A step outline (also informally called a beat sheet or scene-by-scene1) is a detailed telling of a story with the intention of turning the story into a screenplay for a motion picture.
The step outline briefly details every scene of the screenplay's story, and often has indications for dialogue and character interactions. The scenes are often numbered in the order in which they occur for convenience.2
It can also be an extremely useful tool for a writer working on a spec script.
References
References
- Corey, Melinda; Ochoa, George, eds. (2002), The American Film Institute Desk Reference, London: Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 0-7894-8934-1
- Hunter, Lew (2004-05-04). Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434: The Industry's Premier Teacher Reveals the Secrets of the Successful Screenplay. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-399-52986-3.