SCREENWRITING INSIGHT!: SHREK and SHREK 2, which grossed of over 1.4 billion dollars, faithfully follows the Something Startling Happens minute-by-minute story beats! To prove my point, I placed their stories side-by-side:
MINUTE 1: ATTENSION!
SHREK: The narrator says, “The Princess had “an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort”
SHREK 2: The narrator says, “They saw that she was cursed with a frightful enchantment”
MINUTE 2: THE BUILD
SHREK: Shrek makes a “Beware Ogre” sign
SHREK 2: The Prince finds a wolf in the Princess’s bed
MINUTE 3: THE RATCHET
SHREK: Villagers hunt for Shrek
SHREK 2: Little Red Riding hood screams when she sees Shrek and Fiona
MINUTE 4: ANOTHER NOTCH
SHREK: Shrek scares away the villagers
SHREK 2: Villagers try to kill Shrek and Fiona
MINUTE 5: JAW DROPPER
SHREK: A donkey speaks!
SHREK 2: The sign says, “Beware Ogres”—jaw dropping words to read
MINUTE 6: FRIEND OR FIST
SHREK: Donkey and his mean master fight (FIST)
SHREK 2: Shrek tells Donkey that he’s bothering him (FIST)
MINUTE 7: FRIEND OR FIST 2
SHREK: Shrek protects Donkey from the knights (FRIEND)
SHREK 2: Shrek yells at Donkey (FIST)
MINUTE 8: SOMETHING STARTLING HAPPENS
SHREK: Donkey startles Shrek
SHREK 2: Shrek startles Fiona by saying, “And who says I want to be a part of this family?”
MINUTE 9: THE PURSUIT
SHREK: Donkey pursues Shrek through the woods
SHREK 2: Donkey keeps asking if they are “there yet” (he pursues an answer)
MINUTE 10: THE DISCUSSION
SHREK: Donkey and Shrek discuss whether Donkey can stay at his place
SHREK 2: Shrek and Donkey discuss “Far, far away”
MINUTE 11: THE WARNING
SHREK: Shrek slams the door (a warning to Donkey that he’s not allowed to sleep inside)
SHREK 2: Shrek warns Donkey not to make noise
MINUTE 12: HARSHER WARNING
SHREK: Shrek gives Donkey a harsher warning: “I thought I told you to stay outside”
SHREK 2: Shrek says, “We are definitely not in the swamp anymore” (a warning to Fiona that he is uncomfortable in this strange new city)
MINUTE 13: THE SUBMISSION
SHREK: Shrek sighs and lays down his fork and knife
SHREK 2: Shrek stands there helplessly while everyone stares at him
MINUTE 14: DANGER WATCH
SHREK: Shrek sees many unwanted visitors outside his house
SHREK 2: Fiona’s disaproving parents approach Shrek
MINUTE 15: WHEW, THAT WAS CLOSE!
SHREK: The visitors applaud when Shrek says he will help them (Whew, that was close if he didn’t)
SHREK 2: Fiona belches at the table, but Shrek laughs (Whew, that would’ve been embarrassing if he didn’t laugh)
MINUTE 16: THE BIG CONCERN
SHREK: Gingerbreak man is concerned about what Farquaad might do to him
SHREK 2: Fiona’s parents are concerned about her living in a swamp
MINUTE 17: WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
SHREK: The soldiers have found the mirror
SHREK 2: Shrek and Fiona’s father argue
MINUTE 18: TROUBLE TURN
SHREK: The mirror tells Farquaad he’ll become king if he marries a princess
SHREK 2: Fiona runs out
MINUTE 19: THE THREAT
SHREK: Farquaad picks Fiona to marry
SHREK 2: Fiona’s happiness is threatened
MINUTE 20: PUSH BACK
SHREK: Brave Shrek approaches Farquaad’s castle
SHREK 2: Fiona orders the Fairy Godmother’s creatures to “Let go!”
MINUTE 21: THE GREAT AFFECT
SHREK: Shrek notices that the castle is “Too quiet”
SHREK 2: The Fairy Godmother says it can’t be right that Shrek is Fiona’s husband
MINUTE 22: TRUTH DECLARED
SHREK: Shrek to Donkey: “You’re going the right way for a smacked bottom”
SHREK 2: Shrek: “I told you coming here was a bad idea”
MINUTE 23: SCARY STUFF
SHREK: The soldiers point their sharp swords at Shrek
SHREK 2: Shrek growls at the dog
MINUTE 24: SCARY STUFF 2
SHREK: The soldiers try to kill Shrek
SHREK 2: The King says their daughter married a monster
MINUTE 25: SCARY STUFF 3
SHREK: The soldiers point their crossbows at Shrek
SHREK 2: The Fairy Godmother and the Prince yell at the King
MINUTE 26: THE BIG UNEXPECTED
SHREK: Farquaad orders Shrek to find Fiona
SHREK 2:The Fairy Godmother says that Fiona and the Prince will be together
MINUTE 27: THE MINI-QUEST
SHREK: Shrek and Donkey walk through the sunflowers to get to the road
SHREK 2: The King rides his horse towards the tavern
MINUTE 28: BIG QUEST PREP
SHREK: Shrek and Donkey prepare for the long journey ahead
SHREK 2: The King looks for someone to kill Shrek
MINUTE 29: BIG QUEST PREP 2
SHREK: Shrek and Donkey prepare to enter the castle
SHREK 2: The King hires Puss N’ Boots to kill Shirek
MINUTE 30: THE NEED
SHREK: Shrek needs to get across the bridge
SHREK 2: Shrek needs to know how Fiona feels
MINUTE 31: DISTRESS SIGNAL
SHREK: Donkey is distress about the lava
SHREK 2: Shrek is distressed to find out that Fiona obsessed over Prince Charming
MINUTE 32: ANXIETY AMP
SHREK: The spooky place scares Donkey
SHREK 2: The King is at the door and wants to talk to Shrek
MINUTE 33: OMINOUS OH NO!
SHREK: A dragon chases Donkey! (Oh no!)
SHREK 2: A sword-bearing cat comes to kill Shrek! (Oh no!)
MINUTE 34: FRIEND AFFECT
SHREK: Donkey charms the dragon
SHREK 2: Donkey kicks Shrek in the groin
MINUTE 35: BAIT & SWITCH
SHREK: The dragon doesn’t kill donkey (+), but she carries donkey away (-)
SHREK 2: Puss N’ Boots doesn’t kill Shrek (+), but Shrek learns that the King paid to kill him (-)
MINUTE 36: HIDE & SEEK
SHREK: Fiona wants to know Shrek’s name, but he doesn’t tell her
SHREK 2: The Fairy Godmother remains hidden inside the card until a tear is shed
MINUTE 37: OVER HIS HEAD
SHREK: Fiona is a handful (Shrek may be in over his head)
SHREK 2: Puss N’ Boots shows Shrek his big eyes (Shrek’s over his head)
MINUTE 38: POSITIVE RECONNECT
SHREK: Shrek saves Donkey from the dragon
SHREK 2:Shrek and Puss N’ Boots become friends
MINUTE 39: NEW JOURNEY BOND
SHREK: Shrek carries Donkey and Fiona as they try to escape from the dragon
SHREK 2: Fiona and her father talk about her being with Prince Charming
MINUTE 40: ALLY’S WORLD
SHREK: Fiona thinks Shrek is wonderful for rescueing her
SHREK 2: Donkey is jealous that Shrek likes Puss N’ Boots
MINUTE 41: THORNY ROSE
SHREK: Fiona wants to kiss Shrek (ROSE), but he doesn’t want to show her his face (THORN)
SHREK 2: Shrek finds the Fairy Godmother’s castle (ROSE), but she’s not taking any visitors (THORN)
MINUTE 42: SURPRISE REVEAL
SHREK: Shrek removes his helmet and reveals his ugly face to a surprised Fiona
SHREK 2: Shrek surprises the Fairy Godmother
MINUTE 43: SURPRISE REVEAL 2
SHREK: Shrek throws a surprised Fiona over his shoulder
SHREK 2: A cart pushing worker surprises Shrek and the Fairy Godmother
MINUTE 44: NEW NEWS
SHREK: Fiona learns she will meet Lord Farquaad tomorrow
SHREK 2: Shrek finds the potion room
MINUTE 45: OUT OF THE ORDINARY
SHREK: Shrek gives in to Fiona
SHREK 2: Shrek asks for a Handsome potion
MINUTE 46: THE REVELATION
SHREK: Donkey realizes Shrek doesn’t want him to live with him
SHREK 2: An alarm goes off. Shrek realizes he’s in trouble
MINUTE 47: THE ESCORT
SHREK: Donkey forces Shrek to admit what’s wrong (he escorts Shrek towards the truth)
SHREK 2: The hook escorts Shrek across the room
MINUTE 48: NEEDED KNOWLEDGE
SHREK: Donkey tells Shrek he didn’t think he was a “big ugly ogre” (Shrek needed to hear this)
SHREK 2: Shrek learns that if he drinks the potion he and Fiona will be happy
MINUTE 49: FOREBODING FACT
SHREK: Farquaad is falling for Fiona
SHREK 2: Donkey tells Shrek that once he drinks the potion there’s no going back
MINUTE 50: THE PORTENT
SHREK: Fiona’s singing blows up the bird
SHREK 2: Dark clouds approach
MINUTE 51: THE ENGAGE
SHREK: Robin Hood grabs Fiona
SHREK 2: The potion knocks out Shrek
MINUTE 52: SAY UNCLE
SHREK: Shrek watches helplessly as Robin Hood sings at him
SHREK 2: Fiona passes out
MINUTE 53: THE INTIMIDATION
SHREK: An arrow strikes Shrek’s butt
SHREK 2: Beautiful women surround Shrek
MINUTE 54: THE LIGHTBULB
SHREK: Shrek realizes that Fiona tricked Donkey
SHREK 2: Shrek finds out he must kiss Fiona by midnight to make the potion permanent
MINUTE 55: SIDESWIPE
SHREK: Donkey sees blood and faints
SHREK 2: Shrek’s pants fall down
MINUTE 56: DARK TWIST CHAT
SHREK: Shrek (to Fiona about the castle): “There is it, Princess. You’re {dark} future awaits”
SHREK 2: Shrek says he will repay the traveler, unless he can’t find them or he forgets
MINUTE 57: DIFFICULT WORDS
SHREK: Shrek (to Donkey): “You look awful”
SHREK 2: Shrek hears his wife scream. “Fiona!” he says
MINUTE 58: VITAL EVENT
SHREK: Fiona and Shrek fall in love
SHREK 2: Prince Charming approaches Fiona
MINUTE 59: THE DECEPTION
SHREK: Fairy Godmother locks Shrek in the room
SHREK 2: Prince Charming pretends he’s Shrek
MINUTE 60: THE SHOCKER
SHREK: Fiona’s not there! (10 seconds later in this case)
SHREK 2: Shrek has lost Fiona to Prince Charming!
And so on...
To learn much more about all 120 minute-by-minute beats, and how to apply them to your screenplay, TV pilot, novel or graphic novel, order Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer Needs To Know at Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles. http://shop.mwp.com/products/something-startling-happens-the-120-story-beats-every-writer-needs-to-know
And try the #1 Bestseller, The Screenwriter's Fairy Tale: The Universal Story Within All Movie Stories: http://www.amazon.com/The-Screenwriters-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B007U6D0CM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348519200&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriter%27s+fairytale+the+universal+story+within+all+movie+stories
Todd Klick Writing Services: www.toddklick.com
