Warning: Cannot use a scalar value as an array in
/home/theama1/public_html/wp-content/plugins/organize-series/orgSeries-template-tags.php on line
45
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in
/home/theama1/public_html/wp-content/plugins/organize-series/orgSeries-template-tags.php on line
54
Everyone needs some kind of procedural spec under his/her belt, and a great action/cop one can be the way to go.
A few reasons pushed me to spec Flashpoint, and I thought wise, for those out there who wish to spec the show, to post my various breakdowns of FP episodes as well as my overall research on the show, à la Chuck, on my blog.
So here goes.
Part One: Breaking it
The following is a breakdown of the Flashpoint pilot, through its shooting script.
The plot revolves around presenting us the SRU team, especially Ed, as well as the arrival of a new member, connecting everything with an enraged gunman at a Plaza.
What we will call the “Plaza sequence” is everything revolving around what happens at the Plaza with the gunman.
Storylines:
A: Gunman Plotline and Plaza sequence (comprises of Ax + Ab + Ac)
Ax : Backstory of Gunman, events leading up to SRU arrival, and what happens after to Gunman/Family
Ab: Plaza sequence with SRU on scene
Ac: Plaza sequence from Ed’s POV
B: SRU life, routine — Before and After the Plaza sequence (not including Ab)
C: Ed’s life — Before (family) and After (interrogation) the Plaza sequence (not including Ac)
D: Arrival of a new SRU member
It should be noted that a few “B story” scenes revolved around Jules (hinting at a future romance between Sam and her), but for the sake of argument, I merged her SRU scenes with the larger B storyline. Ditto for her scenes on the rooftop (merged with Ab).
Breakdown:
Episode 1×01 — 66 pages
Teaser — 5 Scenes (exposition of A story) — 3 pages
1+2 — Ab
3 — Ac
4 — Ab
5 — Ac
Act One — 17 Scenes (Before Plaza sequence) — 20 pages
5 — Ac (repeat of last Teas scene)
-> FLASHBACK
6+7+8 — C
9+10+11 — Ax
12 — D
13 — B
14 — Ax
15 — D
16 — B
17 — Ax
18+19 — B leading to Ab
20 — D
21+22 — B leading to Ab
END OF ACT ONE just as the SRU arrives on the scene -> Ab
Act Two — 29 Scenes (During Plaza sequence) — 17 pages
23+24 — Ab
25 — Ac
26 — Ab
27+28 — Ac
29 — D
30+31 — Ab
32 — Ac
33 — Ab+D
34 — Ac
35+36+37 — Ab
38 — Ac
39 — Ab
40 — Ac
41 — Ab
42 — Ac
43 — Ab
44 — Ac
45 — Ab
46 — Ac
47 — Ab
48 — Ab+D
49+50 — Ab
51 — Ac leading back to C
END OF ACT TWO just as Ed is taken away by inspector -> C
Act Three — 12 Scenes (After Plaza sequence) — 17 pages
52+53 — C
54 — Ab leading back to B
55 — D
56+57 — C
58+59 — B+D
60+61 — C
62 — B+D
END OF ACT THREE
Act Four — 7 Scenes (Continuing — After Plaza sequence) — 9 pages
63 — C
64 — B+C+D
65 — C+D
66 — Ax
67 — B
68 — D
69 — C
Summary:
Episode 1×01 — 69 beats
A storyline total: 5 + 5 + 28 + 2 = 40 beats
Ax storyline: 0 + 5 + 0 + 1 = 6 beats
Ab storyline: 3 + 0 + 17 + 1 = 21 beats
Ac storyline: 2 + 0 + 11 + 0 = 13 beats
B storyline: 0 + 6 + 0 + 4 = 10 beats
C storyline: 0 + 3 + 0 + 10 = 13 beats
D storyline: 0 + 3 + 3 + 6 = 12 beats
Tune in next time as
we will discuss in more depth the overall Flashpoint structure, through other FP breakdowns (Episodes 8 & 9).
