Logline Viewings

Here is the way our site works:

Industry professionals (IPs) are able to do searches based upon the information you provide on your script (everything you filled out on your 'modify listing' page). They are also able to do searches based upon what was placed in the last week. What the IP searches for varies from IP to IP. The important thing is for your script's description to be accurate, so that when a producer searches for elements that are in your script, your logline comes up.

We average 150 different industry professionals who do searches for scripts every week. Maybe 25% just do maintenance and login to view what has been most recently placed. Others do specific searches. All script listings that come up for a particular search are shown in date order, most recent first. As time goes by your logline goes lower on the list, hence affecting how many people view your logline.

We have a solution for this, however. No listing can always be at the top of the list. We are always getting new scripts on the site and everyone has to have a fair chance to get their work seen. We have set up the site so that every six weeks you can click on the 'Modify Listing' button and save any part of your listing to have it brought back up to the top of the list. This will again get you maximum exposure for your script.

We have IPs who routinely visit our site. These IPs will have already read your previous logline and shown no interest. You now have a second chance to pitch them again. Take advantage of that second chance and really work on your logline.

Here's a little more info:

These logline 'hits' are not 100% accurate - meaning that your logline has shown up in a search and is available for viewing, but it depends on the type of search that was done as to whether or not your logline was most likely read. The industry professional could have 50 matches or they could have 2 matches. If they had 2 matches, there is no doubt that your logline was read, but if it is a higher number, we have no way of knowing if they read them all. Also, depending on the IP's search criteria, your logline may come up a number of times for that same producer.

Samples of Loglines

A logline is NOT a mini-synopsis. A synopsis and logline are two totally different things. Loglines should not contain details of the script.

Writers mistakenly shorten their synopsis and make that the logline. Don't do this. The idea is to get the producers to read the logline and want to know more - make them want to look at your synopsis where you are able to do justice for your script. DON'T put up a mini-synopsis where the logline goes.

A properly written logline is important because most producers do not use their own money to finance a film. They read your logline. If it sounds like it is something they can then pitch to their money guys and it is the type of script their money guys are interested in, they then take the next step with regards to your script.

A logline is supposed to be short and sweet. A quick glimpse of what the script is about. NO DETAILS.

Here are a few sample loglines from well-known features:

Independence Day: Aliens try to invade Earth on Independence Day.

Liar, Liar: An attorney, because of a birthday wish, can't tell any lies for 24 hours.

Dead Calm: A married couple, trying to recover from the death of their only child, is terrorized at sea by a handsome maniac.

The Hunt for Red October: A Soviet submarine captain uses Russia's ultimate underwater weapon as a means to defect to the west.

The Last Boy Scout: A private detective must team up with an ex-football star to catch the killer of a topless dancer.

More logline tips can be found here.

Synopsis Viewings

Please understand that as there is no shortage of scripts, presentation is everything. The following is a list of why an industry professional would not take the next step on a logline.

1. The contact information for the writer is incomplete or incorrect (has typos or grammatical errors).

2. The logline contains typographical or grammatical errors or has an incomplete sentence at the end because the writer tried to enter more than a 60-word logline.

For 1 and 2 above please log into the site and select the 'Titles Listed' tab. Here you can see exactly what industry professionals see. If something isn't correct, please correct it. Check out the directions if you are not sure how to make a particular correction.

3. The script may not be a commonly desired type of script and therefore of interest to only a select number of industry pros. Either those industry pros are not registered with us, or for some reason they haven't done the right type of search to find your pitch.

The best solution for this is to do additional marketing on your own along with having your work on our site. Do some research into the production companies that would be interested in your script. Send a query letter to them.

4. Your logline/pitch does not inspire further interest.

If the reason your work has not been looked at is not because of 1-3 above, it could be because the logline does not gain the producer's interest. Realize that they are inundated with loglines everyday, so yours must be good. If 1-3 above don't handle it and your work has been on the site for a couple of months or you have over 80 logline hits with very few synopsis hits, we suggest that you work on your logline. See the section above 'Samples of Loglines' and also the article, Writing Loglines by Jerrol LeBaron.

Getting More Script Requests

If your synopsis has been looked at more than 10 times and no further steps have been taken, we suggest you re-word your synopsis. It is unusual for a synopsis to be looked at that many times and not have the script requested or looked at.

It might be because the synopsis has no paragraph breaks, typos, etc., in it and that may be a turn off to the industry pro. It may also be too long and complicated, or it may just not be what the industry pro is looking for. Check out the article, Writing Synopses by Jerrol LeBaron.

Advantages of placing the full script/book and not just the logline and synopsis

It is a convenience for producers who are out of state, country or on a shoot and not at the office. If they read the first 15 pages and have decided it doesn't interest them, you have just saved money on postage. If the producer is interested, they will look at some portion or all of the script online, and then usually contact you for a hard copy.

Duplicate Logline Viewings

Depending on the industry pro's search criteria, your logline may come up a number of times for that same IP. Industry pros sometimes search with similar search criteria several times in a row to narrow or broaden their results. Your logline may come up in each of their searches.