Blake Snyder

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About Blake Snyder
In his 20-year career as a screenwriter and producer, Blake Snyder sold dozens of scripts, including co-writing Blank Check, which became a hit for Disney, and Nuclear Family for Steven Spielberg. His book, "Save the Cat!® The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need," was published in May 2005, and is now in its 33rd printing. The sequels, "Save the Cat!® Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter's Guide to Every Story Ever Told," "Save the Cat!® Strikes Back: More Trouble for Screenwriters to Get Into... And Out Of," and software, "Save the Cat!® The Last Story Structure Software You'll Ever Need," are also bestsellers. Along with guiding screenwriters, novelists, and other creative thinkers, Blake's method has become the secret weapon of many development executives, managers, and producers for its precise, easy, and honest appraisal of what it takes to write and develop stories in any media. Blake was a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, west. He passed away suddenly on August 4, 2009, but he lives on in his films and his books, in the advice that will never grow old, with the spirit that will continue to thrive and inspire. His story resonates with all who loved him, and your stories will resonate thanks to his love for you. Blake's vision continues on his website and in "Save the Cat!® Goes to the Indies: The Screenwriter's Guide to 50 Films from the Masters," written by Salva Rubio and published in April, 2017.
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Blog postThis blog was originally posted on April 16, 2009. If we can tell a story well, we can communicate on every level in a quicker, more effective way! One thing I hear from audiences I get to speak to, from writers in class or in...
The post Best of Blake: Why Clear Story Structure = Clear Thinking appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 days ago Read more -
Blog postSee the mention of Save the Cat! in the TV hit Hacks!
The post See <i>Save the Cat!®</i> on <i>Hacks</i> appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
1 week ago Read more -
Blog postWes Schlagenhauf Is Dying, a comedy which features the Save the Cat! beats, premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The post Save the Cat!® Goes to the Tribeca Film Festival appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
1 week ago Read more -
Blog postAnnouncing the 25 semi-finalists in the Save the Cat! 2022 Screenplay Challenge for both Feature Films and TV Pilots.
The post Save the Cat!® 2022 Screenplay Challenge – Top 25 Announced appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
1 week ago Read more -
Blog postRead 100 beat sheets from Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies and Save the Cat! Goes to the Indies when you purchase both books at a special price.
The post New Product Alert: The 100 Beat Sheet Combo appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
2 weeks ago Read more -
Blog postFilmmaker Jennifer Zhang has 3 films about to hit the marketplace!
The post Jennifer Zhang’s <i>Fetish</i> Is an Official Selection of the Micheaux Film Festival appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 weeks ago Read more -
Blog postDeciding what is important in any story we tell—no matter how we tell it—is the writer's job.
The post Best of Blake: Act Zero appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
1 month ago Read more -
Blog postRead how acclaimed novelist David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of the best-selling "Winter Counts," used the Blake Snyder beat sheet to write the novel.
The post David Heska Wanbli Weiden “Beat Out” His Award-Winning Novel, <i>Winter Counts</i> appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
1 month ago Read more -
Blog postDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has become a hit at the box office, proving that Marvel Studios can take even the most bizarre scenario and create a compelling story that shows heart and a character who transforms. What can we learn from the...
The post How a <i>Multiverse of Madness</i> Can Help You Develop Your Theme appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
1 month ago Read more -
Blog postSee one of the hysterical scenes of "The Bad Guys,"
as they try to save the cat to become likeable characters.
The post <i>The Bad Guys</i> Save the Cat! appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postBlake Snyder reveals the checklist writers can reference to see what makes a successful story.
The post Best of Blake: The Checklist appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats in the TV pilot of Marvel's Moon Knight.
The post <i>Moon Knight</i>, S1 E1: “The Goldfish Problem” Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee how tick, tick...BOOM! demonstrates to writers the power of ticking clocks to raise the stakes of their stories.
The post What Writers Can Learn From <i>tick, tick… BOOM!</i> appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
2 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of the bestseller, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.
The post <i>The Last Thing He Told Me</i> Novel Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postWriting team Matt Allen and Krista Suh explain what it was like to work on the first Juneteenth family comedy, Block Party.
The post The Importance of Putting Yourself into Your Scripts appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of the award-winning movie, KING RICHARD, in this Save the Cat! beat sheet analysis.
The post <i>King Richard</i> Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of the award-winning movie, CODA, in this Save the Cat! beat sheet.
The post <i>CODA</i> Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee how master comic book writer and artist Pete Von Sholly writes his comics and books.
The post Writing Comics Short and Long – As Long as They Are Weird! appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postWhen writing a Golden Fleece story, be certain to lead your hero toward their goal, but also make sure you throw a road apple in their way.
The post How to Use a ‘Road Apple’ appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
4 months ago Read more -
Blog postThe Save the Cat! Trucker Caps are now on sale in grey or white.
The post New Product Alert: <br>Save the Cat! Hats appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
4 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of The New York Times bestseller The Maid by Nita Prose.
The post <i>The Maid</i> Novel Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
4 months ago Read more -
Blog postUnderstand how the parallel beats of Catalyst/Debate/Break into Two and All Is Lost/Dark Night of the Soul/Break into Three can be used to powerfully demonstrate a hero’s transformation.
The post How to Use the Parallel Beats of the <i>Save the Cat!</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog postThe components of his story types
The post Best of Blake! Save the Cat!® Podcast: Blake Snyder Explains His Genres appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of Disney's Encanto.
The post <i>Encanto</i> Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the second episode of the Save the Cat!-Netflix co-production of Save the Cat! Goes Anime: "What Makes BEASTARS So Good?"
The post <i>Save the Cat!®</i> Unlocks the Magic of Netflix Anime Hit <i>BEASTARS</i> appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog postFilmmaker Lindell Singleton connects the histories and legacies of actor Sidney Poitier and artist Aaron Douglas.
The post Sidney & Aaron appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
5 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of Don't Look Now.
The post <i>Don’t Look Up</i> Beat Sheet Analysis appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
6 months ago Read more -
Blog postBlake Snyder's motivating message and timeless inspirational thoughts for writers.
The post Blake Snyder’s Happy New Year Message appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
6 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of the entire first season of Marvel's Hawkeye.
The post <i>Hawkeye Season One</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
6 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats in the Five Tuesdays in Winter short story by Lily King.
The post “Five Tuesdays in Winter” Short Story Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
6 months ago Read more -
Blog postJamie Nash, author of our best-selling Save the Cat!® Writes for TV, has another screenplay sale! Curiosity Ink Media announced that it has secured Jamie to pen the storyline for their Santa.com site’s original animated companion film, also named Santa.com. Read the press release. Congrats...
The post Jamie Nash Sells Script appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
6 months ago Read more -
Blog postReleased 30 years ago this year, Point Break premiered in theatres on July 12, 1991 and was a huge hit, catapulting Keanu Reeves into action hero status from his humble Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure roots, and further cementing Patrick Swayze as a bankable star....
The post <i>Point Break</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
6 months ago Read more -
Blog postDiscover key Blake Snyder genre terms -- each listed under the appropriate genre name.
The post Blake Snyder’s Glossary of Genre Terms appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
7 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats in the beat sheet of the animated hit, The Mitchells vs The Machines.
The post <i>The Mitchells vs the Machines</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
7 months ago Read more -
Blog postSubmit your feature film and TV scripts to the Save the Cat! screenplay competition to get feedback from professional writers and qualify for prizes.
The post Announcing the 2022 Save the Cat! Screenplay Challenge appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1978.
The post <i>Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of The Lost Boys movie.
The post <i>The Lost Boys</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of Alice Hoffman's novel, Practical Magic.
The post <i>Practical Magic</i> Novel Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postHats off to the creators of Netflix’s #1 program, Squid Game, who describe how and why they created a Save the Cat! moment for their hero! Thank you—and congrats on your international smash hit!
The post <i>Squid Game</i>‘s Hero Saves the Cat! appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postUnderstanding the expert craftsmanship displayed by the writers of great shows, who week after week built funny, exciting, and compelling episodes.
The post Wrights Write? Damn Right!<br>The Insights I Gained by<br>Misspelling a Word appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postThe bestseller Save the Cat! Writes for TV is now being sold autographed by author Jamie Nash
The post Now Available: Autographed Copies of <i>Save the Cat!® Writes for TV</i> appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
8 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee the 15 Blake Snyder story beats of the horror classic The Craft.
The post <i>The Craft</i> Beat Sheet appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
9 months ago Read more -
Blog postTen exercises to develop your Monster in the House horror story.
The post Best of Blake: 10 Tips on Writing Horror appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
9 months ago Read more -
Blog postSee how Blake Snyder's Superhero genre from the "Save the Cat!" books dates back to so many tales from Greek mythology, and learn how to write a Superhero story.
The post Save the Cat!® Goes Mythical: Real (Super)Heroes appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
9 months ago Read more -
Blog postIn this podcast, Blake Snyder discusses your idea -- and how to express it in an effective pitch and logline
The post Save the Cat!® Podcast: Blake Snyder on Your Pitch and Logline appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
9 months ago Read more -
Blog postHow to look at our fears, and face them, so that we can be bold in our writing… and in life!
The post Best of Blake: Be Bold appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
10 months ago Read more -
Blog postOften, writers run into issues in the third act because they haven’t set things up effectively in the first act. In a previous blog, we examined the concept of the three worlds from Save the Cat!® Strikes Back, and how this can help structure the...
The post The Importance of Stasis = Death appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
10 months ago Read more -
Blog postLearn about the Save the Cat! 2021 Screenplay Challenge winners for both feature film and 60-minute TV pilot.
The post Screenplay Challenge 2021<br> Grand Prize Winners Announced appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
10 months ago Read more -
Blog postIt was lovely feeling Blake there reading over my shoulder again, and to feel everything coming together just as he’d tried to tell me it would.
The post Confessions of a Pantser: Revisiting <i>Rancho Viejo</i> appeared first on Save the Cat!®.
11 months ago Read more
Titles By Blake Snyder
- The 7 warning signs you might have a great idea - or not
- 2 sure-fire templates for can’t-miss loglines
- The difference between structure and formula
- The Transformation Machine that allows you to track your hero’s growth step-by-step
- The 5 questions to keep your story’s spine straight
- The 5-Point Finale to finish any story
- The Save the Cat!® Greenlight Checklist that gets to the heart of every development issue
- The right way to hear notes, deal with problematic producers, and dive into the rewrite with the right attitude
- Why and when an agent will appear
- How to discover the potential for greatness in any story
- How to avoid panic, doubt, and self-recrimination… and what it takes to succeed and dare to achieve your dreams
Get ready to face trouble like a pro… and strike back!
From international sensations like The Blair Witch Project to promising debuts like Pi, from small films that acquired cult status like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to Euro-blockbusters like The Full Monty, from unexpected gems like Before Sunrise to textbook classics such as The 400 Blows, from Dogville to Drive and Boogie Nights to Cinema Paradiso, here are 50 movies that fit both the “indie” label and Blake Snyder’s 15 beats.
You’ll find works from Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, David Lynch, Roman Polanski, Danny Boyle, David Mamet, Spike Jonze, Charlie Kaufman, Sofia Coppola, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Wes Anderson, and the Coen Brothers, among other renowned writers and directors.
If you’re a moviegoer, you’ll discover a language to analyze film and understand how filmmakers can effectively reach audiences.
If you’re a writer, this book reveals how those who came before you tackled the same challenges you are facing with the films you want to write.
With these 50 beat sheets, you’ll see how “hitting the beats” creates stories that resonate the world over.
- Ideas and Concepts
- Themes
- Titles and Loglines
- Genres
- Heroes
- Structure
- Dialogue
- The Pitch
- Going Pro
- Inspiration.
Enjoy these meaningful and helpful lessons in screenwriting… and life.
Also included are photos that have never been published.
¡Salva al gato! va al cine se publica tras el éxito de ¡Salva al gato!, una guía para guionistas profesionales y amateurs publicada por Alba en 2010. Su autor, Blake Snyder, uno de los guionistas de más éxito de Hollywood, exponía una teoría muy original y mostraba las herramientas que todo guionista está obligado a dominar si quiere vender su trabajo.
Escrito con la misma agilidad y gracia que el primero, en ¡Salva al gato! va al cine el autor insiste en su teoría de que los verdaderos «géneros cinematográficos» no son los clásicos (acción, amor, oeste, policíaco...) sino una serie de diez situaciones que se repiten en las mejores películas y en la importancia de la estructura que todo buen guión debe tener. Y lo hace de una manera muy práctica analizando, uno a uno, más de cincuenta guiones de películas de éxito para justificar su propuesta. Se trata pues de una ilustración práctica, a través de guiones y películas concretos, de las ideas que todo guionista profesional, según el autor, debe manejar.
¡Salva al gato! va al cine es, en fin, un libro original y a la vez el mejor acompañamiento para aprovechar al máximo las brillantes ideas del autor de ¡Salva al gato!. Un libro que interesará a guionistas, a estudiantes de guión, a aficionados al cine e incluso a críticos que disfrutarán del sugestivo análisis que el autor hace de cincuenta películas concretas.