Logline Templates

Save the Cat Community Forum Index » Loglines & Beat Sheets

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

wwem Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject: Logline Templates
Cat #22578

Hi everyone!
Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 15
This thread is a collection of various logline-templates.
These are to inspire and educate you, but foremost to test your pitch on all the key elements that make a solid logline.

First up, a template I found by Karl Iglesias:

(Title) is a (genre) about a (description of hero), who, after (inciting incident), wants to (outer goal) by (plan of action). This
becomes increasingly difficult because (obstacles and problems).

Example 1:

RAIN MAN is a DRAMA about a SLICK ANGRY SALESMAN, who, AFTER HIS DAD DIES, wants to GET HIS INHERITANCE by
MANIPULATING HIS BROTHER. This becomes increasingly difficult because HIS BROTHER IS AUTISTIC.

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Example 2:

This is what I came up with, when using the template years ago on one of my own ideas (“The Citizen” – as mentioned somewhere else in this
forum)

THE CITIZEN is a thriller about a Pentagon official in the 1950's, who, after discovering a Russian war plan, wants to prevent
World War 3 by kidnapping a key Kremlin advisor. This becomes increasingly difficult because the advisor is believed to have
the future-predicting powers, and he has the Russian leadership convinced they will win the war.

The result might not be perfect or very sexy, but it’s a great starting point and checklist.

Fellow cats, please contribute with more templates you’ve found through the years, or have created yourselves.

Kind regards,
wwem

Back to top

wwem Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 8:05 pm Post subject: From Storylink
Cat
#25483

Many thanks to the original poster at Storylink, Karen Kallis:

Joined: 28 Jul 2010
Posts: 15

Just in case anyone missed this, I'm posting it as a new entry. This is excellent!

a logline should be 25 words or less and must express the core of the story without excess details.

Here are three basic logline formulas. They're pretty simple and that
allows you to put your focus on presenting your story, instead of trying to
figure out some brilliant, but complicated logline structure.

1. Protagonist (has problem) and (must achieve goal) to solve that problem.

Example: THE FUGITIVE

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 Protagonist: A prominent doctor...

Problem: ...wrongly convicted of killing his wife...

Goal: ...escapes custody to find and expose the real killer.

2. Protagonist has (a goal) but (major obstacle) stands in his/her way.

Example: THE MUMMY

Protagonist: An archeologist...

Goal: ...seeks the treasure hidden inside one of the great pyramids...

Obstacle: ...but must fight off thousands of mummies to get it.

3. (Situation) causes (main character) to face (largest obstacle) and

(outcome)

Example: After his son makes a birthday wish, a shyster attorney must
reveal the truth to everyone, including his son. (Liar Liar.)

Example: LIAR LIAR

Situation: Son makes birthday wish...

Main Character: ...shyster attorney...

Largest Obstacle: ...must reveal the truth...

Outcome: ...reveal the truth to everyone, including his son.

Here is another great logline template:

· The best loglines include as many of these elements as possible: hero, flaw, lifechanging event, opponent, ally, and battle.
· Another feature of an effective logline is that it tells both the objective story (plot) and the subjective story (emotional/values journey). You

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 must include both. If you just tell the plot, you lose the emotional hook. If you just tell the emotional journey, you lose the means by which
the emotional journey unfolds within, and is supported by, a narrative progression.

A flaw is something that prevents the hero from responding successfully to the lifechanging event. The lifechanging event must force the hero
to choose between his/her flaw and the opportunity, challenge, or threat presented by that event.

Putting this together, here is E.T.:

"A meek and alienated (flaw) little boy (hero) finds a stranded extraterrestrial (lifechanging event/ally) and finds the courage (battle) to defy
authorities (opponent) to help the alien return to its home planet."

Here is Rocky:

A boxer (hero) with a loser mentality (flaw) is offered a chance by the world champ (opponent) to fight for the title (lifechanging event) but,
with the help of his lover (ally) must learn to see himself as a winner before he can step into the ring (battle)."

Here is Casablanca:

A jaded (flaw) WWII casino owner (hero) in Nazi-occupied Morocco sees his former lover (opponent) arrive (lifechanging event), accompanied
by her husband (ally) whose heroism forces the hero to choose between his cynicism, his feeling for his ex-lover, and his once-strong feelings
of patriotism (battle).

http://www.storylink.com/discussiontopic?discussion_topic_id=130

Back to top

Display posts from previous: All Posts Oldest First Go

All times are GMT - 5 Hours

Save the Cat Community Forum Index » Loglines & Beat Sheets

Page 1 of 1

Jump to: Loglines & Beat Sheets Go

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD
 © 2007-2008 Informe.com. Get Free Forum Hosting
Powered by phpBB © 2001- 2004 phpBB Group
::
Theme created by phpBBStyles.com | Themes Database

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD