How to Write a Logline

If you plan on becoming a screenwriter, the ability to craft a good logline will become a crucial part of your skill set.
A logline is a 1-2 sentence summary of what the core of your story is about. Not only that, it serves as a baseline from which you can communicate your story quickly and clearly to many different people. So crafting a good one is harder than it looks!
In this video, RocketJump's Head Writer Will Campos tackles the process of writing an effective logline for your script, and explains why it's important to the writing process. Not only is it good for quick communication and a solid pitch, but it can actually help you become a better writer.
Questions for Will? Want to take a shot at writing your own loglines? Come practice in our forums and get feedback!
j.mp/WriteLogli...
RESOURCES:
Major shout-out to Bitter Script Reader. Check out their Blog & Twitter here:
thebitterscript...
/ bittrscrptreadr
Save The Cat! Logline Template & Website:
bit.ly/CatLogline
www.savethecat....
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Questions about our sponsors and how they work? A video on that soon, but we have an open policy and can answer your questions directly on our forums: discuss.rocketj...
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[@garymitchell9848]

I'm sure others have thought of it, but it occurs that writing a logline for every seperate scene in a story could be a useful tool in helping keep your plot on track. Specifically in stopping scenes from being vague, unfocused "fillers". Obviously, a bit of change to the process: for example changing the description of the protagonist from an overall portrait to a description that fits the actual scene and where the hero is at that particular place and time. For example - "An unprepared and unarmed John Maclaine has to cross a floor covered in broken glass in order to avoid being captured or shot and buy himself enough time to figure out what is going on and come up with a plan to save himself and his wife". Working on each scene like this, could help us distill the essence of each individual scene in the same way that a more general logline helps us with the whole story. Anyway, great vid, thanks!

[@bennetthardy]

this idea rocks! Im prob gonna use this

[@ParvaizRaja]

That's called outlining the script.

[@gutenbird]

Good idea. I hope I remember to use this suggestion.

[@TheChicagoCourier]

You wouldn't want to be in an elevator with Harvey Weinstein.

[@jackkmccoy]

TheChicagoCourier "Holy cow there's Harvey Weinstein."

[@joeygonzo]

" I came for a reading, not groping."

[@maximeteppe7627]

yeah, that small bit made me stop a second...how things change in a few months...

[@paraisoenllamas]

jajajajajaj

[@ThePrimordialChronicles]

If you’re a woman*

[@LaneCarter]

Will is a great teacher. I love listening to him discuss writing. Such passion.

[@duaneborgaes7449]

⚡💯🏁✨

[@brockkelly4841]

Don't be vague "A guy has to pickup his daughter." -Taken

[@ethidian3444]

You didn't explain anything. This could be a cheerleader-dad movie.

[@brockkelly4841]

Ethidian Exactly don't be vague in a log line.

[@AtlasFox]

Brock Kelly I think he was kidding!

[@brockkelly4841]

Thank you echo fox.

[@beebuzz959]

I agree with Ethidian, this could be any movie, there's no conflict, genre, or anything. This could describe any guy who picks up his daughter from school, a friend's house, our anything. Very different from the movie.

[@WhaddafrickTV]

"Holy cow that's Harvey Winestein.... RUN!!!"

[@constablesolosolave1761]

Lol I wouldn’t want to be in an elevator with Harvey Weinstein now.

[@theboxofdogs]

I don’t think prison have elevators

[@ipadair7345]

Rocket Jump I can't thank you enough for creating this channel. It means a lot to amateaurs like me.

[@aoshaw]

Never heard of a logline before, but you know what they say, you learn something new every Thursday!

[@8bitbonfire61]

1:08 "You walk into an elevator and holy cow... please don't pull it out. I don't want to see it."

[@lepolygon9979]

Great episode! I like that we see Wills process, while he himself does the exercice. It is easy to relate to his struggle and it motivates to try harder. This is so much better then a cooking show, already having a finished exercise preppered up front. Keep the good work up guys!!

[@greenbeat8799]

I love that you took us through the process. I learned so much...thanks a million!!!

[@justinwallace269]

This the perfect example of a great presentation that didn't age well lol. If only you'd known what would happen a short time later lol. Jokes aside, great explanation! Thank you!

[@meanmarkawa383]

Ouch. Recent events make that Weinstein part awkward. Not RJ's fault though.

[@justcharleston1879]

I love rocket jump film school!

[@Ethergirl]

This was extremely helpful, thanks Will. I am writing a log line today, and I haven't had to do this for a while. I wrote a version before I watched your video, but this reminded me of a whole bunch of things that is helping me to tighten it up and improve it.

[@lizbertran2011]

Definitely easier said than done. The elevator pitch was helpful and realistic because there is only a small window of opportunity to sell your ideas! Excellent choice to use Bruce Willis and Die Hard as an example breakdown. Thanks for another great tutorial Rocket Jump Film School.

[@CanCanElf16]

I realized creating loglines first makes the scriptwriting process much easier than ever! Thanks Will!

[@AceTrainerBanjo]

"Eccentric billionaire spends his fortune on extravagant toys and a tactical fur suit in an attempt to cope with childhood traumas." - Batman Begins

[@katyashakula3276]

No matter what I need, this channel has it. Thank you.

[@محمداحمد-ت9و4ث]

Great! I had written a feature length script 4 month ago and I couldn't find a good logline for it now after I writed the second draft I searched for a good example of longlines and this really helped me!

[@OliKember]

This is so super helpful, thank you. The struggle is real, and seeing yours play out here is endearing and inspiring!

[@danitellopeelio]

If I found myself in an elevator with Harvey alone....I'm not thinking about log lines.

[@duaneborgaes7449]

😂🏁✨🙂👍

[@jonathanstewart351]

Would you be interested in seeing this film after reading this logline: Brin is a once-famous artist preparing for a comeback show, but before the show opens he ‘dies’ in a fire, then decides to stay ‘dead’ so his works will go up in value…until someone tries to kill him for real.

[@mudiagaoneil1384]

I really enjoyed your explanations with copious amounts of real life examples!

[@Penwheng]

How you really explained what a longline is and how to write one in a fun way. Thank you!

[@sycomorech]

This is awesome! Wrote a clear, one-sentence logline while watching your video! THANKS!!!!

[@falcon054]

A retired Assassin kills everyone involved with his dog's murder.

[@thejordyoshi]

Baba Yaga.

[@kameliyaorlinova9066]

I'd watch it!

[@laido]

@@kameliyaorlinova9066 You are lucky because that movie exists... Have you ever heard of Keanu Reeves and the movie franchise "John Wick"? XD

[@itsmudshrk5714]

I have an idea for a long line of a movie of my own. "A group of friends discover a box filled with tapes that describe a dead man's confessions of what he wanted to do before his demise. These boys take it upon themselves to complete these things that the man describes to remember and honor him." How is it?

[@johunter4733]

Nice, but describe he friends. dunderheads, misfits, old timers, school kids, guilt ridden former bullies....

[@NikGushue]

This video is proof that yes, things can age awfully after only a few months.

[@w33blord66]

"A woman is stuck in an elevator with Harvey Weinstein and can't escape until they reach the bottom floor." would be a great logline for a horror movie...

[@keyplayer101]

Best comment on this page!

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

sounds more like a thriller. A psychological thriller.

[@jag5798]

His energy is contagious - I feel his pain in writing that logline.

[@MichaelCreative]

I'm excited to try out this way of working out loglines. Thanks! 🙏

[@NaijaCINE]

How did Tom Ford become such a good script writer? When did he have the time to learn the intricacies of script writing and filmmaking while running a global fashion empire, while I can't seem to have the time to make a weekly mealtime while working part time? What in the world is Tom Ford's secret!?! *que X-files music*

[@мастерсмерти]

We want more Will

[@InformantNet]

Wow, of all producers in all the world you chose the one man...

[@peterxyz3541]

Thanks!!! Useful!!! "Creativity" can be a tough reality to watch... "moments later"!!!

[@gadgetchicks3]

Every single time i have a new script ideaq, i come back to this video to write a logline

[@rkpetry]

Loglines and Titles are the candy-popping dream-team one-liners' pièce-de-résistance... I once worked-up 145+ titles to find one that met all the requirements, from "Yo-Yo Mouse, to, Mene Midi Mici, to, Mouse Overbored, to, Centrifugal Mouse, to, On-Mouse-All-Over, to, Comeback Mouse In Uproar Bit,,, and finally, Mouse On The Horizon" got the word-sense.

[@elid377]

you should make a video on differences betwen Log, synopsis and treatment.

[@transformersloverjon]

Ellier Dov Check out Film Riot.

[@darthyvardyreal]

A nerdy film writer demonstrates how to write a proper log line while struggling to put the right words together inorder to describe the plot to the Bruce Willis blockbuster Diehard.

[@judichristopher4604]

"Bravo" Pachi ... ;)

[@thelonedreamer9050]

Clever, very clever...

[@ParvaizRaja]

hahahahahahahahaha

[@aniketbhavsar2385]

great video on logline, its so casual loved it !! cheers to you guys !

[@asianjared]

More videos on screen writing. PLEASE

[@AmbroseReed]

This honestly seems like a good skill for lots of types of communication. Politicians especially have to hack down their ideas to bite-size chunks all the time.

[@SquirrelsForAll]

This was helpful, great work!

[@judichristopher4604]

This was GREAT... "Thank YOU Will..."

[@eduardoniemeyer6485]

1:11 the next thing you do is get off the elevator and run like hell

[@subject_of_ymir]

Lmao

[@abrahamcallard4569]

YOU DON'T WANNA BE IN AN ELEVATOR WITH HARVEY WEINSTEIN

[@pravin7541]

Why what happ

[@Sams_Uncle]

This is genius idea! Thank You sir

[@aquanautorange885]

@1:13 - that situation would be very different in 2021.

[@ipadair7345]

The ironic part is that, the video teaching us the shortest way to tell a plot, is one of the longer episodes you have made. P.S. How's that for a longline? :)

[@Emily-vm5iu]

This is super helpful, thank you guys! You rock.

[@romeo_scorpio]

Good teacher.

[@EpikkOreo]

Lol. Highly doubt that anyone will want to pitch Harvey Weinstein anything anymore.

[@Shoebill]

I'm such a nerd for enjoying this.

[@maibangemu1479]

This is extremely useful, thank you.

[@tomfu6210]

OK, this i s a logline! You walk in an elevator and there is Harvy Weinstein in orange suit, asking you for help...

[@justinbrewer3288]

Lets say I don't run into a producer in an elevator..Where do you PUT a log line? is it sent to a producer, attached to the screenplay? Is it sent separate?

[@vikkipakki]

What about a movie like The Conjuring? Should the logline follow the Warrens or the family that's are being attacked and have more to lose?

[@abduljalilshahkar3635]

Great job

[@antonbosredon]

film school is back!

[@LJ-po1bg]

This was very helpful bro thanks

[@i8ET]

Thank you so much for this 🙏

[@AndrewVaughanOfficial]

The logline of my next short film: A government-issued android that has gone missing as a result of discovering autonomy is found in a small city by two federal agents and must fight for his self-perceived freedom.

[@krishacz]

Chappie? Short Circuit?

[@AndrewVaughanOfficial]

More like Blade Runner :) Just with a smaller budget. Much smaller. Almost nonexistent.

[@filmnewsreport3231]

Maybe you should say, "A government issued android went missing after the discovery of autonomy. He is found by two federal agents in a small city and must fight for his self-perceived freedom." It kinda rolls off the tongue better.

[@AndrewVaughanOfficial]

Film News Report Good idea, will do.

[@rafikkoudri1897]

it's kinda long for a short film , good luck with it

[@GeoffKnoop]

Great video! Thanks!

[@brianking8836]

I love this guy! great job... thx

[@amandataebby]

This is the most helpful video I've found!! Thank you so much. Sub'd😁

[@HarrySatchelWhatsThatSmell]

How many screenplays have you optioned?

[@SquirrelsForAll]

Well done, thank you!

[@jaxel_ms1990]

"A nervous widower must go on a perilous journey with a mentally ill woman to find his kidnapped son." -Finding Nemo

[@pugnatumterram7452]

So you do your log line after your wrote the screen play? Because you seem to be simply explaining (log lining?) a finished product.

[@jamesbarber8641]

I have found the taking a stab at creating a logline after the story has formed in my head and in my outline helps to keep the screenwriting focused. Then once it is done... or near completion it is easy to make slight revisions to the logline. But I have done both.

[@lb1839]

My logline is only one sentence, but it's 3 1/2 lines long! is this acceptable or am I a lazy writer??😅

[@mazza420]

im proud of you either way

[@gabrielapiazza7611]

I was doing my little list for my little horror short film and got to the "how does he overcome it?" and went "he doesn't" and uhm... I wrote that on my list...

[@eliasfog6353]

Cool, but it describes only action aspect of the story. And how about his personality? Or it is genre difference?

[@lynelleclark]

I am not sure if my logline would be read but here it goes. I have followed your guidelines and some feedback I received said it's to much wording, and I tend to agree. The problem that I have is that I have two protagonists and two antagonists. Your feedback will really be appreciated. The logline for my new book is: "Whisked to picturesque Valetta, a lonely nurse and betrayed colonel's soul connection set the bar in a stirring plot of spiritual and physical survival as a determined warlord in Africa and cunning cheating wife in America trapped them in time. The healing sands of Iraq their only hope."

[@LesiureBoy]

Btw, I like your energy:)

[@fullof78889]

I Love this school ..thank you

[@Achromasloth]

Oh shit no get me out of this elevator!

[@abcvideoyoutuization]

Is there a difference between a log line and a tagline.

[@firstlast-oo1he]

Tagline = what you see on movie posters. Doesn't describe anything about the plot. Only there to build hype. Logline = Explains the central conflict of the story.

[@ken-dog]

It's the crunchy munchy man. In the flesh. I am pleased.

[@Dennis-E-Sebastian]

EXCELLENT!!!

[@felipecosta9632]

For ios users: Pause the video whenever the text he tipes appear on the screen, click anywhere on the video to see some blocksaround the text. For ipad pro 9.7 users: Just turn on true tone. Can someone explain?

[@mikel8790]

When you pause the video, blocks appear around the text

[@mads5089]

The emotion of joy gets lost from the brain and suddenly the world goes dark Normal life... I mean Inside out, yeah, Inside Out

[@mads5089]

Geez that was too deep

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

Inside Out, most definitely.

[@condoti]

I was in an elevator once with Harvey Weinstein. I summoned up my courage and said: "Mr Weinstein, I have a terrific movie idea for you." He asked for a massage and when I declined, he nutted on the potted plant. Crazy huh? I mean, why was there a potted plant in the elevator?

[@bywoelflegames9961]

A young boy with hidden powers is swept away from the clutches of his Aunt and Uncle only to discover a world full of magic and adventure. After learning who he is, a dark threat approaches, unraveling the truth of his past. Will he and his friends solve the mysteries that lie ahead, or will the darkness return to its former power and change this new world as we know it. (open to opinions and criticism :P )

[@thetulianrenegade1827]

love it!

[@hasnulroslani]

whats the difference between loglines and a sypnosis?

[@DonVigaDeFierro]

IIRC Loglines are like the "pitch" of the story, while synopses are summaries of the plot.

[@carolfromhr9900]

Great video, but yikes! That Weinstein bit gave me goosebumps.

[@h0m3st4r]

The logline of a feature-length script I'm trying to sell: A perceptive but apathetic teenage athlete travels to a space colony to become the next champion of the annual gladiatorial simulation games, thinking that life in the colony is better than it is on the previously war-torn Earth.

[@Ivi942]

A perceptive but apathetic teenage athlete leaves a war torn earth for a space colony, where he competes in the annual gladiatorial simulation games. This might be a good way to shorten it c:

[@h0m3st4r]

Well, actually, by the time the story starts, the war has long-since passed, but people still remember it and the consequences.

[@x134yf]

I like this

[@gadgetchicks3]

just realized im not subscribed just realized im an idiot thats gonna change now cuz im subscribed to you

[@DavidFrancis24824]

Loved the video, but the bad guys definitely aren't terrorists. They are burglars or robbers. They are there for the money (bonds) in the vault. Thanks for the great video though.

[@tomfu6210]

Good Log

[@JiminyHCriquet]

easiest way to write a log line is to watch harvey take a shower

[@modeforjoe]

Here's a logline to an existing movie, see if you can guess it: An orphaned boy becomes radicalized after a military strike kills his aunt and uncle. He is indoctrinated into an ancient religion, joins a band of rebel insurgents, and carries out a terrorist attack killing 1.7 million people.

[@Sandeep-gt7rp]

Joe C And which movie is that?

[@modeforjoe]

Why, it's Star Wars of course! A New Hope, to be exact.

[@Sandeep-gt7rp]

I'm from Nepal and sorry to say, the Star Wars fever hasn't exactly caught up with the people here. However, I do have all those movies, which I downloaded from torrent, as is the norm here, and I plan to watch them very soon. I know it is piracy, but I can't pay for an original DVD. Which country are you from, mate?

[@alexxolo]

that awkward moment when Harvey Weinstein appears

[@InsaurraldeGustavo]

IMPRESIONANTE!

[@Branstock]

In the 80s NYC was considered a dangerous city, NYC cop face danger different from LA cops. But John McClane is even beyond that. He's saving both his wive and his marriage.

[@eeveemakeralibi]

Yes this is writing

[@itsmudshrk5714]

A boy travels back in time and must make his parents have sex.

[@ananimeplace.3808]

ItsMudshrk in order to continue existing

[@johnnappa]

Not sure anybody wants to be stuck in an elevator with Harvey Weinstein anymore...

[@josuebenvindo]

hahahahaha