Augie: I don’t do scenes on index cards. I use index cards early on and usually if I’m having problems brainstorming the general flow. But I find them annoying to deal with. After I get the basics down I work in a format called ’32′ (learned from my pal Hans Rodionoff…I don’t know if he invented it, but he’s the only other person I know who uses it).

Basically, the ’32′ is the entire movie told in 32 beats, representing approximately 3 mintues of screen time each. I do my 32s in spreadsheet, so I can visualize the various structural elements with highlighting and horizontal line dividers and stuff.

So far, the 32 in a spreadsheet works best for me at working out the story action for the movie. You can move cells in a spreadsheet around almost as easily as 3x5s.

Of course with 3x5s it’s easier to work stading up, outside, pacing around the table, acting out, dancing with the cat and all that fun stuff.

Do you have all the scenes mapped out on index cards, too?