Write, write, write

If "Commander's Intent" sounds like army-speak to you, then you're absolutely right. But the idea of the CI transcends the military world and works just as well for all of us in the business of making films.

The clearer the goal, the better you lead your story to victory.

The concept of the CI came from the simple realization that no plan survives contact with the enemy (meaning all plans get literally blown to bits the moment battle begins - leaving the whole chain of command to scramble without even a moment's chance to stay "on plan"). The CI was to be a clear, plain-speak single sentence across the top of every order. This is standard today. It forces commanders to identify the single most important goal and communicate it clearly and simply - and it gives the troops on the ground to keep the overarching goal present at all times.

As with all things that need to be simple - it isn't about dumbing it down, but instead about finding the core. As screenwriters, we know all about that. Writing out an idea, a story, a script, is one thing. But concentrating it all into one crisp synopsis, a hammer one-pager, a killer logline or a never-to-be-forgotten tagline (e.g. "In space, no one can hear you scream), is often far tougher. But we also know that, once we have it, it's hugely useful.

Commanders have two questions they need to answer: "If we do nothing else during tomorrow's mission, we must ..." and "The single, most important thing that we must do tomorrow is ..." Example: The Commander's Intent might be:  "The single, most important thing that we must do tomorrow is to keep the villagers safe." In battle, regardless of whether an individual plan has exploded - every soldier will remember that one sentence "keep the villagers safe" - and even if he has to abandon his planned orders, his every action will remain in line with that overarching Commander's Intent. So how's all this supposed to help you?

• In meetings: Have your CI (you may also call it essence, theme, core, key message) clear before you meet the director, the producer, the agent. Then, whatever curves they throw you, you'll have the CI to hold on to.
• During collaboration: If your CI is clear, communicate it with the producer, with the director, with the actors. Regardless of what happens in the heat of cinematic collaboration - if the CI's clear - you'll still all be going for the same goal.
• In the cave: When you sit in the cave, staring at the blinking cursor - find your CI, write it across your bathroom mirror - or tape it to the wall above the monitor. 

A good CI is like a beacon - it'll guide you.