2013
Ambitious jazz drummer Andrew Neiman joins Terence Fletcher's elite Studio Band, enduring the conductor's abusive methods which alienate him from loved ones and lead to his expulsion from Shaffer Conservatory. Months later, Fletcher invites Andrew to play in his new band at a prestigious concert, secretly planning to sabotage him on stage as revenge for Andrew's prior testimony against him. Andrew initially falters during the performance but then defiantly seizes control, launching into an extended drum solo. This powerful display ultimately earns Fletcher's respect and culminates in a shared moment of intense musical triumph.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Ambitious drummer Andrew Neiman endures Fletcher’s brutal training to achieve jazz greatness.
Open full beat sheetAndrew Neiman is listed as Protagonist / Drummer. 19-year-old first-year student at Shaffer Conservatory, ambitious and obsessive. In the parsed data, Andrew Neiman is connected to 72 scenes, 59 dialogue lines, 60 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
72 scenes / 59 dialogue linesTerence Fletcher is listed as Antagonist / Conductor. Tall, imposing, late fifties, perfectionist and abusive jazz instructor. In the parsed data, Terence Fletcher is connected to 36 scenes, 84 dialogue lines, 84 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
36 scenes / 84 dialogue linesRon Kramer is listed as Supporting. Nassau Band conductor. In the parsed data, Ron Kramer is connected to 11 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
11 scenes / 11 dialogue linesRyan Connolly is listed as Supporting. Core drummer in Studio Band, Andrew's rival. In the parsed data, Ryan Connolly is connected to 10 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
10 scenes / 6 dialogue linesCarl Tanner is listed as Supporting. Core member of Studio Band. In the parsed data, Carl Tanner is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 43.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesJim Neiman is listed as Supporting. Andrew's father, mild-mannered teacher. In the parsed data, Jim Neiman is connected to 7 scenes, 7 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
7 scenes / 7 dialogue linesNicole is listed as Supporting. Movie theater concession worker, Andrew's brief love interest. In the parsed data, Nicole is connected to 6 scenes, 24 dialogue lines, 25 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
6 scenes / 24 dialogue linesAndrew is practicing drums when Fletcher enters, tests him, and leaves.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherAndrew leaves the conservatory.
Andrew NeimanAndrew buys concessions and interacts with Nicole.
Andrew Neiman, NicoleAndrew watches a movie with his father, Jim.
Andrew Neiman, Jim NeimanAndrew returns to his dorm.
Andrew NeimanAndrew watches a documentary about Buddy Rich.
Andrew NeimanNassau Band rehearsal.
Andrew Neiman, Ryan Connolly, Ron KramerAndrew asks Mr. Kramer about his progress.
Andrew Neiman, Ron KramerAndrew walks with a transfer application.
Andrew NeimanAndrew watches the Studio Band.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherAndrew practices intensely.
Andrew NeimanAndrew listens to Buddy Rich.
Andrew NeimanAndrew asks Nicole out.
Andrew Neiman, NicoleAndrew is called to see Fletcher.
Andrew NeimanFletcher talks to Andrew about his transfer.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherFletcher auditions the Nassau Band.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ryan Connolly, Ron KramerAndrew and Nicole have dinner.
Andrew Neiman, NicoleAndrew wakes up late.
Andrew NeimanAndrew rushes to leave.
Andrew NeimanAndrew runs through the city.
Andrew NeimanAndrew falls in the stairwell.
Andrew NeimanAndrew reaches the rehearsal room.
Andrew NeimanAndrew returns to the band room for rehearsal. Fletcher arrives and begins a high-pressure rehearsal of 'Whiplash', eventually hurling a chair at Andrew and physically abusing him to force him to play at the correct tempo.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Carl TannerAndrew exits the rehearsal room in tears and runs away from Ryan.
Andrew Neiman, Ryan ConnollyAndrew talks to his father on the phone about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Fletcher.
Andrew Neiman, Jim NeimanAndrew apologizes to Fletcher and expresses his commitment to the band.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherMontage of Andrew practicing intensely.
Andrew NeimanAndrew copies music sheets.
Andrew NeimanFletcher leaves the conservatory.
Terence FletcherAndrew moves his mattress to the practice room.
Andrew NeimanFletcher rides the subway.
Terence FletcherAndrew walks while listening to a metronome.
Andrew NeimanAndrew exercises and practices.
Andrew NeimanFletcher arrives home.
Terence FletcherAndrew sleeps in the practice room.
Andrew NeimanFletcher eats dinner alone.
Terence FletcherAndrew practices until his hands bleed.
Andrew NeimanFletcher listens to music.
Terence FletcherA rival band finishes their performance.
Fletcher prepares his band for the competition.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherStudio Band performs.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Carl TannerThe band returns backstage.
Andrew Neiman, Carl TannerAndrew loses the music folder.
Andrew Neiman, Carl TannerCarl and Andrew confront Fletcher about the lost folder. Fletcher berates Carl and Andrew, leading to Andrew volunteering to play the Whiplash chart from memory.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ron KramerAndrew performs Whiplash on stage under Fletcher's intense scrutiny and succeeds.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherThe band wins first place. Fletcher gives a speech about his inspiration, Charlie Parker, and his relationship with his students.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherA stage hand returns the lost folder to Carl.
Andrew Neiman, Ron KramerFletcher promotes Andrew to core drummer, replacing Carl.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ron KramerAndrew watches a Buddy Rich video and receives a threatening voicemail from Carl.
Andrew Neiman, Ron KramerAndrew and his father Jim discuss his progress in the band.
Andrew Neiman, Jim NeimanAndrew faces criticism from his family during dinner, defending his ambition.
Andrew Neiman, Jim NeimanAndrew breaks up with Nicole to focus on his drumming career.
Andrew Neiman, NicoleFletcher introduces Ryan Connolly as a new drummer, threatening Andrew's position.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ryan ConnollyAndrew confronts Fletcher, who appears uncharacteristically emotional.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherAndrew leaves the office, determined to win back his spot.
Andrew Neiman, Ryan ConnollyAndrew prepares ice water for his bleeding hands.
Andrew NeimanAndrew practices obsessively until his hands bleed and the drum head breaks.
Andrew NeimanAndrew studies his music on the subway.
Andrew NeimanFletcher announces the death of former student Sean Casey and forces the drummers to compete for the core spot.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ryan Connolly, Ron KramerPlayers wait in the hallway while Fletcher screams at the drummers.
Terence FletcherFletcher continues to abuse and rotate the drummers.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ryan Connolly, Ron KramerExhausted players take a break.
The grueling rehearsal continues.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Ryan Connolly, Ron KramerFletcher forces Andrew to play at an extreme tempo while physically and verbally abusing him until Andrew earns the part.
Terence Fletcher, Ryan Connolly, Andrew Neiman, Carl TannerPlayers leave the hall at 3:30am; Fletcher gives instructions for the next day.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherAndrew and Fletcher discuss the nature of greatness, Charlie Parker, and Fletcher's new band.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherAndrew rediscovers his old drums.
Andrew NeimanAndrew sets up his drums.
Andrew NeimanAndrew practices intensely.
Andrew NeimanAndrew rehearses with Fletcher's new band.
Andrew Neiman, Terence Fletcher, Carl TannerAndrew calls Nicole.
Andrew Neiman, NicoleAndrew gets dressed for the concert.
Andrew NeimanFletcher prepares for the concert.
Terence FletcherAndrew prepares his hands.
Andrew NeimanFletcher enters the subway.
Terence FletcherAndrew arrives at Carnegie Hall.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherBackstage preparations.
Andrew NeimanAndrew looks at the main hall.
Andrew NeimanAndrew spots his father.
Andrew Neiman, Jim NeimanFletcher gives a pep talk.
Andrew Neiman, Terence FletcherSome, yes. But it's no cakewalk. Most kids here can't last. Laszlo Polgar, Hungarian psychologist, declares in 1967 that talent is all about conditioning. Says he can make his kids, whoever they are, the best in the world at something. What that something is he'll decide. He's a lousy chess player but he picks chess because it's objective. Goes around looking for a wife, finds one who agrees to his experiment. Starts having kids: Susan, Sofia and Judit. Gets them practicing before they can even talk. These weren't kids who were sitting and smelling the roses. These were kids who were going to leave an actual mark on the world. Who was the top female player by 1984? Susan. Who played the eight-straight-wins "Miracle of Rome" in 1989? Sofia. And who is universally considered the greatest female chess player of all time? Judit.
Look... I'm going to be candid. 90% of our players will never make it into the Lincoln Centers or the Collectives. The question is -- who's in that 10%? So I'd practice. You could start a rock band.
My parents like to criticize me too. When I was growing up my mom told me my chin was too big and that that's why guys wouldn't like me. `Cause my dad had cursed me with a big chin.
I'm sorry to interrupt you. I just want to tell you -- I'm so thankful to have been accepted into Studio Band. And I'm going to make sure I don't disappoint you.
It's good to be open-minded. When I was your age I thought I'd have a book deal at 23. Then that changed to 30. Then 40.
I'm conducting some, though. They're bringing back the JVC Fest this year, got me opening with a pro band in two weeks.
But do you think there's a line? You know -- where you discourage the next Charlie Parker from becoming Charlie Parker?
No -- sorry -- I didn't mean -- they have like -- ten songs they loop through. They're always playing the same thing.
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.