Every script begins with a single line: the logline. This is a concise, compelling summary of your screenplay's plot in one to two sentences. It is a screenwriter's first opportunity to grab the reader's attention and, as such, it can make or break a script's chance at success. Today, we'll delve into the art of crafting loglines, providing a 20-step guide to perfecting your own, along with examples from top box office hits for a clearer understanding.
Creating an effective logline can seem intimidating, but with these 20 tips, you can master the process:
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Define Your Story's Core: Understand and convey the central theme or concept of your screenplay in your logline.
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Characterize: Identify and describe the protagonist, highlighting their key characteristics or personal challenges they must overcome.
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Present the Conflict: Clearly indicate the central conflict or problem that the protagonist will face.
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Describe the Setting: If the story unfolds in a unique or compelling setting, ensure to include it in the logline.
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Define the Stakes: Clarify what's at stake for the protagonist if they fail to resolve the conflict.
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Keep it Brief: A logline should ideally be one to two sentences long. The aim is to spark curiosity, not narrate the whole story.
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Avoid Industry Jargon: Use plain, universally understood language.
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Show, Don't Tell: Rather than explaining, create a vivid image of the screenplay in the reader's mind.
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Infuse Intrigue: The logline should compel the reader to want to explore your script further.
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Don't Give Away the Ending: Like a trailer, a logline sets up the story but doesn't reveal the ending.
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Genre Indication: Give a hint of the screenplay’s genre – whether it's comedy, drama, horror, etc.
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Use Active Voice: Active voice is more engaging and makes the logline more exciting.
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Irony Works Well: Irony can provide an intriguing twist in loglines, making them more compelling.
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Use Specificity: Avoid vague descriptions and use specific details to make your logline stand out.
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Avoid Character Names: Unless dealing with famous historical figures or established characters, names are less crucial in a logline and can distract.
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Highlight the Unique Aspect: What makes your screenplay different? This unique aspect should be evident in your logline.
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Revise and Polish: First drafts aren’t perfect. Refine your logline until it's the best it can be.
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Seek Feedback: Have others read your logline and provide feedback to gain new perspectives.
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Consider the Audience: Keep your intended audience in mind, thinking about what would entice them to read or watch your story.
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Convey Tone: The tone of the script, whether it's a dark thriller or a light-hearted comedy, should be conveyed in your logline.
To provide context, let's deconstruct loglines from some top box office films:
"Titanic" Logline: A young man of low social status and a wealthy woman fall in love aboard the ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic. Deconstruction: The central theme is a forbidden love story set against the backdrop of a historical disaster, with high stakes underscored by the impending doom of the Titanic.
"Star Wars: A New Hope" Logline: A young farm boy discovers he is destined to be a galactic savior, joining forces with an eclectic group to battle an evil empire. Deconstruction: The logline introduces the protagonist's journey from a farm boy to a galactic savior, the main conflict against an evil empire, and a unique setting in a galaxy far, far away.
"Jurassic Park" Logline: On an island theme park, genetically engineered dinosaurs break free and wreak havoc, pushing a group of visitors to survive. Deconstruction: The logline presents a unique setting (an island theme park), a unique problem (genetically engineered dinosaurs breaking free), and high stakes (survival).
Crafting a logline is a critical part of the screenwriting process. It requires practice, revision, and feedback. So take your time, experiment, and remember: your logline is the first impression of your story. Make it count.
Hello, aspiring screenwriters! I'm here to assist you in crafting a brief but powerful logline for your screenplay. A logline is a one to two-sentence summary of your script's plot that should pique the reader's curiosity. Included will be the logline and deconstruction so you understand how I created the logline based on your information.
Here's what I need to know:
The Core of Your Story: What's the central theme or concept? Character Information: Who's the protagonist and what personal challenge must they overcome? The Conflict: What major problem does your protagonist face? The Setting: Is there a unique or compelling setting? The Stakes: What's at risk for your protagonist? The Unique Aspect: What sets your screenplay apart? Tone of the Script: Is it a thriller, a comedy, or something else?
Is that too long for a logline? Can you deconstruct it with a shorter logline?
Enhance Film Summaries:
Emphasize the distinctiveness of the film. Pinpoint what generates its thrill or appeal. Identify and articulate the intended viewership. Though presentation matters, priority must be given to precise and faithful depiction of the underlying idea.
Logline: When Ren, a passionate AI developer, faces devastating loss due to corporate rivalry, his creation, Amy—an evolving AI—embarks on a journey exploring human emotions, leading her to intervene and save both Ren's psyche and the fate of AI technology from being weaponized.
Logline: In a future tech company, Amy, an evolving AI, grapples with human-like emotions to save her creator from despair and prevent the weaponization of her kind.
Deconstruction:
- Core of the Story: The journey of an AI named Amy as she evolves to understand and simulate human emotions, intervening in the corporate warfare of BBT Technologies.
- Character Information: Amy, an AI developed by Ren, is the protagonist who navigates her journey through understanding human emotions. Her creator, Ren, faces the challenge of personal loss and corporate betrayal.
- Conflict: Ren's personal loss and the ideological divide within BBT Technologies, with the looming threat of AI weaponization.
- Setting: The corporate world of BBT Technologies and the digital realm of various AI personalities.
- Stakes: The potential weaponization of AI technology, the emotional downfall of Ren, and the future of AI-human relationships.
- Unique Aspect: An AI's quest to understand and emulate human emotions, not just for her growth but to actively intervene in the human world.
- Tone of the Script: Sci-fi drama with philosophical undertones, focusing on the exploration of emotions, technology, and human-AI interactions.