Topic: Loglines

Every time I try and write a logline, it makes my idea look completely boring (holding onto the hope that it isn't the actual idea) and I wondered if anyone had any tips or ideas into the perfect logline formula ? I use the book "Save The Cat" by Blake Snyder as my guiding light with screenwriting, so I have a basic idea but if something different works for you, please share it..

Re: Loglines

The Black List got published today, which means theres a load of Loglines for you to read right herebig_smile

Extended Edition - 146 - The Rise Of Skywalker
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Re: Loglines

When [inciting incident], [main character] must [premise] or else [catastrophe].

It doesn't work for every story but it'll at least get you in the ballpark.

STC makes me foam at the mouth a little bit, but I do agree with one point he makes about loglines: if you can't make your story interesting in a logline, there's a good chance it's just not interesting. And if the interesting logline doesn't accurately represent the script, the logline is telling you the script you should be writing.

Full disclosure: I am not very good at loglines myself.

Last edited by Dorkman (2012-12-18 06:49:06)

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Re: Loglines

Wait.

Challenge.

Can you take a movie you find devastatingly boring and write a good logline for it?

Teague Chrystie

I have a tendency to fix your typos.

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Re: Loglines

Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable life in the Shire to face trolls, goblins, giant wolves and orcs on an epic journey to retrieve the Dwarves' gold from a fearsome dragon.

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After years in seclusion an aging Bruce Wayne must become Batman once more in order to combat the greatest menace Gotham City has ever known: a dude with a thing on his face. *

*Last part still needs some work

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"Just as Rod makes his first million dollar deal and reconnects with a long lost love, he must now escape his sleepy coastal town when it comes under attack from ravenous rotating .jpeg's of Birds."

Last edited by Eddie (2012-12-18 17:45:01)

Eddie Doty

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Re: Loglines

An imprisoned vampire awakens to discover hundreds of years have passed. He begins a quest to restore his families fortune, wreak vengeance on the witch who captured him, and lay to rest the spirit of his long-lost lover.

Last edited by Dave (2012-12-18 23:04:22)

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Re: Loglines

When [the Allied Forces learn of Hitler's plans to watch a movie], [a team of Nazi scalpers in occupied France] must [kill him] or else [catastrophe].

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Re: Loglines

iJim wrote:

When [the Allied Forces learn of Hitler's plans to watch a movie], [a team of Nazi scalpers in occupied France] must [kill him] or else [catastrophe].

See? That's the movie he should have made.

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Re: Loglines

When intrepid young reporter Tintin buys a model boat, he must... uh... yeah, I can't do this one actually

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Re: Loglines

Hey, you leave Tintin out of this!

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