What Is a Log Line? Definition, Examples & How To Use Them Effectively

If you’re writing a screenplay, or even working on a story for your favorite TV show, it’s important to have an engaging logline.

This is the short sentence that will help sell your project to Hollywood producers and agents alike.

A logline is a one-sentence summary of your story. It should be short and concise, but still, tell the reader what the movie is about and why they might want to watch it.

What Is A Logline

A well-written logline will help you attract an audience for your film because people are more likely to watch something they know what it’s about!

It also has information on how to write a good logline for your story or movie so that you can attract viewers by telling them in just one sentence what their experience with this work would be like.

How To Write A Logline

To start writing a logline there are a few things that are necessary.

At this point, you should have an idea for your story, know who your protagonist is, and have a rough idea of where it takes place.

You also need to decide on whether or not there is conflict in your story.

Also, an important part of this is the conclusion. The conclusion can be one sentence or a paragraph, but it needs to tie up any loose ends left by your logline.

This will also help you stay focused on what your story’s theme is trying to say.

The first thing I do when writing my logline’s conclusion is think about:

• Who the protagonist was at the beginning of my story?
• Who they are now at the end?
• What has changed for them? and
• Why did that change happen?

Finally, I ask myself what message I want people to walk away with from reading my logline. It might not always be as clear cut as “be yourself,” but it should have some kind of moral lesson or takeaway

We will discuss the importance of a logline and how to write one. A logline is your short summary that can be used for pitching your screenplay or television show.

It’s important because it gives the audience an idea of what they are about to watch before they even start watching it! Loglines also help you know if you have an original idea or not, so don’t forget to use this tool when writing your next script!

In this post, we’ll be exploring how to write a logline in four easy steps.

1. Think about what genre your story falls under, is it Comedy? Action-adventure? Drama? Horror?

2. Identify the protagonist’s goal: What does he/she want by the end of the film (or episode)? What obstacles are in their way?

3. Create three sentences that describe what happens as they pursue their goal

4. End with one final sentence that leaves us with some sort of excitement.

Elements Of A Logline

There are many different theories on what makes a good logline. One popular belief is that it should be no more than 25 words long.

Another says that it should tell the protagonist’s goal right away, followed by their challenge or conflict; another theory states that the ending sentence must contain an element of suspense – but hold off on giving up any spoilers!

So we’re going to help you out by giving you some of the elements that make up a successful logline and how they affect your story’s potential success.

1. “Once upon a time” – this phrase sets the stage for where and when the rest of your story takes place, as well as what might happen in it;

2. “Every day life was normal until” – this section introduces conflict;

3. “But then everything changed” – this suggests a surprise, a shock.

In film and television, a logline is the short summary of a screenplay. It is often used as an elevator pitch when pitching to executives or producers.

A good logline should be succinct, clear, and compelling in order to attract attention from those reading it. Here are some elements that will help you create your own successful loglines.

-A strong hook: This can come in many different forms including but not limited to using humor or emotion. You want the reader’s curiosity piqued immediately so they continue reading your work with interest!

-An inciting incident: This starts out slow and then becomes interesting quickly for the audience member who just started reading this blog post because of said event (elevator pitch).

Famous Movie Loglines

Famous TV show loglines are an interesting way to analyze the language of television. They can also be helpful in identifying a new show that one might like because they often include a hook or premise for the show and give you some information about what it’s about.

   

Famous movie loglines are often the first thing a viewer sees before they watch the film.

Movie Logline 1: “A man goes on a mission to find his girlfriend who has been abducted by aliens.” (Ender’s Game)

Movie Logline 2: “In 2028, John Connor leads the human resistance against Skynet and its machine army.” (Terminator Franchise)

Movie Logline 3: “When a mother-to-be begins craving raw meat, her family worries she may be carrying an evil spirit within.” (The Uninvited)

Another example:

“After being frozen in ice for 10,000 years, lawyer Scrooge McDuck must battle against aliens who are trying to take his gold,” from the film “DuckTales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.”

Famous Book Loglines

A well-known literary agent, Donald Maass, wrote a blog post about how to write “a great logline.” He breaks down the five elements that make for an engaging “hook” in any story. These hooks are compelling and will capture your reader’s attention.

1. The character is strong and active: they have a goal that drives the action of the story;

2. There is conflict: something stands in their way;

3. Something happens at just the right time to change their plans (the protagonist doesn’t know this);

4. They face obstacles along the way;

5. And finally, they reach their goal or destination with some kind of important lesson learned.

We’ve compiled a list of some famous book loglines that will inspire you and give you ideas for creating your own!

“A boy wizard finds himself in his darkest hour,” from Harry Potter;

“The first casualty of war is innocence,” from All Quiet on the Western Front;

“In this riveting, richly layered novel set against the backdrop of New York City’s high society during Prohibition-era America,” from The Great Gatsby.

Know The Difference Between A Tagline And A Logline

Taglines and loglines are similar in that they both summarize a product’s benefits. However, there is one key difference between the two: A tagline can be used for any product, while a logline focuses on just one specific product.

What is the difference between a tagline and a logline? Well, you might be surprised to know that there is more than one answer.

Tags are used in social media as marketing tools. They can also show up on business cards or other promotional materials.

A tagline has an excellent way of summarizing your company’s mission statement or slogan.

A logline should be no longer than 35 words and should sum up what the entire film will be about without giving away too many details (the ending).

A tagline is a short phrase that can be used to describe your company, product, or service.

A logline is a one sentence statement about what happens in the movie. Taglines are often written with an advertising slant and they usually have a message for the reader.

Loglines are more focused on telling the story of the film so that people will want to see it. Having both of these statements helps you get your point across in different ways without giving away too much information at once.

What Is a Log Line – Wrapping Up

Movie scripts and loglines are two different things, but both serve the same purpose: to tell a story.

Aspiring screenwriters can use these resources to help them craft their ideas into something more tangible.