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Here, as an aspiring screenplay writer, I’ll be breaking down the three act structure of scripts. I’ll primarily be following the structure Blake Snyder put together in his book Save the Cat. According to which, the three distinctive acts can be broken down into fourteen beats, when put together they form the beat sheet:

1. Opening Image
2. Set Up
3. Theme
4. Catalyst
5. Debate
6. Break Into Two
7. B Story
8. Fun and Games
9. Mid Point
10. Bad Guys Close In
11. All Is Lost
12. Dark Night of the Soul
13. Break into Three
14. Finale
15. Final Image

To better understand each beat, I’ll be using Toy Story as an example here. Movies meant for the general audience tend to have a much clearer and easy to grasp structure

Opening Image: This is the beginning of the story, it shows us what the world is like at the start and how it will eventually differ from the end. In Toy Story, the opening establishes that Woody is Andy’s favorite toy, we see just how close they are

Set Up: Generally the first ten minutes of the story. We see what the protagonist’s normal world looks like before it’s flipped over. We see the lie about their lives that they hold on to so dearly. Toy Story shows us that the toys come alive when Andy’s not around. We meet Slinky, Sarge, Potato Head, Rex and Bo Peep all of whom consider Woody to be their undisputed leader. Furthermore, Woody thinks he can never be replaced, which is a lie, he blinds himself with.

Theme: This is established in the first five minutes of the story, the theme is what will drive the plot forward. We learn that today is Andy’s birthday party and all the toys are worried about being replaced by new ones, everyone except Woody who knows he’ll always be Andy’s favorite

Catalyst: The event that causes a break in the routine, it challenges the lie that the protagonist believes. Andy’s mom presents him with a last surprise, a Buzz Lightyear. Andy tosses Woody aside to make room for Buzz on the bed. Buzz is clearly a way cooler toy than Woody.

Debate: The protagonist’s reaction to the catalyst. Woody meets Buzz, he tries to tell him that he’s on his spot but Buzz thinks he’s an actual space ranger. While Woody isn’t amused, the other toys are. Woody still dearly holds on to the lie that he’s still Andy’s favorite toy

Break into two: Despite the catalyst, the protagonist chooses to move forward into the next act, still holding on their beliefs, thinking their lie will eventually save the day. Woody stubbornly thinks that eventually the other toys will see that Andy still likes him the best. This turns out to be false as we see a montage of Buzz Lightyear becoming everything Woody used to be.

B Story: Here we take a break from the main theme. This aspect of the story shows us why the protagonist is having a hard time achieving their goal. It’s the lie they believe in versus the truth they need to embrace. Woody and Buzz come to blows. Meanwhile Buzz is still delusional about what he really is.

Fun and Games: Now that the main plot and the B story have been established, in this section we see them constantly clash with each other until they reach the boiling point. We meet Sid, the neighbor who loves to torture and maim toys. Later, Woody tricks Buzz into thinking a toy is in trouble and ends up getting him tossed out the window. The toys turn on Woody, Andy intervenes and Woody gets taken to Pizza Planet while Buzz boards the car as well.

Mid Point: Remember the boiling point? This is it! Here the protagonist either has a false victory or a false loss because they’re still holding on to the lie they believe in. This is where the main plot and B story clash in a major way, often resulting in a major twist. Woody and Buzz get in a fight which results in them being thrown out of the car and they get left behind by Andy. Buzz still thinks he’s a space ranger. Woody then tricks Buzz yet again into boarding a Pizza Planet delivery car.

Bad Guys Close In: This is where the antagonist retaliates, thus raising the stakes in the story. Woody and Buzz get taken home by Sid.

All Is Lost: This is where the lie fails the protagonist in a major way that it nearly breaks them. This aspect mostly involves death in one form or another. In an attempt to escape Sid’s room, Buzz stumbles across a TV commercial where he finally realizes that he is a toy after all. The lie, where he believed he was a space ranger can no longer shield him. He tries to fly out the window but ends up popping his arm out. Meanwhile Andy’s toys refuse to help Woody because they think he has killed Buzz. They lost because they couldn’t work together.

Dark Night of the Soul: To sum it up in three words this beat is all about one last attempt. The lie no longer blinds the protagonist and they finally start to accept the truth. Woody finally confesses that Buzz is a far better toy than he will ever be and Buzz learns that being a toy isn’t so bad after all.

Break into Three: B Story + one last attempt. Now that the differences of the B Story have been resolved, the protagonist can finally accept the truth and move forward. Woody and Buzz finally work together and escape Sid’s

Finale: the metamorphosis is now complete. Woody executes his plan to save Buzz from Sid. They make their way into Andy’s car.

Final Image: the opposite of the opening image, we see just how much the protagonist and their world has changed. The toys are now no longer afraid of being replaced and are looking forward to new toys joining them.