What is a Log Line?



A logline is a one or two sentence summary of a film that gives the reader an emotional insight into the story as a whole.

It is different to a tagline, but must not be confused with this because a tagline is a piece of marketing copy designed to go on posters to sell the film.


10 Tips for Creating Log Lines:

(from 10 Tips for Writing Loglines)

1.     It must contain; the protagonist, their goal, the antagonist.
2.     Don’t use a character name.
3.     Use adjectives to describe the character.
4.     Quickly present the goal of the protagonist.
5.     Describe the antagonist.
6.     Protagonist must be pro-active.
7.     Where possible, include stakes/’time ticking’.
8.     Contain the setup.
9.     Do not reveal the ending.
10. “Don’t tell the story, sell the story.”


This article was useful for me because it has given me ideas of how to write a logline, what is important to include and what should not be included.


Examples of Loglines for Thriller Films

Gone Girl (2014) : "With his wife's disappearance having become the focus of an intense media circus, a man sees the spotlight turned on him when it's suspected that he may not be innocent."

 

Divergent (2014) : "In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late."
 

 

Inception (2010) : "A thief who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO."

My Own Practice of Writing a Logline:

"A young girl disappears from her home and a body is found days later. When one of her friends receives a letter from her supposedly dead friend, events start to get twisted.."