Beat (film)

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A beat is a term used to describe the timing and movement of a film. When used within a screenplay it usually represents a pause in dialogue. When used to discuss the timing of a film a beat refers to an event, decision or discovery that alters the way the protagonist pursues their goal.

[edit] Beats as pacing elements

According to some schools of film theory, beats are specific, measured and spaced to create a pacing element that moves the progress of the story forward. Uneven or erratic beats will be felt by the audience as either slow - usually the most forgettable or often tedious parts of a film - or stretches of film that jolt the audience unnecessarily. Every cinematic genre has a beat that is specific to its development. Action film has significantly more beats (usually events) while drama has fewer beats (usually protagonist decisions or discovery). Between each beat a sequence occurs. The sequence is often a series of scenes that relates to the last beat and leads up to the next beat.

In most American films the beat will fall approximately every five minutes. Following is a beat example from The Shawshank Redemption:

At 25 minutes: Andy talk to Red and asks for rock hammer. - Decision

At 30 minutes: Andy gets rock hammer. - Event

At 35 minutes: Andy risks his life to offers financial advice to Mr. Hadley. - Decision

At 40 minutes: Andy notes ease of carving his name in the wall. - Discovery

At 45 minutes: Mr. Hadley beats Bogs severely. Event

After each beat above a significant series of results takes place in the form of the sequence, but what most people remember are the beats, the moment something takes place with the protagonist.

[edit] Beats in a screenplay

When the term beat is used in a screenplay it usually refers to a pause in dialogue. This is used to show readers of the script that a moment passes without any character speaking. For example, this scene from the American film Fargo:

                               VOICE
               Things have changed.  Circumstances,
               Jerry.  Beyond the, uh ... acts of
               God, force majeure...
                               JERRY
               What the - how's Jean?
               A beat.
                               CARL
               ...  Who's Jean?
                               JERRY
               My wife!  What the - how's -