Logline
BusinessDefinition: A logline is a one to two sentence summary of a screenplay that conveys the protagonist, their goal, the central conflict, and the stakes. It is the single most important marketing tool a screenwriter has — the sentence that makes someone want to read the script or the sentence that makes them pass.
Understanding Logline
A logline is not a tagline (that is marketing copy for audiences) and not a synopsis (that is a detailed summary). A logline answers: who is the protagonist, what do they want, what stands in their way, and what happens if they fail? The formula most producers respond to: "When [inciting incident], a [specific protagonist] must [goal] before [stakes]." The protagonist should be described with an adjective and occupation, not a name. "A disgraced FBI agent" is a logline character. "Agent Sarah Mitchell" is not — nobody knows who that is. Keep it to 25-35 words. If your logline is three sentences, it is a synopsis. If it is unclear, your concept might be unclear.
Example in a Screenplay
LOGLINE: When a reclusive forensic linguist is forced to authenticate a confession tape that could exonerate a death-row inmate, she discovers the voice on the recording is her own — from a night she cannot remember. (Protagonist: reclusive forensic linguist. Goal: authenticate the tape. Conflict: the voice is hers. Stakes: a man's life + her own culpability.)
Common Mistakes
Writing a logline that describes the setup but not the conflict — "A woman discovers a secret" is not a logline. Being too vague about the protagonist — "a person" tells us nothing. Including character names nobody recognizes. Writing three sentences when one strong sentence will do. Burying the hook at the end instead of leading with it.
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