The document discusses the importance of crafting effective loglines for screenwriting by focusing on the protagonist's identity, goals, and stakes involved. It emphasizes that a compelling logline should reveal the protagonist's situation, describe their actions, hint at complications and climax, and maintain a present tense for dramatic effect. Examples from notable stories illustrate how these elements come together to create engaging narratives.

1. "If you can't say it in one
sentence, you don't know what
it's about."

2. WHO?
 TELL or SHOW us what kind of person the main
character is. are, which is done most effectively by
conjuring a picture or image of them that in some
way epitomizes their essence or dramatic identity
or the relevant given circumstances that have a
bearing on their choices and actions. For example:
A rock'n'roll arsonist; a troubled young girl; a
rebellious family man; a cynical police detective,
an alcoholic lawyer; and so on.

3. WHAT?
 WHAT is the protagonist’s main
objective in the story? What is it that
they desire, remembering that
dramatic action is goal-directed action.
Do they want to protect their family?
Win someone's love? Discover the
identity of a murderer? Redeem the
sense of their own integrity?

4. WHY?
 Is the action DRAMATIC? In other words, what is at
risk? What are the stakes? The possibility of the death
of a loved one? The destruction of a way of life? A
travesty of justice? The punishment of an innocent
under the guise that they are guilty?

5. EXAMPLE LOGLINES
 West Side Story (based on Romeo and Juliet).
Two young lovers associated with rival gangs in the
slums of New York try to escape the bigotry and
violence that surrounds them to find a better life.

6.  Jaws
A land lubber sheriff tries to kill a giant shark to
protect his family and seaside resort town.

7.  The Verdict
A down-at-heel lawyer seeks to redeem his self-respect
by defending the rights of a young medical-
malpractice victim against the city's leading Catholic-
owned hospital, and city's biggest and most
prestigious law firm.

8. A GREAT LOGLINE WILL
 Reveal the protagonist’s SITUATION
 Describe the ACTION the protagonist takes
 Reveal the important COMPLICATIONS
 Hint at the CLIMAX - the danger, the 'showdown'
 Hint at the protagonist’s potential
TRANSFORMATION
 Identify SIZZLE: sex, greed, humor, danger, thrills,
satisfaction
 Identify GENRE

9. PRESENT TENSE, PLEASE!
 Keep it in present tense, and pack as much potent
visually dramatic information as you can without
losing the edge and attitude of the story.

10. In conclusion
 Remember - a screen story's log-line should tell the
reader who must do what in order to prevent what
from happening.