Screenwriting : BEATing my screenplay up. by Alan B. Cox

BEATs to a screenplay are like salt is to cooking. Use sparingly or you risk ruining the recipe.

What Anthony said. Sometimes you need a pause in dialogue and you don't want to add a line of action. There's nothing wrong with a handful of beats in a script.

Write em but folks in production don't pay attention to that stuff- beats, parentheticals, cut to, fade, smash cut, camera descriptions- all that directing on the page- gets skip over.

Your story do whatever makes it great. Just because bad writers use something, like direction, doesn't mean it cannot appear in great work. Concentrate on being the best YOU can be. There is no such thing as amateurish greatness.

I think it's a useful technique. I've used beats in dialogue very effectively to build tension and suspense between the characters and creating the atmosphere and emotion required within the visual narrative. The opportunity was seized but it was a delicate balance between the convention of dialogue and too much. It's like writing music at these times. Hitting the right notes and the sweet spot of of the beats. All constructed into the right tempo. I look at the opportunities that invite the beats not the beats for the sake of it.

Thanks for all the great comments. I'll keep the beat going.

(Parentheticals) mostly bloat line & page count. If I think a dramatic pause or thoughtful pause is really called for, I just add inline ellipses (...), but sparingly.

Right A.S. - ellipses are the right way to write the momentary dramatic pause.

I have used beats within the dialogue as well as every time action moves forward I used text for the first and the final draft beatboard for the second. In a way, there is no correct way I guess, I do what works for me - hope this helps

Niki - that might work fine for you, but as a script reader, I suggest you not do that - it looks like you're padding your script.

The beat board is not visible on a PDF but you may be right

Beat is ass. We can do better. Replace beat with action, or ellipses. You see 'beat' in scripts because those writers have luxuries we don't. They're in the business. 'BEAT' also takes reader out of fictive spell. Hope this helps ;)

Huh? When properly and judiciously used by any writer, no matter who you are, (beat) within dialogue is just fine. Often it's an indication of pacing or intention. And whether determining if its use is "okay" or not is best considered when referring to a specific example or within some specific context. Of course, like most elements, overuse is never a good thing. ;)

It comes down to individual writing styles and the space that you can afford in your script.

Ellipses occupy a few characters in an existing line of dialogue. A beat uses a full line. A break to action takes up four extra lines (a blank line after dialogue followed by a BEAT line followed by another blank line followed by character name) or five if you're using a parenthetical.

If you've got a pretty heavy feature then you won't want to be breaking to an action every time you want a fanciful moment of thought from your character and your options need to be considered every time. As I said, a handful of beats in a script is fine. NO ONE is going to toss your script because of that.

Right. Couldn't agree more: Individual writing/style, and context -- specific use within a specific screenplay best determines need/intention.

A beat is a pause in action; the ellipse is a pause in dialog. As Pierre pointed out, every beat costs the writer five lines. Half a dozen beats in a FL script may cost the writer a full scene (precious space lost) and excessive use of beats is an amateur scrip padding ploy. The Director & Actors have a significant role to play in the on-screen presentation too. Give them the freedom to bring their talent and skill to your script - your story will be all the better for it.

It seems the beat definition is rather open

Doug: Alan, the OP, posted about using (beat) in dialogue. ;) And, Niki, actually there are three different ways the term "beat" is used by screenwriters, borrowing from The Screenwriter's Bible: (1) A theatrical term indicating a pause in dialogue or action; (2) The smallest unit of action in a scene, and; (3) An important event, turning point, twist, or moment when creating a "beat sheet." ;) For use in dialogue, as Pierre said, it really comes down to personal preference. And as most have said—generally speaking—keeping its use to a minimum is typically best. Overuse is problematic. Anyway, Alan, I recommend when reading screenplays, just take mental note of how it is used by a variety of writers, in both action and dialogue. Did it work well? Did it not work? It really helps to see writing tools in practical application, in context, not just in theory. Look towards your favorite writers. Study. Learn. ;)

Thank you Beth Excellent discussion indeed Other than the beat sheet which is not visible I add (beat) in places to help the actor and director it is important - at least for me and the way I see it I guess in an action script everything is a beat according to Beth's definitions

I am not sure of the beat discussion, however one thing I have been told is never tell an Actor how to act. If , you do, they will beat you up in the parking lot.

You can use pause, beat and Oxford comma :sparingly.

Don't bash the Oxford comma.

Beating on the beat then Mark :-)

I thought beats were obsolete. I use ellipses ... to show a pause but I don't even use them very often especially in dialogue. I do as little as possible to get by.