Loglines   What is a longline? "A one or two sentence encapsulation of your story. It highlights character conflict and those aspects of your piece that make it unique."   I was so thrown by this concept when I started! How the hell was I supposed to funnel my 120 page screenplay into two sentences? And it's something I still struggle with today.   Loglines have to answer certain questions "What's the hook?" "Does it have audience appeal?"   Remember; 

• Concept is your greatest ally.

  Some other things to ask yourself as you are writing the logline:

• What is the crux of your film?
• Is the concept clear and easily understood?
• Does it suggest the largest conflict in the film?
• Does it suggest your cast of characters?
• What's unique?
• What may be familiar to your audience?
• What is easily marketable about your film?
• What is the dynamic action of your film?

  Sometimes it helps to think of it as a one line premise.    What has worked with me now is trying to write the logllne first and it's a very, very short outline. Your main character is there, the conflict and what makes it unique.   Some Logline examples: And I just stole these online. But it's important to show how easy it can be sometimes. Once we hear these loglines, it's like, why the hell didn't I think of that. It is also something that can help producers sell your movie. Get that elevator pitch down. How will you sell your script without pulling out your 2 page synopsis? Create an amazing longline!    Good ones:   "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." SILENCE OF THE LAMBS   "Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency." THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION   "Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after becoming infatuated with his daughter's attractive friend." AMERICAN BEAUTY (This one adds the actual name. This is a personal preference. But it does take up space in those two sentences. It is just as impactful to start right off with "A Depressed suburban father…")   "An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soapmaker form an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more." FIGHT CLUB   "A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family's future." BREAKING BAD   Now some example of bad ones:   GRADUATE  - A college graduate, home for the summer, has an affair with the wife of his father's business partner, then falls in love with her daughter.    DENNIS THE MENACE  – Comic strip moppet plays pranks on Mr. Wilson.   EDWARD SCISSORHANDS  – A suburban mother brings home a freaky young man who has scissors instead of hands.   I think it's so important to practice this, so every screenplay that is entered into the Monthly Writing Madness will require a logline right on the title page.    I've added a great exercise in this weeks freebie into the show notes. There are great questions to ask of your script. Not only will it help create a logline but it will also help your script as a whole. Because if you can not answer these questions for your logline then how is your full script fairing? So use this exercise for your logline and a quick examination of your script as a whole.   If you are just starting out and this concept intimidates you, there is a great formula that I was taught when I got my Masters.   Write down the protagonist, setting, problem, antagonist, conflict and goal. Then put it down into the the logline as such:   (Protagonist) in (setting) has/did/was (problem) caused by (antagonist) and (conflict) as they/he/she can (goal).    Work on this simple technique until you become confident with your own logline ability. I still use this to get the first logline out and then tweek it to fit what I was really wanting to say. I'll be adding this technique into the freebie that you can find in the show notes and also at www.ink2screen.net/page2.      Now the 4 things to avoid doing when writing your logline.

1. A logline is not a tagline. The tagline like In space no one can hear you scream!" This does not a logline make. Follow the steps above to create the best logline for your movie.
2. Avoid the cliche as much as possible. Cliches are vague and do not provide the unique quality that only your script has.
3. Questions. Do not ask questions in your logline. The logline can keep the reader guessing but don't ask them the question. Let them wonder and want to read more.
4. Keep it simple, stupid! Some writers go on and on. One to two sentences is all but that does not mean to create an eight line run on sentence. Strip it down and throw it out into the world.

  Avoid these 5 things and you will be ahead of the game.    That is the crash course on loglines. If you want practice, take the Logline action guide from the show notes and practice writing a logline for your favorite films. How can you get it down to the bare bones.   Next week we will be in the middle of the first Monthly Writing Madness competition and it will be a great time to talk more about character development.   If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe to it no matter where you are listening from. And you can also find us on facebook under Ink 2 Screen.    Well, time to go. Hope to hear the furious scratch on the paper or the gentle tapping of a keyboard. Until next time.