May 2016: Three Common Logline Mistakes
I’m trying something new today. For purposes of
illustration, I’m writing a logline for this blog entry – a “blogline” I guess. It’s going to contain several
common logline mistakes. Here goes:
illustration, I’m writing a logline for this blog entry – a “blogline” I guess. It’s going to contain several
common logline mistakes. Here goes:
A cantankerous but kind screen-scribe overcomes the interloping of a baneful blog goblin to share some hard-won wisdom about loglines in this hilariously clever blog.
Any guesses as to what I did wrong? A couple mistakes should be clear from the logline itself. A third should become evident after reading down the page a bit.
1. Puffery
My first mistake is telling you my blog is
“hilariously clever”.
“hilariously clever”.
There’s nothing in this logline to suggest I’m so
terribly clever. There’s no reason for a
reader of this logline to believe that out of all the writers who toot their own horns I’m the one who’s simply being honest.
terribly clever. There’s no reason for a
reader of this logline to believe that out of all the writers who toot their own horns I’m the one who’s simply being honest.
Phrases like spellbinding, gripping and
laugh-out-loud belong in reviews, not loglines.
laugh-out-loud belong in reviews, not loglines.
It’s great to have confidence in your work, but
real confidence shows when you convey your story simply and cleanly and let your creativity sell itself.
real confidence shows when you convey your story simply and cleanly and let your creativity sell itself.
2. Wonderfully Wacky Word-Smithery
My second mistake is throwing in all the poetic
alliteration and those big words – cantankerous, interloping and baneful – to show how smart I am.
alliteration and those big words – cantankerous, interloping and baneful – to show how smart I am.
We’re writers, right? And so we rightfully spin sentences that whirl and swirl in wild flight, right?
No.
Not in screenwriting.
And definitely not in loglines.
Loglines are simple sales pitches. They work best when they’re unadorned and crystal clear.
Phrases like “cantankerous but kind” may sound
snappy at first, but they often just get in the way. And I’m not actually cantankerous at all.
snappy at first, but they often just get in the way. And I’m not actually cantankerous at all.
3. Catchy But Not Matchy
My third mistake is an important one to be aware of, and I see it a fair amount.
This particular mistake is impossible to spot
when reading the logline alone. But by now you may be getting a sense of it.
when reading the logline alone. But by now you may be getting a sense of it.
Log lines do more than simply get someone to read
your script. They set expectations for
the product you’re selling. This is why you need the log line to match your screenplay spot on. In other words, it needs to very accurately describe your script.
your script. They set expectations for
the product you’re selling. This is why you need the log line to match your screenplay spot on. In other words, it needs to very accurately describe your script.
And for purposes of illustration, my logline for
this blog needs to match what’s in it.
this blog needs to match what’s in it.
So where’s the interloping blog goblin?
HERE I AM!
GROG THE BLOG GOBLIN!
GROG THE BLOG GOBLIN!
GET READY FOR SOME INTERLOPING!!!
Too late, Grog.
By now, most readers have already decided
(consciously or unconsciously) that my blog didn’t deliver on the promise of its logline.
(consciously or unconsciously) that my blog didn’t deliver on the promise of its logline.
If you mention an antagonist in your logline, that
antagonist needs to be a big part of your screenplay – and should probably arrive in Act One.
antagonist needs to be a big part of your screenplay – and should probably arrive in Act One.
Loglines have to be accurate – accurate about
genre, accurate about the primary characters, accurate about the plot.
genre, accurate about the primary characters, accurate about the plot.
Even if you come up with a great catchy logline,
if it doesn’t match your story, you’re selling a product you’re not in a position to offer.
if it doesn’t match your story, you’re selling a product you’re not in a position to offer.
It may be that instead of changing the logline,
what really needs to change is your script. Either way, the bottom line is:
what really needs to change is your script. Either way, the bottom line is:
If you’re gonna sell, match the logline well.