How to Excite Hollywood with a Single Sentence
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By James "Doc" Mason
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Foreword by
Christopher Lockhart, story editor, WME
Mastering the Logline
Exploring The Elements of Story
Necessary to Describe the Central Conflict.
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Crafting a logline is perhaps the most important, underrated skill a writer can possess. A brilliant one-sentence description of a story can open doors and close deals. Although this book focuses on the screenwriter, it is for any writer who needs to describe their story... briefly.
When writing the logline, we often struggle with being too vague, or cramming in too much. Now there is an objective way to know what belongs, and what doesn’t.
Mastering the Logline is a step-by-step, hands-on guide to crafting a kick-ass logline that will excite Hollywood.
"This is the most thorough and comprehensive examination of loglines that I’ve come across... Doc knows that a logline is also a diagnostic tool, a way to see into the story and divine its strengths and weaknesses. His book breaks down elements - like the protagonist and antagonist – to enable an understanding of how the dramatic details can help shape a logline and, subsequently, fortify the screenplay... Use the information in this book to write an awesome logline. Maybe it will cross my desk one day." -- Christopher Lockhart, Story Editor, WME
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"Offering well-known films as examples, smart "let's review" sections of each puzzle piece (thus reiterating the old lessons and how they work with the new) as well as detailed breakdowns of each logline segment (main character to tone and style -- and everything in-between), Mastering the Logline is a worthy addition to the "how-to" library of any professional or up-and-coming screenwriter." - Michael Klug, Screenwriter/ Actor/Filmmaker/Film Critic/Script Consultant/Novelist
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"Five Stars... Beautifully written...clear and easy to understand." -- AJ Dean, Host and Producer of Film Talk with AJ Dean
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"Mastering the Logline isn't a how-to book on writing formulaic loglines, it's a deep tutorial on character development, conflict-forward storytelling, and how to break down all the necessary elements of story to create stronger loglines. Using numerous examples, and building upon each principle discussed, Doc shows writers how developing and knowing your characters on a deeper level will lead to a much stronger logline and the ability to express your story in a more satisfying, sellable and succinct way."
- Danny Manus, Script Consultant and Creator of No BullScript Consulting, Author of "The No B.S. Guide to Screenwriting: Advice from the Executive Perspective"
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“A great reference book for ALL things story, not just loglines.” -- Pascal Leister, Writer/Editor
Some kind words about the book...
Check out an article I wrote for Creative Screenwriting Magazine on narrative conflict.
Listen to an interview I gave about loglines to Justin and Paul at Creative Writing Life Podcast!
Interviews:
Articles:
Fun interview with AJ Dean. We chat about classic movies, how I got into film, and of course, the book.
Keywords: How to write a logline. #screenwriting #screenplay #Novel