Beat sheet vs paper cut: what each one does and when

A beat sheet is the ordered list of story beats your documentary is going to land. Here is what a beat is, what a beat sheet does, and how it differs from a paper cut.

A paper cut is a written assembly of interview selects in the order the editor plans to use them. It is the blueprint for the rough cut. Here is how it works.

A documentary beat sheet is not a screenplay beat sheet. Here is what a documentary beat actually says, how many beats a feature needs, and when directors write them before shooting versus after.