Lately I’m back to reading screenplays and studying screenwriting, and Save the Cat is *still* the best framework I’ve found for understanding structure. In fact it’s so practically useful that I try to apply its beats to every movie I watch
I do expect that eventually I’ll find recurring beats or elements that are missing from STC’s framework, especially when it extends to areas like Asian cinema or much newer films.
The below is Save the Cat as it applies to the movie Pig starring Nic Cage. It’s a tight simple drama about a gifted man escaping a traumatic past, with some goodies for foodies and Portland fans.
Here are my notes. There will be brief spoilers.
PIG (2021)
Opening image: Snapshot of his world, living in the woods, in deep isolation, hunting truffles with his Pig
Setup:
His daily routine in the woods
Cooks a simple delicious meal — which looks similar to the one he cooks in act 3 for Amir’s dad
He wants to listen to his dead wife’s recording — but can’t bring himself to do it
Catalyst: Tweakers steal his truffle Pig
Debate:
Not sure, I spotted two…
One is externalized when he argues with Amir about whether to go into the city
The second is when Edgar says “But now… you have no value. You don’t even exist anymore”
Break into 2: Gets beat up in the underground arena, stays at Amir’s place
B story: His growing relationship with Amir (which ties into the A story)
Fun and Games: Breakfast + talk with Amir; visits his old house and talks to kid; nice meal at Fenway’s
Midpoint: Confronts Fenway’s chef and despite the chef’s warning, goes to face Amir’s dad
Theme: “None of it is real. The critics aren’t real, the customers aren’t real, because this isn’t real. You aren’t real.”
// this recurring theme of existence, what existence means, what is real in “reality” versus real in your head (pay off near the end)
All is lost: Amir’s dad offers him $25k, he won’t get pig back, he knows he can’t beat Amir’s dad
Dark night of the soul: Talks to Amir about what to do
Break into 3: Decides on a new plan (cook a meal for Amir’s dad)
Finale:
-Gather team: Gets Amir to gather supplies; visits his old baker
-Execute plan: Cooks meal
-High tower surprise: Dad tells him the pig is dead
-Protagonist digs deep down: Grieves, goes home
-Executes new plan: Listens to the recording
True theme:
“If I never came looking for her… in my head, she’d still be alive.”
“But she wouldn’t be”
“No, she wouldn’t.”
Robin finally accepts reality… as opposed to ignoring or escaping it
Final image: Back in his cabin in the woods, sitting on his bed, listening to his lost love’s music
Some other thoughts / quotes from the movie:
When he delivers the earthquake monologue — “Anyone who survives that’s just… waiting… and then all this, everyone… it’s all gonna be at the bottom of the ocean. Again.”