. He was story editor for MGM/UA'S "The New Twilight Zone," and staff writer for Showtime's sitcom "Brothers." He has written features for Rysher Entertainment, NuImage, Promark, Mainline Releasing, and others. He has directed episodes and been coordinating producer for “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol” and “U.S. Customs Classified.” He wrote and produced “Alien Abduction,” the first network movie shot on digital video for UPN. He wrote, produced, and directed “Ringling Brothers Revealed” a special for The Travel Channel. (He had been a roustabout for Circus Vargas years earlier.) Most recently he wrote, produced and directed “The Wedding Dress,” for Amazon Prime. He received a Writers Guild of America award nomination for his work on "The Twilight Zone" and a GLAAD Media Award nomination for "Los Beltrán,” a Telemundo show. He won a Genesis Award for a Showtime Family movie. He has taught in the MFA programs of UCLA, the University of Barcelona’s film school ESCAC, Cuba’s film school EICTV, Chile’s film school UNIACC, The University of Zulia in Venezuela, The Panamerican University in Mexico City, The Story Academy of Sweden and as a clinical associate professor at Loyola Marymount University. Now writing full time again and living near his grandson in Chapel Hill, NC, with wife, Beth McCauley.

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[filmcourage]

Thank you Shawn for supporting Film Courage and for sponsoring this video!

[filmcourage]

We think Paul shares a lot of great info on beat sheets in this video. We hope it helps you and your process.

[Sims]

Paul shares great information in this clip. I agree with him about treatments and beat sheets preventing writer's block. I wrote an outline with a "beat sheet" that helped me write my first book in 2019. The process was enjoyable, I currently have multiple projects in development.

[JamieEvansBooks]

I've been a loyal viewer of this channel for 11 years now. My first video I watched was about screenwriting, and ever since then, I've been hooked. I must say, out of all the writing videos I've watched, this interview series with Paul Chitlik stands out as the most exceptional. It's incredibly informative and easy to grasp, making it the top choice for me. As I work on my third novel, I'm implementing the techniques from this video, and I'm confident that it will make for a smoother writing process compared to my first two novels. I'm grateful for this video and for Paul Chitlik's fantastic insights.

[Shamsulrosunally]

I had the privilege of taking Paul's MFA class at UCLA in 2006. His class was the one that every student knew they had to take. The front heavy structure of beat sheet writing is so incredibly valuable for anyone who wants to learn to write quickly. I can testify his class was absolutely terrifying. Perhaps his approach is not the most organic but if you want to generate pages then there's nothing faster. I still use Paul's method to this day and I highly recommend his way of writing.

[matthewpaul]

Beat sheets alleviate the "why?" and the "how?" in your story because you've already hammered that out.

[soft]

Thanks film courage, being an independent screenwriter for the last 7 years, I have done treatments but never beat sheets, thanks to this video, now I see its value.

[augustosandino]

Smart advice. Thank you for saying this. It's hard to deal with writers who don't have a methodology worked out

[faa]

Beat sheet helped me improve my storytelling💯

[ratemyactors]

Great video! Paul Chitlik breaks down the beat sheet process in a clear and concise way. I've been struggling to get the hang of this screenwriting technique, but Paul's explanation made it all click into place. Thanks for sharing your expertise!

[ccwoodlands]

So many people think they can just wing it and have the story work out. I’ve done this and it’s a disaster! Paul is 100% correct!

[mickeyaugrec]

Moscow On The Hudson! By the great Paul Mazursky. Excellent vlog as always - thanks Film Courage!

[BrianCouch-un]

'Thanks' Paul... for explaining beat sheets. I never knew what the term meant until you explained it... although I've done it as part of my process for a long time. Today, 'thanks' to you, I did a short beat sheet for an essential scene I've been chasing in the dark.

Brian Couch

[Khatoon]

Thank you for wonderful channel I learn terms and idioms with every video you posting screen play is written work for film , tv show or other moving media, that expresses movement action, dialogue of characters . Beat sheet in film is simple document that outlines your entire story from first act to final image . Mr Paul chiltik is American author, tv film writer, producer, director.

[chrismartin]

For the first several minutes he just repeats himself continuously on how important a beat sheet is. Finally at 6 minutes in, he gets to the meat of this video's title and magnificently and succinctly explains exactly what a beat sheet is. Then at 9:35 he then says, "A beat sheet should have 3 elements in it. 1. Who's there. 2. Where they are? and 3. What's the conflict." - Genius!

[Upploadz]

Film Courage, you read my mind. Been looking for a beat sheet interview. 👍🏿

[OJR-vsfg]

Thanks Paul and FC. Great instruction.

[RaulRomero-udkj]

Excellent perspctive and strategies, thank you! 💪🏻

[BêReynaud]

I once entered a flight to the wrong country. I visited a volcano for the first time. I think it's amazing to enter a journey without knowing its destination.

[apocalypsetedium]

Great video! Moscow on the Hudson, is the Robin Williams film.