1. Film Loglines
Selling the Concept

2. Definition:
A logline is a one (or occasionally two) sentence description that boils the script down to its essential dramatic narrative in as succinct a manner as possible.
In contrast, a tagline is a piece of marketing copy designed to go on posters to sell the film: “In space no one can hear you scream” (Alien)

3. A Logline must have: The protagonist
Don’t use the character’s name – tell us something about the character:
A fry cook
An ex-superhero
Add an adjective to give depth to the character:
A mute fry cook
An alcoholic ex-superhero

4. A Logline must have: The Protagonist’s Goal
This is what drives the story – be clear and concise:
A mute fry cook wants to win the position of Head Chef at her boss’ new restaurant.
An alcoholic ex-superhero searches for his daughter.

5. A Logline must have: An Antagonist (or Conflict)
The antagonist should be described in a similar but preferably shorter manner than the hero:
A mute fry cook must fight off an ambitious rival to win the position of Head Chef at her boss’ new restaurant.
An alcoholic ex-superhero searches for his daughter after she is kidnapped by his demented, jealous former sidekick.

6. The “ticking time bomb”
If you can, include stakes to add urgency to the story:
To save his reputation, a secretly gay frat-boy must sleep with 15 women by the end-of-year party.
A retired, alcoholic nun with face cancer must help the Pope regain his lost faith, before a massive asteroid destroys all life on Earth.

7. The setup
Some scripts operate in a world with different rules from our own and require a brief explanation:
In a world where children are grown in vats…
Driven to a mental breakdown by an accident at work, an aquarium manager must…

8. Guess the film
“A young computer hacker discovers that our world is a virtual reality, created by intelligent machines to enslave Mankind; he must join humanity's fight against the machines, and accept his new role as leader of the resistance.” THE MATRIX “Three hung-over bachelors sift through the wreckage of a Las Vegas bachelor party for clues to where they misplaced the groom.” THE HANGOVER

9. Guess the film
“Two imprisoned men bond over a number of years, finding solace and eventual redemption through acts of common decency.” THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION “With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.” DJANGO UNCHAINED

10. Guess the film
“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 “An insomniac office worker, looking for a way to change his life, crosses paths with a devil- may-care soapmaker, forming an underground club that evolves into something much, much more.” FIGHT CLUB

11. Your turn
Your group will create an original logline for an existing film. Your finished loglines will be read aloud, and the class will try to guess the film.
Some final thoughts:
Do not use names
Do not reveal the ending
Every word counts, so choose carefully…
- Good luck!