Nope, not lines that you stand in for logs. Sorry people in cold places! Some writers are great at loglines, others... not so much. When I went to Full Sail we used the attached worksheet. I've attached my first logline for "Sandbox" as well. I can tell you that was not how I was taught to do a logline as an undergrad. I learned from someone who'd actually sold things. I guess we should start with what is a logline? Loglines are those 2 sentence blurbs that are on the info screen. It's what makes you say, "Hm, that sounds ah-MAZ-ing" or "That sounds like shit, keep flipping!" It's the hook and that's how you get someone to read your script. (Do not submit a script with the logline on the cover unless it's requested!) Here's one logline for a sci-fi series I've adapted from a few shorts that I wrote called "The Brigid Chronicles." A Volmari time traveler, at the direction of the Order, puts timelines right; not just for earth but other planets and due to her travels, she happens to inspire the Celtic to create a Goddess in her likeness. And for "Sandbox." As the war in Iraq becomes deadlier, Army SGT Winter Ashcroft copes with the death of her fiancé in Afghanistan, being away from her daughter for the first time, as well as a sadistic section sergeant, all while teaching her soldiers how to survive on the battlefield. (This is loosely based on the FSU model. I'm not a fan but this has also gotten material requests. I don't even use this when I pitch live. We'll go over pitching in another post!) Which one would hook you? I'm in the "not great at loglines" category. When you're writing a logline, find things that are similar to your story that have been produced. Take a look at the structure and what elements of the story that are used in the logline. Do you know how Star Trek was pitched? "Wagon Train in space!" Well... okay. That's not a logline, that's a comp (or comparison) which has nothing to do with a logline. It sets up the tone of your script. "Sandbox" is "M*A*S*H" meets "China Beach" in the desert of Iraq. "The Brigid Chronicles" is "Doctor Who" meets "Quantuum Leap" and "Sliders." <-- They set the tone, not tell about the script. I felt it important to differentiate between comps and loglines before we move on. The Full Sail model is 55 words and one long run-on sentence. Make sure it's active and present not passive or past tense. Does it have to be 55 words? No. Can you get the reader to pick up your script in 15 or 20, or *gasp* 10? By all means do so! Dr. Format says "Write the TV Guide logline for your story!" He uses Who, What, Why, & Who. I'll use "Sandbox" as an example. Who is your central character? SGT Winter Ashcroft What is his/her main goal? To survive a war zone and get home uninjured, both physically and mentally. (This goal should drive the story.) Why is the goal important to the character? She has a young daughter that she needs to get home to. Who is trying to stop her from achieving that goal? The war and SFC Grundhoffer. As the war in Iraq becomes deadlier, Army SGT Winter Ashcroft copes with the death of her fiancé in Afghanistan, being away from her daughter for the first time, as well as a sadistic section sergeant, all while teaching her soldiers how to survive on the battlefield. (Does this fit the TV Guide model? I think it does and adds a little more.) However you do your logline... what matters is that it hooks the reader. Don't do run-on sentences and keep it present and active. Have fun crafting your loglines! If you have any questions, feel free to give me a shout! I hope this has been a little bit helpful.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Legion M
These posts were from the Writers Room in the Legion M Forum. "Screenwriting 101" is written by Nikki Ackerman. Don't know what Legion M is? It's the world's first fan-owned entertainment company. Want to know more? Visit Legion M at legionm.com Archives
January 2021
Categories |