I used to see loglines as a distraction from my craft—a necessary evil of the business. After studying concept, writing a slew of ideas, and submitting my lines to Scott and Max, I've realized loglines are an important tool. A logline is a window into the core of your story. It could sell your screenplay, or show you where it's broken. Loglines — not just a distraction anymore!

Awesome stuff here. thx.

I've learned that a good idea is not the same as a killer movie concept. It can become one, maybe, but there's a lot more work in between one and the other than I sometimes bother to put in. So from now on, just an idea isn't good enough - it has to be tested, polished, and refined before I commit myself to work on it....

1) That saccharine politeness and approval-seeking makes me sick. 2) That I hate anyone--on a visceral, personal level--who rejects anything I write. (Actually, I already knew that.) 3) That I'm driven more effective by resentment and anger than approval and encouragement. 4) That despite the aforementioned hate, resentment, and anger, this site is _still_ so valuable that I'll try to squeeze every possible insight from it.

I have a question. What is most important? A terrific high concept logline or an audience? So, if I'm able to bring 1000.000 (or more) people attached to a logline which isn't an high concept will I sell it? Can you share your thoughts about this in one of your posts? Thanks

Screenwriting is a marathon, not a sprint. Passion goes a long way when faced with continual rejection. God must love shitty screenwriters, He made so many of them. Don't be a shitty screenwriter. :)

Dude. You make me smile. :)

I learned that having high expectations can allow disappointment to stop you in your track. Having low expectations can slow you down. Have no expectations at all. Take a shot, then move on. And keep doing that till someday someone will tap you on the shoulder and tells you that one of your shots were actually a bull's-eye. If you keep looking back, waiting for that guy, he'll never come. In the last week I failed twice, in the quest and in the industry insider contest. It was bitter. But If I hadn't expected anything from them, they would have felt less so. Another lesson, you're not the smartest, most creative guy out there. There is some writers who can actually beat you with their hands tied behind their backs, blind folded, and in a trunk with seven padlocks on it. Houdini-style. The reason why not a lot of people make it into Hollywood is not that they lack talent or creativity, it's that they don't want it so bad to wade through all the bitterness of rejection. Creativity, talent, persistence, and most important thick skin, if you have them all, then it's just a matter of time before you break in. Also, see what was sold before and what is selling now. Make sure the concept you're working on is the best of the best of the best of what you can come up with, and that a similar one wasn't already in production or even sold. Think like an actor, director, and producer all the time. And a lot of stuff I learned from this quest thing, like Max Millimeter is a harder ass than I ever expected. But I'm raising my standards too, which was the ultimate lesson for me from the quest.

I learned the value of a well-constructed logline, and more important, I learned how to construct one. I learned that I have actually been working harder at screenwriting than I have given myself credit for. I guess I must love it.

"A terrific high concept logline or an audience?" Logline = chicken audience = egg "So, if I’m able to bring 1000.000 (or more) people attached to a logline which isn’t an high concept will I sell it?" Can you think of an instance in movie history that this has happened?

I'm learning how to turn disappointment into a driving creative force. Bring on the f*ckin Quest!

Dude, I applaud your honesty. Love it.

What about the bacon?

I'm not gonna lie, I am I bummed out I didn't get an email? Extremely. Silver Lining... I still get to write my story. Yay! Reality... still feeling a touch insecure about my concept even though I love it and think it's awesome. I even learned a few things to: I have more confidence than I realized. I really want to learn from you. I really do want to be a professional writer. Rejection doesn't get any easier. A rejection doesn't define me. I need to get more concepts. I love loglines. Uh I need to write more pages. Again... Thank you Scott. I appreciate your generosity in even sharing your wisdom on your blog. But over all, Thank you. Oh yah and you better believe I am coming for the Quest #2 :-)

Like.

From your lips to God (and Max Millimeter's) ear, PJ.

If you want to be a professional screenwriter, you have to write for the market. They're only so many buyers, and you can write what you want to your heart's delight, but in the end, it comes down to what is being purchased now.

Now that the disappointment of not being chosen has ebbed away, I can sum up everything I’ve learnt in one sentence: I haven’t been working hard enough. I haven’t read enough scripts, I haven’t watched enough films, I haven’t written enough pages. In short, I just wasn’t good enough to be chosen for the Quest … This time around. Ironically, I find myself in the same position as most protagonists whose story revolves around a quest. They, too, lack the skill and wisdom required to take on the final challenge at the outset of their adventure. Their journey, however, molds them, prepares them for the battle ahead, and this is how I see the Go-on-your-own-Quest. It will be the fire in which I am forged as serious script writer with the skills and mind set required to be chosen for the next Quest. So then. It appears that adventure awaits!

-That none of us know anything. -That all of us know everything. -That disappointment fades to be replaces with mind-numbing rage...er...I mean benevolent love for my fellow man... -That my skin is far thicker than I realised. -That a good idea does not necessarily translate into a good/punchy/concise logline with ease. -That there is comfort in cake. Lots and lots of cake. (Seriously, LOTS of cake.) -That there are still people out there who are not out to serve only themselves but who genuinely want others to get better at writing. -That I still have other avenues that I am pursuing (I just got myself an agent for example) and that none of us should put all our eggs in one egg box or pin all our hopes on one opportunity. There are thousands of opportunities out there. We just have to keep our eyes peeled. -Did I mention cake?

*raises hand in agreement for number three* Thank you :-)

Thanks for your words Monique. Can you think of an instance in movie history that this has happened? Yes. There are just in this moment a lot of cases around the world where fans are pushing productions to make movies, series, or documentaries. The paradigm is changing: buyers concepts uncertain box office to audience support concepts to certain box office History is full with instance of winning and unexpected innovations. I believe that there are a lot of interesting loglines in this contest. And I'm asking me which one would receive more likes from common people. Anyway, I'm ready to share my logline with the creative process and thoughts I followed to made it. Any people to share ispirations?

omg, the hardest thing is not having expectations - but the big thing is: work harder, read more scripts, eat cake, just get better - and keep writing and move on! Easier said than done! So this is what I have learnt: raise my game, up the ante, and practice writing better loglines (because clearly mine are good to me but suck in comparison to two thousand others)

I rewrote all my loglines! Can I resubmit?? "The things we want most in life are the hardest to attain." ~ Harrison Ford interview I've learned a more concise logline is key to getting someone to recognize your story concept easier, so they will at least try to read the dang script. I have gone through a metamorphosis the last month. It seems GITS, BitterScript Reader, ScriptShadow, everywhere I have read over the last month of reading, have been harping on 'high concept', or 'is it a movie'? type blogging. I reviewed all the stories I have a concept about, written or unwritten, and I have looked at the black lists here....I have learned that I was thinking incorrectly. For example, my first foray was an apocalyptic tale, 30M. Study, study, read read. My next foray was contained, one city, few locations, few people, not easily fit for any of the 'stars' of today. High concept, but not make-able due to specific roles (martial arts, my thang!)Read read, rethink - next was a story set in a forest, ten folks, HIGHLY self contained, but had some SFX....read read study...write about two people, one house, horror....read read study study...what? High concept??? Is it a movie?? Well, okay....hmmmm....I thought they were all movies?? Is it a make-able movie?? Oh....I see said the blind man! You want Bruce Willis, not Bruce Takahana Jones! THANKS A BILLION! Gonna make my mama PROUD! We'll get there, just gotta work at it like Max says, "Work our ASSES OFF!"

Amen.

Amen!

I said "Amen" to the wrong poster! LOL. Anyway, Jay took the words out of my mouth. I still have faith my concepts will resonate with someone else. Maybe I need to work on my loglines, but I *still* think my concepts are awesome.

I have learned that disappointment is inevitable and that I am now making conscious choices to try to find ways to turn rejection into a positive and motivating force to become better. I do think it is good to feel the disappointment and the non-success and acknowledge it before moving forward.