Screenwriting : Loglines Not Allowed? by Geoff Harris

I'm assuming someone got sued over something that was similar and is now responding accordingly.

Don't hesitate upon the threshold of opportunity to create, don't wait for others to "Greenlight" your vision, find a backdoor, workaround, or resourceful/creative way to make your story happen in spite of all the frumpy, grumpy entitled gatekeepers who mostly find reasons to say "No, No, No !"

Thanks Scott, possibly yes, but it's happened from more than one company which is why I wondered if it's become a trend?

I hate loglines, mainly because I suck at creating them. I understand them not wanting them because all the loglines seem to sound the same for each genre. It used to be that companies would request, a after reading the logline, a one sheet but have you sign a form before they would accept it. I suppose that somebody got sued because of just the logline.

Sales agents are not going to fund your film, so they don't want to hear it. They just want to see if you have your package put together to potentially get pre-sales, which has less to do with story and more to do with bankability of your talent.

Jack Hilkewich Thanks for your response. So shall I continue sending the Logline as part of the pitch, and not wonder if their lack of response is because I sent the logline? And if not sending a logline, how do I sell the story?

This is my first time hearing that, Geoff Harris. Maybe try doing a quick pitch. Something like "It's Dumb and Dumber on a boat."

That's a good idea Maurice Vaughan a bit of a challenge for me, distilling a rather multi layered idea into a few words but I'll have a go. I guess it's broad enough as to not make anyone nervous about reading it and could be original enough to get attention.

Did they say what they would listen to instead of loglines, Geoff Harris?

Maurice Vaughan No, one producer just said, 'I can't read this' another had their lawyer write to me saying they don't read loglines or any material, others just don't respond. Mind you, I know sometimes my mails end up in spam in the US so maybe that's why?

Maybe, Geoff Harris. They might hear loglines if you submit through a manager, agent, or entertainment lawyer.

Maurice Vaughan Maybe, but what a faff! The last US set project I was pitching last year had no problems with people reading loglines, and with a couple of TV series I was pitching, the log lines led to pilot scripts being requested, that's why I wondered if there has been some kind of shift that changed all this?

I'm not sure, Geoff Harris. From my experience, U.S. producers -- and producers around the world -- want to read loglines. They prefer loglines over synopses, treatments, etc. Some producers might refuse to read loglines like the ones you talked with, but overall, I think producers still prefer them.

Ok, great, then I'm back on the case with sending the log lines. Thanks for your help Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Geoff Harris. Hope you get requests and sell your project!