Save the Cat Goes to the Movies
Read Save the Cat Goes to the Movies Online
Authors: Blake Snyder
“Blake Snyder has done the single hardest thing there is to do in Hollywood: Produced a sequel to his terrific
Save the Cat!
that is surprising, entertaining, informative, and smart. His genius isn’t in telling how to write movies #x2014; i.e., laying down clichéd dictates of what has to happen on what page — but rather, it’s the way he teaches you how to think about writing movies.”
— Bruce Feirstein, Writer,
GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies,
The World Is Not Enough;
Contributing Editor and Writer,
Vanity Fair Magazine
“Even if you’ve read and analyzed 50 screenplays, you still wouldn’t learn half as much as you could from reading this book.
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies
proves that not only is Blake a great screenwriter, he’s also a great screenwriting teacher.”
— Stephanie Palmer, Author,
Good in a Room,
www.goodinaroom.com
“Blake has created an extremely valuable guide to engaging and entertaining your audience, both in the big idea and moment-by-moment. This amazing book is a window into how successful writers and developers think.”
— Luke Ryan, Vice President, MTV Films; Executive
Producer,
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
“Blake Snyder unlocks the secret of successful screenwriting by deconstructing the framework of cinematic storytelling and redrawing genre lines along new borders. His revealing analysis shows how seemingly unconnected films are actually related and unveils deeper links between movies that occupy the same traditional genres, offering the reader fresh insight into what makes films tick. Surprising, enlightening, and fun.”
— Kristofer Upjohn,
B-Scared.com
“Blake has done it again!
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies
puts his easy-to-digest theories to the test and proves them time after time. With great insight and wit, Blake has identified the key components of good storytelling and presented them in a clear, indisputable form that is at once universal and immediately applicable … no matter where you are in the writing process. Blake is a lightswitch in the dank, cluttered basement of story. What an eye-opener.”
— Dean DeBlois, Co-Writer/Director,
Lilo & Stitch
“Blake’s book breaks everything down in a way that pinpoints precise reasons I’m stuck and allows me to fight my way through it. I can’t tell you how many times
Save the Cat!
has saved my ass!”
—Jeremy Garelick, Writer/Producer,
The Break-Up
“You can’t think outside the box until you understand what it is — and nobody understands the box that movies come in the way Blake does. A fantastic book!”
— Jeff Arch, Writer,
Sleepless in Seattle
(Oscar
®
-nominated),
Saving Milly
(Humanitas Prize Nominee)
“Blake Snyder proves once again that his practical, strategic approach to writing is the foundation for great movies. His wildly informative and entertaining follow-up to
Save the Cat!
is an invaluable guide to foolproof storytelling.”
— Craig Perry, Producer, the
American Pie
and
Final Destination
films
“With so much over-emphasis on special effects in today’s films, thank heavens for Blake Snyder and
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies.
Snyder reminds budding screenwriters it’s the story that counts — and he does so with plenty of wit and the inclusion of extensive personal knowledge as a screenwriter himself. Bravo!”
— Betty Jo Tucker, Editor and Lead Film Critic,
ReelTalkReviews.com;
Author,
Confessions of a Movie Addict, Susan
Sarandon: A True Maverick
“Blake Snyder does it again! His enthusiasm for film and screenwriting shines through every page of this amazing book. Fantastic!”
— Matthew Terry, Columnist,
www.hollywoodlitsales.com
“Blake Snyder has managed to reinvent the wheel and improve the way it rolls. His
Save The Cat
books pack a two-fisted punch to help you understand what makes a story work and how to make your story work better. Save your script — read this book!”
— Catherine Clinch, Publisher,
www.MomsMediaWorld.com
“Funny and genuinely useful, this is a perfect follow-up to a groundbreaking book for screenwriters. You’ll never look at films the same way again.”
—Jenna Glatzer, Author,
Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer,
The Street-Smart Writer
“The perfect companion to
Save the Cat!
Blake Snyder again delivers a fun and informative guide that doesn’t disappoint. If you think that people in Hollywood don’t watch other movies to solve problems in their own scripts, you’re already behind the game. This book easily breaks down what makes all of your favorite movies work to their core and will help you apply those principles to your own scripts.”
— Luis Guerrero & Chris Lemos, Producers, Vital Pictures
Published by Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., #1111
Studio City CA 91604
Tel. 818.379.8799
Fax 818.986.3408
[email protected]
www.mwp.com
Cover Design: Michael Wiese Productions
Layout: Gina Mansfield Design
Editor: Brett Jay Markel
Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Saline, Michigan
Printed on Recycled Stock
Copyright 2007 by Blake Snyder
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Snyder, Blake, 1957–
Save the cat! goes to the movies: the screenwriter’s guide to every story ever told/by Blake Snyder.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-932907-35-3
1. Motion picture authorship. 2. Motion pictures–Plots, themes, etc. I. Title.
PN1996.S64 2007
808.2′3–dc22
2007025210
OF
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
In which producer Sheila Hanahan Taylor
(American Pie, Final Destination)
confirms the success stories of the
Save the Cat!
method and tells how this may be the best
Cat!
yet.
STC! 2:
THE INTRODUCTION
Why a sequel? — “Genre” and “Structure” — Plus some Final Words that define terms used throughout the
Cat!
series.
CHAPTER ONE: MONSTER IN THE HOUSE
The definition of one of the most popular story types ever, plus breakdowns on
Alien, Fatal Attraction, Scream, The Ring
, and Saw.
CHAPTER TWO: GOLDEN FLEECE
How Jason and the Argonauts begat
The Bad News Bears
(1976);
Planes, Trains and Automobiles; Saving Private Ryan; Ocean’s Eleven;
and
Maria Full of Grace.
CHAPTER THREE: OUT OF THE BOTTLE
Magical analyses of movies using magic:
Freaky Friday
(1976),
Cocoon, The Nutty Professor, What Women Want
, and
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
CHAPTER FOUR: DUDE WITH A PROBLEM
The “dude” is an innocent and in big trouble in
Three Days of the Condor, Die Hard, Sleeping with the Enemy, Deep Impact
, and
Open Water.
CHAPTER FIVE: RITES OF PASSAGE
Growth through pain in stories where “transition” is the obstacle:
10, Kramer vs. Kramer, Ordinary People, 28 Days
, and
Napoleon Dynamite.
CHAPTER SIX: BUDDY LOVE
The broad range of “love” stories include
The Black Stallion, Lethal Weapon, When Harry Met Sally …, Titanic
, and
Brokeback Mountain.
CHAPTER SEVEN: WHYDUNIT
The “detective” seeks the dark side and discovers “us” — as seen in
All the President’s Men, Blade Runner, Fargo, Mystic River
, and
Brick.
CHAPTER EIGHT: FOOL TRIUMPHANT
This “fish out of water” tale stars an underdog we overlook in
Being There, Tootsie, Forrest Gump, Legally Blonde
, and
The 40-Year-Old Virgin.
CHAPTER NINE: INSTITUTIONALIZED
Who matters most, the individual or the group? It’s Man vs. “the herd” in
M*A*S*H, Do the Right Thing, Office Space, Training Day
, and
Crash.
CHAPTER TEN: SUPERHERO
Extraordinary man faces the ordinary world… and its Lilliputians in
Raging Bull, The Lion King, The Matrix, Gladiator
, and
Spider-Man 2.
AFTERWORD
So what about
Ghost?
— How to best use this book to create any story you’re working on and make it resonate!
GLOSSARY REDUX
Even
More
Terms from the 310 Area Code — An updated slangfest of
Cat!
phrases explained once and for all, including such new terminology as the “chase to the airport,” the “button,” the “Half Man,” and the “eye of the storm.”
So many people contributed to this book. Thanks to Pete Barnstrom (especially for the Kathy Bates line) and Olivia Bohnhoff (for her insight into female superheroes), Hilary Wayne (for getting me started), my manager Andy Cohen (for introducing me to Sheila Taylor), my attorney Chuck Hurewitz (for his continued guidance), Rich Kaplan (for joining our team just when we needed him most), and Jesse, Dana, and Mario at The Writers Store for being supporters of this and all
Cat!
projects. I am also thrilled to thank Naomi Beaty, brilliant researcher and writer, and the one person I can email at 3:00 a.m. to ask who said what when in nearly ANY movie! Thanks too for the amazing Gina Mansfield, whose artistic eye for layout and design made this book, and the first,
Cat
!tastic. Almost last, but not least, are the dynamic duo: publisher Michael Wiese and Ken Lee. But mostly I want to thank my longtime friend, business partner, editor, and
le mot just
genius, Brett Jay Markel, without whom this book, or the last, would not be possible — or even legible. He and his wife, Tanya, step-daughters Deborah and Rebecca, son Noah, and assorted cats are the hearth where I have learned what love really means.
Sheila Hanahan Taylor
Producer, Practical Pictures
When Blake told me he was rolling up his sleeves to write a second
Save the Cat!
I literally whooped for joy.
I was excited because, while the original book generated amazing feedback and results (there’s nothing like getting an email from a CAA-repped writer telling me how much he loved
STC!
and how he retooled and SOLD an idea after reading it!), we both secretly knew Blake’s work as a story guru and Sherpa through the mysteries of Hollywood was not yet complete.
Yes, the words of wisdom in
STC!
had enlightened and motivated movie lovers of all types, but as readers across the globe discovered and explored the book, some really smart questions arose. Some people, including my film students at UCLA, couldn’t or wouldn’t believe Blake’s theories on story type held up for all movies, so they asked for more proof. Some gobbled up the comparisons between similar movies and clamored for more to noodle on. Others just needed a few more examples to really get their heads around the approach Blake presented.
And so,
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies
was born.
I wish I were exaggerating when I say that six or seven years ago I told a co-worker, “Until someone takes the time to help filmmakers see the bones of storytelling from the buyer’s point of view, we’ll continue to meet writers with great voices but no real chops for surviving in Hollywood.”
Well, Blake’s taken the time — all to help the next generation of film lovers join the club. He found 50 benchmark films and masterfully walks through the mechanics of their structure and story beats. He shows the reader exactly what I wished for so long ago — all in 3 or so pages per! How delightful is that?
And for those of you who lean more toward the art and less toward the commerce,
STC!2
reveals how some fantastic, beautiful “art house” films such as
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
or
Maria Full of Grace
have the same story bones and the same core as their big, fat studio-sized cousins. Because Blake knows that to compete in today’s movie-marketplace,
every
filmmaker needs to speak the same language.
I would encourage anyone flipping through this gem to go back and explore the original, but if this is your first stop on the
Save the Cat!
journey, jump right in! The water’s fine.
In fact, it just doesn’t get any better than this.
Sheila Hanahan Taylor
is a partner at Practical Pictures, where she has over 20 feature projects set up at major studios, is an executive producer on hour-long TV series at both AMC and Paramount Television, and recently entered into a first look deal with award-winning producer Scott Rudin at Disney Studios. Along with her producing duties, Sheila is also an associate professor at UCLA’s film school, teaching year-round in the MFA Program for Producing.
