it?” the spec screenwriter must be able to tell a good one-line or logline — a one- or two-sentence grabber that tells us everything. It must satisfy four basic elements to be effective: Irony. It must be in some way ironic and emotionally involving — a dramatic situation that is like an itch you have to scratch. A compelling mental picture. It must bloom in your mind when you hear it. A whole movie must be implied, often including a time frame.
