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Loglines -
The Short Pitch ! The one-liner that tells
what your show is-
A "Logline" is a one or two sentence
description that tells the basic premise and purpose
of a TV show idea.
Loglines for the sake of pitching a project
are similar to a TV Guide description of a show,
but more specific in describing the concept of
the program. This is the catalyst for increasing
the odds of selling a script or idea for a television
show.
How do you sell a TV show idea or script?
Create a great logline! Developing a good
logline can help you in developing a better show,
and gives the executive the ammunition and confidence
to market your project. It forces you to boil
down all of the elements of your TV show and communicate
what the viewers will be watching and the specific
purpose of the show.
Odds are, if you can't boil your script or idea
for a tv show down to a solid 1 or 2 sentences
that tells what the show is about, producers will
never be attracted to it for development. Developing
your logline is also an opportunity to express
a very original hook that your show has to separate
it from others within the same genre or theme.
A great logline should provoke interest and inspire
the TV producer to see the potential of the show.
To an executive scouting projects, the TV show
logline is perhaps the most important element
of the development process. It is the core concept
of the show, and is very close to the short pitch
a Network markets to the public when promoting
a new show. This holds the "idea power"
of your project.
The following
are examples of could-be loglines for current
television shows:
"Ordinary
people face their fears by competing against
each other in outrageously devised stunts"
- Fear Factor
"A
likeable husband's tolerance and marriage
is tested by the constant intrusion of his
overbearing parents and dim-witted brother"
- Everybody Loves Raymond
"Twenty
women will court and compete to win the affections
of one man who will narrow the selection until
he must decide on his one true love."
- The Bachelor
"Contestants'
general knowledge will be tested when given
the answers to questions they must then form."
- Jeopardy
"Aspiring
singers will compete in a nationwide talent
search on live television where they will
face the often unfair scrutiny and sarcasm
of a panel of judges before one is finally
branded the "American Idol", receiving
a recording contract." - American
Idol
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