What is a logline?

A logline is a one-sentence summary of your screenplay.

Origin

The term "logline" was first used in old Hollywood. The big studios would own hundreds of scripts, and the studio head would keep a log book that recorded concise summaries (or "loglines") that described each script in the studio's possession.

Loglines and Structure

The fundamental unit of structure for your screenplay is the logline. It should both describe the plot and grab the reader's attention.

A well-crafted logline will help you to stay focused during the writing process and communicate your idea to agents, producers and potential collaborators.

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“Screenplays are structure, and that's all they are. The quality of writing - which is crucial in almost every other form of literature - is not what makes a screenplay work.”

“The first draft, the first structure is really important. Do it fast, don't get stuck.”

“The first draft is nothing more than a starting point, so be wrong as fast as you can.”

“Breaking story, writing pages, or revising anything, Logline helps me keep my head in the clouds, my imagination running strong.”

“Every story, in a sense, is a mystery. It asks a question in the setup that will be answered at the climax.”

“Act One defines the conflict. Act Two elaborates that conflict to a Point of No Return. Act Three resolves that conflict, for good or ill.”

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William Goldman

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
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Oliver Stone

Wall Street & Platoon
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Andrew Stanton

Finding Nemo
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Tom Benedek

Screenwriting Master Class
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Linda Seger

Making a Good Script Great
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Dan O'Bannon

Alien
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Need Help?

We’re here to help you every step of the way. We have a dedicated Help Section here