It helps to describe things as they are.
A Synopsis is Not a Logline
Mastering the Logline breaks down the story into its constituent elements. This will help us identify what belongs in a logline and what doesn’t. A synopsis and logline have many of the same elements, but they are not the same. The most obvious difference between the two is length. The logline describes the elements in a way that makes the conflict clear in a single sentence. The length of the synopsis can be a paragraph, a page, or even more. This allows the writer the flexibility to explore the details and complexities of character, plot, or tone that would not be appropriate for a logline.
Some are surely asking, if a logline is a summary of a story, then is a one sentence synopsis a logline? It could be, if the elements of the logline are present, and the central conflict is clear. The logline is a very specific thing. The writer must also understand that a single run-on sentence is, as the Russians say, neither fish nor meat. It is neither a synopsis nor a logline.
Some may feel the idea of writing a single sentence that encapsulates the entirety of their story will be impossible! Or describing an entire 90-120 page script in about 35 words will not be fair to their story as a whole. But, as we’ll see, no one expects the logline to represent the complete story.
To be sure, both the logline and synopsis are vital tools the writer can use to clarify their story, not just for the audience, or the production team, but for themselves.
Go to Next Episode: MTL Ep 04 - A Concept or Premise isn't a Logline
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