11. What’s a logline got to do with it
Homework
A budding screenwriter faces the trials of loglines, only to find it’s much more fun than she originally thought.
Task 1
These are the loglines you’re looking for
- Go on IMDB and click on a bunch of movies and TV shows.
- Notice that each and every one contains a logline near the top.
- Write out the loglines for twenty to thirty films / TV shows so you can get that succinct style under your fingers.
Task 2
Who said writing lines was a punishment?
Write a logline for your idea. Can you sum it up in a sentence? If not, the chances are the story won’t work later on in the writing process.
Look at your logline, then look at the list of professional loglines from Task 1. Are they structured in the same way? Is yours too long?
Try this with some like-minded friends; read them out to each other. Make it fun! You can help each other make them great – plus it’s great practice.
Next step
It’s time! Open up your screenwriting software and create your title page. Your title page needs to include – you guessed it! – your slick movie title.
It also needs to include:
- Your name (or nom de plume)
- Your e-mail address
- Your phone number
Keep your title page simple like this – no one is impressed by artistic covers – they just look like you’re trying to cover up a poor script with glitter & sparkles.
