How to Write a Logline - TV Writing & Development Course: Ep4

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You got a great script, now it’s time to start getting it read. In this video we’ll show you how to write a logline that sells.
It’s one thing to write a logline - everyone has one and execs read hundreds a day - but it’s another to write a great one. A logline that gets your script read, gets you in the room, and gets your show made.
Does it all come down to the logline? No, of course not. But it’s an incredibly useful tool that every writer should be able to master.
Loglines are used for a variety of things. From pitching an idea to development executives to those executives pitching the idea to investors to gain capital and funding for your script, everyone wants to read a logline.
As you move through the series and learn about how to frame and present your script, you’ll realize that much of it goes back to this simple sentence that helps sum up the entire idea.
The logline isn’t just a tool to get your script read, it’s the DNA sequence that everything beyond the script is made of. The logline is the genetic information that sets the basis for what your show is and what it’s about.
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[@StudioBinder]

What's your favorite logline of all-time?

[@shantkiraz1838]

If we're talking about film loglines, I particularly love this one from Silence of the Lambs: "A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims."

[@sliceoflife11]

@@shantkiraz1838 tv, A mild mannered chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer must produce and sell meth to secure his families' financial future.

[@JoshuaYoung2]

Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first person she meets and then teams up with three strangers to kill again. ...Wizard of Oz

[@Vaan95]

This one's easy. That for Alien: jaws in space.

[@indiecinemaster4699]

A nostalgic outlaw, a regret-filled assassin, a grieving barbarian, a prickly genius, a gentle giant, an adaptive youth, a revenge-seeking killer, and a renegade pirate find acceptance and family whilst saving the people who reject them...

[@thestray]

My problem with some of these is a) You don't need specific names of characters in a logline, just a description of who the character is, and b) a lot of these aren't really hinting at the genre, tone or uniqueness of these stories. "Luke Skywalker, a spirited farm boy, joins rebel forces to fight the evil Darth Vader and rescue a princess from certain death". This doesn't really give me a good idea of what I'll be watching, in no way does it tell me that this is an epic space story. How about "A Spirited farm boy must master an ancient power within him to save a princess from an intergalactic tyrant" maybe not perfect but it gives you a better idea of what the movie is.

[@jasperblanch4184]

I was thinking that too

[@vaunsphotography6820]

I love your illustrations of the power of choosing your words carefully has on the way your statement comes across. Great episode!

[@StudioBinder]

Glad you liked today's episode! Did you grab the free logline formula?

[@kponly]

I love this formula. I've been using it for about of year and I use it for every story and every Act in my stories. This formula really helps me get to something I feel good about, every time.

[@Akarui135]

I've been watching this Series so far, these tutorials on writing Tv shows have engaged me and made writing TV shows way more interesting for me

[@DallasRico]

Loving these videos. So helpful. Keep ‘em coming.

[@StudioBinder]

Woop will do! Did you find the logline examples and formula useful?

[@DallasRico]

StudioBinder Very much. The video came at the perfect time too, because yesterday I got feedback from a producer yesterday that I needed to rework my logline.

[@CoLabFactory]

Great explanation and powerful visuals. Makes perfect sense now. Thanks for clarifying. Keep it up.

[@RipleyVSXeno715]

While writing a logline, is it okay to insert the Action portion of the sentence between the descriptions of multiple Protagonists? For instance, "A (protagonist) must team up with an (other protagonist)..." or is it better to write it out as "A (protagonist) and (protagonist) must team up..." ?

[@jrbird1983]

I have story I wrote about: A returning Soldier comes home to start his life after war only to be pinned between a Cartel involved in people trafficking and a Corrupt Policeman that wants it all for himself. To stop them both he must dig back to a mind set he thought he left behind. I have the Acts written and a story board. Whats next?

[@francisco_artt]

mmm cheap

[@johnnyb357]

Great stuff! Thank you.

[@sebione9669]

Great content, honestly🙌🏾. Keep it coming - maybe a web series?

[@newwritercity7114]

Favorite character is Hopper!

[@OWIX.]

does it matter in which the order the formula is in?

[@kathiravanganesh5618]

Seinfeld, arrested development, community and the office these are my favorite sitcoms

[@judichristopher4604]

WOW ... WOW WOW EXCELLENT as always....

[@jyothibak78]

Bro I really thank you so much

[@kathiravanganesh5618]

Thanks keep posting videos

[@ms.rstake_1211]

I don't watch Stranger Things but thank you so much for this😊✌🏿❤️

[@StudioBinder]

You're welcome!

[@ThePoorBoy]

I have my fair share of criticisms of Blake Snyder's screenwriting book Save the Cat!, but I highly recommend reading the chapter on loglines -- I still don't think there's been a better guide to writing loglines. He insists that irony -- that storytelling ingredient that nearly every great story has in some way -- be an integral part of a logline.

[@jasperblanch4184]

What do you mean irony and storytelling ingredient? Like how do they go together?

[@ThePoorBoy]

@@jasperblanch4184 In the Save the Cat! book, Blake Snyder does a great job of explaining the role that irony plays in good writing, so I'd recommend reading it! Robert McKee writes about the importance of irony in greater detail in his book Story, which has become a classic book on screenwriting that every screenwriter should read at least once.

[@Thasanimation]

Thank you so much!

[@reelscreenwriting8940]

This is great content thanks for this :)

[@the_konami_kid]

Are antagonists always necessary in a logline?

[@chocotoasties2671]

an antagoist can also be an opposing force or the character themselves. As long as they pose an obstacle it counts.

[@the_konami_kid]

@@chocotoasties2671 thank you!

[@Truthshallsety0ufree]

is a longline for tv different to a movie logline?

[@RWhettstone]

I have NEVER seen a Bible or Script online that has a logline.

[@dannyisthenewdaddy]

I have this same formula for my script Didn't know it's called the logline

[@bollywoodfightactionreacti9189]

Superb

[@anandthethriller4362]

can anyone tell how these guys avoid copyrights infringement in their videos?

[@atiqrony8631]

Helpful.

[@muthamalarajesh3757]

Congratulations for one million ❤️🇮🇳❤️

[@farhanhussain2611]

How to writing movie Synopsis please help me 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@darthxerxes5468]

how do you guys feel about this logline; "when the great Sun Wukong escapes from his mountain prison, a young metalhead teenager teams up with him and other ancient heroes to defeat the evil lord of darkness, Dracula."

[@jasperblanch4184]

Sounds good my dood

[@fakecubed]

A comedian, his best friend, his crazy neighbor, and his ex-girlfriend do nothing.

[@krutikastudio]

Thank you so much #krutikaanimationstudio

[@shanicecheung3760]

loll... now I see where my lecturer got her learning materials from.....

[@kyleberk5022]

This video is dynamite.

[@LarryLease]

Logline idea: Determine whether it's good or needs more work. A corrupt cop solves crimes while covering up the crimes he commits as he attempts to take control of the city's underworld while avoiding internal affairs investigation.

[@thestray]

Is this Jo-Pil Ho: Dawning Rage?

[@georgebailey8179]

Who's the antagonist? I'm not sure who to cheer for here. I think it would be better with a tweak or two: A previously corrupt cop solves crimes while covering up the crimes he committed as he attempts to take down the city's underworld while avoiding an ambitious internal affairs investigator.

[@Penguin9796]

Sadie!!!

[@jackiealera9087]

Is this good: Mackenzie, an aspiring film student goes to her film school filled with excitement but then it all crashes down when she realizes her life is not picture ready .

[@fakecubed]

Needs more specificity.

[@icedynamite1560]

You had us but then lost us with the ending, like he said needs a bit more specificity

[@novabelladonna5886]

You don't need her name You don't need both "film student" and "goes to her film school" - if she's an aspiring film student doing a Physics degree - that might be more interesting since she'd have to balance both courses or something - but her going to film school as a film student isn't surprising You're missing a goal unless it's just to pass her exams, in which case that's kind of boring-sounding for an elevator pitch "Her life is not picture ready" is more for the tagline, not a logline - maybe it's that her parents both get diagnosed with chronic health conditions and decide that she can go through uni while being a full time carer to them, or it's that she's bitten by a werewolf so can't film anything during full moon, or her evil ex is threatening to expose all her secrets to her classmates, or she literally dies and she ends up filming things as a ghost I'm sure you've sorted this now after 2 years, but it was good practise for me, thanks!

[@Apolloniart]

I'm sorry but if they had used your logline for Stranger Things, they would have never sold the script. You've missed all the interesting stuff. Perhaps what you could add to your formula is "What makes this story unique" or "why do I want to see it". That's 1) the protagonist, Eleven (you totally forgot about her!), with her unique super powers, 2) it's the place called "upside down" and 3) (the action: ) she needs to pass through this horrible place to save the other kid and kill the monster. These 3 elements must be part of the logline.

[@thestray]

Hmmm... how about, When a boy disappears into an alternate dimension his friends join forces with a mysterious telekinetic girl to defeat a monster in order to rescue him?

[@Apolloniart]

@@thestray I totally buy it! That's very good!

[@S400-i6c]

Anyone else see the greatest comedian ever in the video , Patrice o Neal RIP.

[@taimarmillington8833]

How does this sound A Timid 15 year old boy who gets attacked and turned into a vampire is forced into a group that fights other monsters such as himself to protect the people of his town and gain the cure that turns him human

[@thestray]

Maybe... "When a timid 15yr old boy is turned into a vampire he is recruited by a monster fighting squad to protect his town and gain the cure that will turn him human." to whittle it down a bit.

[@dharmeshpatel8972]

Dev Anand

[@PranavGogwekar]

why didn't I see this before. Things would have been better.

[@ms.rstake_1211]

Sorry. I'm working on my script now. Any warnings that would be useful to me.

[@PranavGogwekar]

@@ms.rstake_1211 well, this video made me realise that the logline is basically pointers from the hero's journey in crisp. They way I had written my loglines before were different.

[@PrimeTime__]

RIP Patrice O'Neal

[@kathiravanganesh5618]

I don't know after so many rip off scenes from other movies I kinda hate stranger things

[@savannahscott90]

For anyone who’s feeling down: Romans 8:18 “The pain you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that is coming!” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Whatever is going on right now, have faith, your situation will get better. :) Jesus bless anyone reading this and have a great day!!🥰✨💖

[@ProphetsOfRockTV]

Apply specificity