We've all seen the scene in the martial arts movies where the young acolyte comes to a master all ready to 'chop a mutha' in half but the Master gives the Acolyte what seems to be a BS task to take care of first. Same thing's gotta happen on your way to becoming a Master of 3 Acts! In this case, there are 3 pretty heavy jars you're going to have to carry first before you seriously write so much as a single line on your script. Jacked up part is; All are heavy, but the next one is heavier than the previous. Bad news is; it's a bitch learning how to 'lift' the 'jars' and each is harder than the one before. Good news is; once you learn how to lift the jars, it will still be hard but only hard as you make it!

So what are the jars to be lifted? They are 'Premise', 'Treatment' and 'Log-line'. The Premise of your story is the very idea itself filtered down to about 3 sentences (or less if you're really good) with a beginning, middle and end. Many scriptwriter's make an outline as a framework for their premise. An outline does make it easier to 'lift' the next 'jar'. The Treatment is basically a short-story (and I do mean short) with a b/m/e that's anywhere from a paragraph to seven pages long. Some producers, directors and film studios will accept longer treatments, but usually only after they request a longer version. In my opinion, if you can't nail the Treatment in 3 pages or less, you may need to rethink your idea. Last and 'heaviest' of the 'jars' is the Log-line. The Log-line is a one-sentence summary of your entire story and it has the power to get filmmakers, actors and investors interested in making your script a film or telling you which end of a bridge to jump off. 'Tag-lines' are the lines you see on movie posters or hear in movie trailers.

Example: Log line for "Aliens vs Predator" = Two of the universe's deadliest species battle deep beneath the Earth with Humanity as bait.

An example of a Tag-line would be: No matter who wins... we lose!

Don't get the two mixed up! A Log-line describes the story, a Tag-line sells the completed film for audiences. Rarely do scriptwriters write the tag-lines for movies.

Once you've been able to lift the three jars, you will be ready to start on the path to writing your script and becoming a Master of 3 Acts. So, would you like sand, gravel or water in your jars?