{{Short description|Brief summary of a television program, film, or book}} {{For|the navigational device used to measure a ship's speed|Chip log}}

A '''log line''' or '''logline''' is a brief (usually one-sentence) summary of a television program, film, short film or book, that states the central conflict of the story, often providing both a synopsis of the story's plot, and an emotional "hook" to stimulate interest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://industrialscripts.com/loglines-guide/|title=How to Write Outstanding TV & Movie Loglines: The ULTIMATE Guide|date=2019-06-11|website=Industrial Scripts®|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-01}}</ref> A one-sentence program summary in ''TV Guide'' is a log line.<ref>{{harvtxt|Brewer|2014|p=29}}</ref> "A log line is a single sentence describing your entire story,"<ref>Russell, James (2000). ''Screen & Stage Marketing Secrets: The Writer's Guide to Marketing Scripts'', p.61. James Russell Publishing. {{ISBN|9780916367114}}.</ref> however, "it is not a straight summary of the project. It goes to the heart of what a project is about in one or two sentences, defining the theme of the project&nbsp;... and suggest[ing] a bigger meaning."<ref name="Perebinossoff">Perebinossoff, Philippe; Gross, Brian; and Gross, Lynne S. (2005). ''Programming for TV, Radio, and the Internet: Strategy, Development, and Evaluation'', p. 73. Taylor & Francis. {{ISBN|9780240806822}}.</ref> "A logline is a one-sentence summary of the story's main conflict. It is not a statement of theme but rather a premise."<ref>Steiff, Josef (2005). ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Independent Filmmaking'', p. 57. Penguin. {{ISBN|9781592573905}}.</ref>

"A logline&nbsp;... helps content creators simply and easily sell their work in a single sentence, because the emphasis is on what makes their property unique&nbsp;... the logline provides the content creator with a concise way to focus on the three main anchors of their writing," the protagonist, the protagonist's wants (goal(s) or desire(s)), and what is at stake (risks).<ref>Bishop, Lane Shefter (2016). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=RGPfCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22logline%22&pg=PT14 Sell Your Story in A Single Sentence: Advice from the Front Lines of Hollywood]'', {{unpaginated}}. Countryman Press. {{ISBN|9781581575101}}.</ref>

The term was introduced in 1982 to describe an entry in a television programming guide summarizing the plot of a show.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2024 |title=Definition of LOGLINE |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/logline |access-date=December 29, 2024 |website=Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Elements==

Narrative elements often referenced in a logline include the setting, protagonist, antagonist, inciting incident, and a conflict and a goal (the conflict's resolution).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graemeshimmin.com/writing-a-logline-for-a-novel/|title=Writing a Logline|date=March 2013 |publisher=Graeme Shimmin|accessdate=2017-09-13}}</ref> Change, such as character growth, and action should be suggested.<ref name="Perebinossoff"/> A log line should contain four facts: "the main character, what the main character wants," the villain(s) or obstacle(s), "standing in the way," and, "the unique aspect(s) of the story."<ref>Farnham, Ronald (2011). ''How to Write a Screenplay in 30 Days or Less'', p.51. AuthorHouse. {{ISBN|9781463440336}}.</ref>

==Examples== {{quote|Charlie Brown is finally invited to a Halloween party; Snoopy engages the Red Baron in a dogfight; and Linus waits patiently in the pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin.|Logline for ''It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://titantv.com/|title=Logline|work=It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown|publisher=TitanTV|accessdate=2005-10-25}}</ref>}}

{{quote|A talented but irresponsible teenager schemes to steal his college tuition money when his wealthy father refuses to pay for him to study acting at Juilliard.|Logline for ''How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theater''<ref>{{harvtxt|Brewer|2014|p=29}}</ref>}}

== See also == * High concept * Save the Cat!

==References== {{Reflist}} {{refbegin}} * {{citation | editor-last = Brewer | editor-first = Robert Lee | title = 2015 Writer's Market | publisher = Writer's Digest Books | location = Cincinnati | isbn = 978-1-59963-840-9 | year = 2014 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/2015writersmarke0000brew }} {{refend}}

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Category:Television terminology Category:Film and video terminology

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