10 Great Log Line Examples and 3 Tips for Crafting Your Own

Writing a captivating log line is essential for screenwriters - it has the power to get people excited about your story’s potential.

But distilling your screenplay’s concept, genre, story, characters, and plot into a one to two sentence description of is one of the hardest things to do. I’ve heard a lot of log lines in my career and the ones that don’t work are long, rambling and confusing to follow. The best ones are clean, simple and carry an emotional punch.

Here are 3 tips to consider when writing your own log line and 10 amazing examples for inspiration:

Tips to Consider:

1. A Powerful Log Line starts with a Compelling Protagonist

A powerful log line is built around a dynamic protagonist - a character that’s distinctive, complex, and drives the action of your screenplay. Get clear on the heart of your story: what makes your main character fascinating and unique (protagonist), what’s the struggle they’re going to have to overcome (obstacle), and what intriguing, emotionally powerful thing are they trying to achieve (goal). Put it all together and you have the bones of a great log line. Click HERE for my three simple (and essential) steps to creating a log line.

2. Make sure it ‘Travels Well’

A good test of a great log line is how well it “travels”. When you pitch a producer that producer than pitches an executive (or a whole team of executives), and that executive has to ultimately pitch their boss. Your log line is usually what they lead with, which means a great log line can be essential to rising up the food chain and getting your show or movie sold. Your one or two sentences have to be clear enough that someone, other than you, can communicate it (send it in an email, pitch it over the phone, tell an executive at a networking event) and the listener will get a clear idea of your story, become emotionally invested, and be able to turn around and relay it to someone else. Try practicing your log line on your friends (especially orally, it has to be easy to say) are they invested? Is the story clear and intriguing to them? Do they want to find out more?

3. Know the Difference between a Tag line and a Log line

Log lines can easily be confused with Tag lines. Tag lines are compelling one-liners used to market your show or movie to the public; their goal is to instantly intrigue an audience. Think about the image and that one line, on a billboard or side of the bus. That’s a tag line. A log line has to be intriguing too, but, unlike a tag line, also has to have the ‘nuts and bolts’ of your story that are necessary to pitch and sell a project.

Here’s the tag line for Alien:

“In space, no one can hear you scream.”

It’s definitely gripping and gives a clear sense of tone and theme, but doesn’t give a clear story. Your log line can still have clever wording, like a tag line, but needs to be much more explicit.

Here’s the log line for the same movie:

“After responding to a distress signal, a space crew is forced to confront a deadly alien who stows aboard their ship, leaving one member to fend for herself. “

See the difference? The log line gives a specific premise, the world the story explores, and the obstacle of the main character. A great log line strikes a balance between essential information and dynamic wording.

TV Log line Examples:

An epic struggle for power set in a vast and violent fantasy kingdom. (Game Of Thrones)

A comedy series adapted from the award-winning play about a young woman trying to cope with life in London whilst coming to terms with a recent tragedy. (Fleabag)

A small town, deeply moral Sheriff must lead a group of survivors in a post apocalyptic zombie-invested world. (The Walking Dead)

Follows the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern-day African-American woman. (Insecure)

Two toxic, self-destructive people who fall in love and attempt the impossible — a relationship. (You’re the Worst)

Movie Log line Examples:

A poor family goes to work for a rich family, in a drama about greed and wealth and class. (Parasite)

Annie is a mess of a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend and a group of colorful bridesmaids on a wild ride down the road to matrimony.  (Bridesmaids)

After being severely hurt by a grenade at a Hitler youth camp, a prideful and nationalistic ten-year old boy discovers that his mother is hiding a fifteen year old Jewish girl in their house. (Jojo Rabbit)

A cowboy doll is profoundly threatened and jealous when a new spaceman figure supplants him as top toy in a boy’s room. (Toy Story)

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. (Godfather)

What are your steps to creating an intriguing log line? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!