Free tools

Interactive Screenplay Beat Sheet Calculator

Calculate exact page milestones for 3-Act Structure, Save the Cat, and TV Pilot formats.

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Understanding screenplay structure & pacing percentages

A standard feature screenplay adheres to a classical pacing curve where 1 page generally equals 1 minute of screen time. To keep narrative momentum:

  • Act I (Pages 1 – 25%): Establishes normal world, inciting incident, and the protagonist's threshold crossing.
  • Act II (Pages 25% – 75%): Escalating conflict, midpoint reversal, and the “All Hope is Lost” moment.
  • Act III (Pages 75% – 100%): Climax, final confrontation, resolution.

Save the Cat standard beat breakdown

Use the calculator above for any page count. The table in the tool is the Blake Snyder / Save the Cat map scaled to your target length — the same percentages used by feature writers prepping 90–120 page drafts.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1 page = 1 minute rule strict?

It is a standard rule of thumb. Action-heavy sequences often take longer on screen than on the page, while dialogue-heavy scenes may read faster.

Can I use this calculator for a 30-minute sitcom pilot?

Yes. Select the 30-page half-hour option to calculate accelerated act turns standard in sitcom formats.

How does the Screenplay Beat Sheet Calculator work?

It takes your target total page count and computes page benchmarks for major plot beats across 3-Act and Save the Cat models.

Can I export my beats directly to a screenplay app?

Yes. Export a Fountain outline, scan the QR code on iPad, or tap Open in app on iPhone to continue in Zen Writer.

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