How to Write A Killer Logline

There’s a lot of talk about loglines in this industry. That’s because every single TV series or film, be it long or short, narrative or documentary needs a great logline if it ever hopes to leave the comfort of your private files and venture out into the world. 

But great loglines aren’t easy to write. In fact, many writers who don’t think twice about pumping out 120-page feature screenplays consider these little two-line summaries the most dreadful part of their process. 

What is a Logline?

So what is a logline? Well, I’m so glad you asked. A logline is a very short summary of your screenplay’s concept. How short? Think 25 to 50 words. That’s one or two extremely efficient sentences.

You’ll notice I wrote CONCEPT and not STORY and that’s really the key to the very best loglines. They focus on the concept, the big picture, and they don’t get bogged down in the twists and turns. A good logline doesn’t need a beginning, middle and end. It just needs a hook.

What’s the difference between a Logline and Tagline?

Loglines and taglines are both short sales tools crafted to attract a reader’s interest in a film. But they serve two unique purposes and are structured differently to achieve those respective goals. 

A logline is a brief description of the screenplay’s premise used to lure producers or agents into reading the script. 

A tagline is a slogan for the finished film, used to attract audiences to buy a ticket. Usually a bit droll, it’s a more traditional marketing tool you’ll often find on the poster right under the title. 

Example:

Titanic

Logline: Two star-crossed lovers fall in love on the maiden voyage of the Titanic and struggle to survive as the doomed ship sinks into the Atlantic Ocean.

Tagline: Collide With Destiny. 

Haha. Collide? Get it? They’re all gonna die!

What’s the difference between a Logline and Synopsis?

The most obvious difference between a film’s logline and its synopsis is length. While a synopsis should run about a page long, a logline is only 25 to 50 words. But that’s not all that sets them apart. 

A synopsis aims to visualize the story. In this document you’ll be describing all the critical elements of the plot, taking the reader from beginning to end and stopping at all the best bits in between. We’ll get your main character, the setting, their goals, and their flaws. You’ll describe the most dazzling set pieces or compelling comedic/dramatic situations. The conflict and even the resolution will all be there on the page. After reading this one-page summary we should understand the whole arc and the themes of your film.

A movie logline is a tease of your premise that gives only the essential compelling components. Its sole purpose is to make the reader want to read more.

Are loglines really that important?

Do you want someone – anyone– to read your script? You need a logline to convince them. 

In this business, loglines are the only accepted currency in exchanges with producers, agents, artists grants, and festivals. Think of it as bait. With the average feature screenplay running at 100 pages these busy execs can’t possibly read every single script that lands on their desk or in their inbox. They must TRIAGE. And they use loglines to quickly gauge their interest in a given project. 

But that’s not all. Writing a logline is a crucial exercise in getting to know your own story. It forces you to think of the film in its most basic and interesting elements. In writing a great logline you are working toward understanding the conceptual core of your story. That’s what makes it so challenging. It’s also what makes it so important. 

Logline formula

You’ll be happy to hear there is an accepted formula for how to write a logline. The elements listed below are what industry folks expect to glean from any logline, so it’s a good place to begin. But remember, writing a logline is not a paint by numbers scenario. Once you’ve plugged in the basics of this logline formula you’ll have to work hard at nuancing your word choice and structure to get the most bang out of your logline buck. 

These can appear in any order that works for you, but all the elements need to be clearly defined if you are looking to write a truly killer logline.

Inciting incident

Many many great loglines begin with the word “When.” It’s truly a classic of the genre and I encourage you to start there too before messing around and experimenting with a different structure. Tell us first, what sets the action in motion. 

When her father dies… 

After landing a spot on a popular dance show… 

When a simple jewelry heist goes terribly wrong…

Main character

Avoid names, but tell us in two or three words who the main character is. That can mean their job, their age, their general attitude… whatever is most relevant to the premise. It can look something like this. 

Two low-level astronomers… 

A widowed new dad… 

A twenty-something stoner…

Conflict

Conflict! Can’t forget conflict. What’s the central conflict in your story? It can be epic like an intergalactic battle, or internal like a toy who doesn’t realize he’s a toy. Again, you gotta keep it down to a couple of well-chosen words. Here’s how that might look.

has to talk down a homicidal bank robber…

must protect his house from a pair of burglars…

fights to provide for her child and build them both a better future...

Stakes

What is conflict without stakes? This is is the answer to the question “Why do we care?” And if it’s going to eat 2 hours of our lives the stakes have to be life-altering. They can be global or personal. Think of the stakes as what’s at risk for the protagonist. Often we see these described as a ticking clock.

before he and his future cease to exist.

in order to save the world.

cram four years of fun into one night.

5 Tips For Writing a Good Logline

No SPOILERS

When writing your logline please describe all the relevant elements above but do not reveal the ending. We are trying to tease the reader here so want to leave them wanting more. 

Stay Active

Use present tense and keep the language active. You’re looking to engage and excite the reader so try to immerse them in the premise. 

Isn’t It Ironic?

Irony is a super-effective way of conveying a concept. Look for irony in your premise and put it at the fore. If you place opposite personalities or character types together or describe a fish out of water scenario, that’s built-in concept irony. It’s conflict that doesn’t need a lot of words to get its point across.

Razzle Dazzle

Once you’ve worked out your logline in the basic formula it’s time to experiment with word choice and structure. You should be writing dozens of versions working towards the perfect logline. 

Remember this logline will serve not only as a sales tool for your concept but also for YOU as a writer. It needs to be more than just the FACTS of your story. It should illustrate your skill as a writer and if you’re very clever even hint at the TONE of your film. 

Practice Makes Perfect

Like anything, logline writing takes practice. One fun way to flex the logline muscle is to write loglines for your favorite movies and TV shows. How would you fit them into the formula? How can you convey the premise and tone in the fewest words possible?

I like to think of it as linguistic limbo. How low can you go? Bonus: you now have a handy two-sentence descriptor when making recommendations to family and friends. 

Some Famous Logline Examples

Now for the requisite famous logline examples. Check the poster art for each film’s slick tagline and compare it to the logline. And since this is MY blog, I’ve only included films that I really enjoy from over a decade ago. Ha! 

Who Framed Roger Rabbit? : A toon-hating detective is a cartoon rabbit’s only hope to prove his innocence when he is accused of murder.

Bridesmaids: Competition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid over who is the bride’s best friend threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef.

Speed: A young police officer must prevent a bomb exploding aboard a city bus by keeping its speed above 50 mph.