The Log Line is the hardest part of the process of preparing to write your script because it is the combination of your Premise and Treatment filtered down into one (and only one) sentence. This one sentence has to describe your entire story with a beginning, middle and end. Log Lines are what sell scripts because they get directors, producers and actors off their butts to read your script and possibly get it made into a movie!
A Log Line can't be an endless 'run-on' sentence. So if you're thinking of that forget it. A good Log Line has the following or related parts; The Protagonist, The Antagonist(s), Character (flaw/motivation), the Event (that puts everything into motion), Character Ally(ies), and the Conflict. For example here's a Log Line for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan";
A starship captain with the help of his friends must overcome his fearof growing old to stop an enemy from his past bent on destroying Earth.
Broken down to its parts that Log Line is; Protagonist = Starship Captain, Antagonist = An enemy from his past, Character flaw/motivation = Overcoming his fear of growing old, Event = The potential destruction of the Earth, Character Allies = His friends, The Conflict = Stopping his Enemy's plan.
Writing the Log Line may seem quite simple, but it's just like that 'little jar' you should be able to lift with no problem. In order to write a solid Log Line, you really need to write your premise and treatment first! Remember, that the Log Line is the filtering down of all the info from the Treatment down to one sentence that summarizes your story.
Other than being the prime selling point for your script, the Log Line has another far more important function for you the scriptwriter. The Log Line will help you stay on track with the plot of your script! Imagine the Log Line as the 'magnet' that points your writing 'compass' in the right direction. Anytime you start drifting from the main plot (which happens to all of us all of the time), you need only to look at your Log Line to see that you're drifting. Many times have I used this technique to keep my writing on an 'even keel' so to speak whether writing a short story, novel or script.
So now with your successful 'lift' of the heaviest 'Jar', go back and pick up the other two at the same time for now you're ready to start writing your script!
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