Summary Ch. 1: Save the Cat

This chapter discusses the importance of being able to effectively communicate the essence of a movie in a concise and compelling manner. It begins by describing the experience of trying to pitch a movie to friends and the frustration that arises when unable to clearly explain what the movie is about. The chapter then shifts to the film industry, highlighting the significance of the question "What is it?" in Hollywood. In a competitive landscape with numerous entertainment options, filmmakers and industry professionals must grab the audience's attention quickly and convey the core concept of their projects.

The chapter explores the trend of producing sequels and remakes as pre-sold franchises to mitigate the risk of introducing new and unfamiliar stories. However, for aspiring screenwriters who lack such franchises, the challenge lies in developing a compelling idea that can stand out and attract attention. The author emphasizes the importance of crafting a strong logline or one-line pitch, which succinctly captures the essence of the story and generates interest.

Several successful logline examples are provided, demonstrating the common elements that contribute to their effectiveness. The chapter highlights the significance of irony in a logline, as it piques curiosity and creates an emotional intrigue. Additionally, a good logline should allow the reader or listener to visualize the entire movie, generating mental images and promising more to come.

Overall, the chapter underscores the importance of mastering the art of conveying the essence of a movie in a concise and captivating manner through a well-crafted logline. This skill is crucial for aspiring screenwriters to grab the attention of industry professionals and audiences in a highly competitive and crowded entertainment landscape.

This chapter emphasizes the importance of having a well-defined logline and a captivating title for a screenplay. It discusses how effective loglines can provide a clear indication of the beginning and end of a movie, along with setting a specific time frame for the story. The chapter highlights the value of irony in loglines, especially in the context of "fish-out-of-water" stories that involve contrasting characters in unexpected situations.

Additionally, the chapter explains that a good logline should give a sense of the target audience and the estimated cost of the production. By understanding these aspects, studios can assess the potential marketability and profitability of a script. The example of the film "4 Christmases" is used to illustrate how a logline can convey the intended audience and the relatively low budget required for production.

Furthermore, the chapter stresses the significance of a killer title that captures the essence of the story. A great title should be ironic and provide a hint of what the movie is about, enticing the audience to want to learn more. The importance of a title and logline working together as a one-two punch is emphasized.

The chapter concludes by suggesting that screenwriters should focus on developing a compelling logline and title before diving into the script. It encourages writers to think critically about these elements and even engage in test marketing to gauge the potential appeal of their ideas. The chapter provides an example of a screenwriter who revised their logline and title, leading to an improved story that aligned with the initial concept but became more refined and compelling.

Overall, the chapter underscores the significance of crafting a strong logline and title that capture the essence of a screenplay and generate interest from both industry professionals and potential audiences.