A LOGLINE. THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE YOU’LL EVER WRITE.
How, Sway?
Because if your logline doesn’t sell the idea, no one will ever read the script.
If you’ve ever stumbled when someone asks, “So, what’s your script about?” — you’re not alone. Most writers can talk about their story for hours but freeze when it comes to boiling it down to one line. That one line, though? It’s everything.
In Hollywood, a logline isn’t just a summary — it’s your sales pitch. It’s how executives decide whether your story is worth their time. An interesting logline gets you the read. A vague one gets you ghosted.
What a Logline Really Does
Inside the studio system, loglines are how ideas move through development. It’s how an exec pitches to their boss, how a producer sells to a buyer, and how representation gets your script in front of decision-makers. In short: your logline is your first handshake with Hollywood.
Even if your script is incredible, no one will ever know if your logline doesn’t spark interest first.
3 Things Every Great Logline Needs
🟢 A Protagonist We Can Picture
Every logline should include who the story is about, the protagonist. But, we need to know who this story follows, we need to know what makes them interesting (use adjectives), and why they are best person for this story (add social proof).
For example: Instead of “a janitor,” try “a down-on-his-luck janitor” or “a sheisty ex-criminal turned janitor.” A few specific words make your hero stand out immediately.
🟢 A Clear Goal
Now that we know who the protagonist is, we need to know their goal. What does your protagonist want? The goal gives your story direction and tells the exec what the movie is actually about.
For Example: A former criminal turned sheisty janitor must use his old skills to rescue his daughter from kidnappers.
🟢 Stakes That Matter
Stakes begs the question: why should we care? Help us understand why the goal is important to the protagonist. What happens if your protagonist fails? Stakes raise the tension and show the emotional core of your story.
For Example: A former criminal turned sheisty janitor (protagonist) must use his former skills to rescue his daughter from kidnappers (goal) or risk losing not only his daughter, but his livelihood (stakes).
Together, these three elements form the heartbeat of your pitch — who it’s about, what they want, and what’s at risk.
How the Logline Sets Up Your First 15 Pages
Once your logline hooks an executive, those first 15 pages need to deliver on the promise. The tone, world, and protagonist we imagined from your logline should appear on the page immediately. If they don’t line up, you’ll lose the reader fast.
That’s why we always say: an effective logline earns the read, but strong first pages earn the meeting.
WANNA TEST DRIVE THE STUDIO SYSTEM?
Submit to our First 15 Competition - where a strong logline earns your first 15 pages a read and puts you in the running to win big.
The Top 10 finalists earn a free development workshop with CEO + Head Consultant Shannan E. Johnson, and the winner gets a career strategy call and general meeting with a Hollywood exec.
If your logline gets the read, make sure your first 15 make them stay.
