In a script, what does "Beat" mean?

Answer 1

It's almost like music. I can't quite describe in print, but I'll try my best. It's like a short pause. A very breif pause.

Imagine this while you are saying your lines you are counting.

"Say did you go the store today?"
1 2 3

*Beat*
4

"Yes, I did"
5, 6 etc.

Get it? It's a vauge definition I know, and you probably wouldn't use it in the context that I just put it in. But it's a very brief pause.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

A beat is more complex then a simple pause in the piece. A beat in theatrical terms is actually a change in emotion. Be it a realization that the character is having about the topic, or a progression to a stronger feeling (I.e., getting angrier, going from normalcy to showing a hint of sadness and so forth). While a beat is often represented with an actual verbal pause, it does not have to be every time.

If the character being portrayed is quick to anger, then the beat will not have a pause as the anger can manifest itself within a sentence. In cases like that the beat usually follows the word "and".

Some playwrights will include a beat for the actor to pause so that the audience can think about what was just said. Such a beat is the author placing a heavy hand on the actor, thus not trusting the actors ability to interpret the line. While there are a few authors out there like that, they tend not to have their work performed often as such authors have a tendency to have the characters overly vocalize the emotions the character is feeling (thus insulting the actor's ability and the ability of the audience to understand what is goin on, and making the actor want to literally 'beat' the playwright with the script for each time the word appears)

Fortunately most authors that use beats (and not all of them do), use them to help guide the actor to a more subtle subtext that might not be immediately apparent.

Answer 3

Yes, it is a 'pause' as some have said, however, a beat is a very complex moment. You can take too long or you could shorten it too much. There's a certain flow about a 'beat'. Also, beats of action are usually divided in a scene (especially if you've been trained) so that you can develop a structure for the action of the entire scene. Best to you.

Answer 4

In a script. "beat" could mean a pause before saying the next line, especially if it is a punch line.

Answer 5

If I'm interpreting your question correctly, it's a short pause inserted to make sure the actor times the lines how the writer originally envisioned it.

For example:

Bad-joke guy #2: The other night I walked into a bar..

[beat]

I said 'Ouch!'

Answer 6

sometimes in one-act plays it's divided into beats instead of scenes. it means the same thing but sometimes it's just called something different.

Answer 7

Not enough info to go on here and don't know how it is being used.
It may be talking about a policeman's (specified) area that he/she patrols.