In this assignment you will be creating three loglines and three outlines.
A logline should be a 1 sentence synopsis of your story idea.
An outline should be a 3 sentence paragraph that further defines the logline.
You should write the logline and outline as it is written in the examples listed below.
Logline: Jason is trapped in a log cabin during a blizzard and needs to keep warm and find food.
Outline: While hunting in the woods a huge blizzard traps Jason inside a log cabin without food or firewood to keep warm. He must find a way to get food, water, and wood to survive. He has no way to call for help.
Logline: The Smith Family is on vacation at the beach and while on the beach they discover something other worldly.
Outline: While on summer vacation the Smith Family is hanging out on the beach. Their children are building a sandcastle and as they are digging, they discover something strange. They must figure out what this creature is before it’s too late.
This Assignment is Due Tuesday 8/31/2021 by 11:59pm EST.
You must post your loglines and outlines in the comments section below.
Loglines
1. A man is driving home from work after a late night while driving he stops when he sees a young girl in the middle of the road barefoot and covered in blood
2. To celebrate his 15th anniversary with his wife, a husband decides that he wants to cook a nice and lovely dinner before his wife gets home from work, he soon discovers it’s easier said than done because he doesn’t know how to cook.
3. While on summer vacation a group of friends decided that they wanted to go on camping, as they reach the campsite things don’t exactly go according to plan.
Outlines
1. As the man gets out of his car to approach the young girl to offer his help, the girl slowly turns around to reveal her bloodied and disfigured face, as the man jumps back in horror the girl attacks by jumping on the man’s chest and kills him with one swift bite to the throat.
2. As the man is making his final preparations the smoke alarm goes off near the kitchen, as he rushes to the kitchen, he sees the chicken that is placed in the oven earlier turn charcoal black because he lost track of the time that he placed it in the oven.
3. As the friend reached the campsite it started raining heavily, so to avoid getting wet they stayed in their car in hopes of waiting out the massive storm.
Hi Stefan,
Thank you for sharing your ideas with us.
I really like all of these story ideas. They are all interesting and unique.
I think number 2 is most doable for a project in this course. I am really interested in the story of the man who finds the girl on the side of the road.
The campsite story sounds like a lot of fun too, but by the time we get around to filming it will be more like late fall as opposed to summer.
Nice work!
Michael Cannetti
Imagining scenes shot within a car during a storm would seem so fun. Imagine playing with different camera angles that can bring tension if needed during conflict.
Hi Stefan,
Your first loglines gave me a goosebump! I think it’s going to be interesting and scary.
Also I like your camping story but we should be in control of the location and the weather which is very challenging. Looking forward what you come up with the ideas!
Thank You I really appreciate it
Hello Stefan,
You think you have really interesting ideas, I like your first logline but I wonder how you are going to pull this off. Maybe you can replace the young girl with somebody else so she doesn’t get hurt. The second logline is very doable and you have different ways to go about it. And for your last logline it could be that when you arrive at the camp location you forgot to bring water or you forgot to bring a map/compass and now you’re lost in the woods.
Logline:
1. Erica saved a black cat from the street and she found out later the cat speaks.
2. Chaz and his parents traveled to Morocco and they met a gypsy in there, took them to a beautiful secret waterfall.
3. Katharine was on an airplane to Hawaii and the plane took her to an unknown island.
Outline:
1. One-day, the girl Erica was walking on the street on the way to her friend’s house. She ran into a black cat that seemed to have gotten lost. She took the cat back home and the cat started talking.
2. Chaz and his family traveled to Morocco on vacation. They met a beautiful woman who was a gypsy. She asked them if they wanted to see a spiritual spot in Morocco. They followed the gypsy and they saw beautiful waterfalls in the middle of the mountain.
3. Katharine took a plane which was supposed to land in Hawaii. While she was on the plane, the passengers were told that the plane had to change direction. When the plane landed, it was in the middle of the jungle and she had to survive there.
Hi Yayoi,
Thank you for sharing your ideas.
I think the cat story would be a lot of fun and really interesting. Especially if you write some witty dialogue and have someone with a good voice play the part of the cat.
Your second and third ideas are really interesting. I’m just not quite sure how you are going to film an airplane, Morocco, Hawaii, and an unknown island.
I would consider going with a cat story unless you want to do a rewrite and come up with 2 other ideas.
Thank you for sharing. Nice job.
Michael Cannetti
Just letting you know that calling this group of people Romani instead of gypsies is more accepted and respectful towards the community :>
What would the cat have to offer as the story unfolds?
Hi Yayoi,
I think your first idea is especially creative – it portrays a fantastical situation which can still be created without professional equipment. Were you thinking about making the cat telepathic? If so, you wouldn’t need to worry about the cat’s mouth movements. As for your other two ideas, I agree with the professor – unless you go out to a national park or use some very creative set design, I don’t think those ideas would be feasible.
Hi Yayoi,
I think your first idea is especially creative – it portrays a fantastical situation which can still be created without professional equipment. Were you thinking about making the cat telepathic? If so, you wouldn’t need to worry about the cat’s mouth movements. As for your other two ideas, I agree with the professor – unless you go out to a national park or use some very creative set design, I don’t think those ideas would be feasible.
Loglines
1. As Armando hugs his brother, he can read his thoughts.
2. Two complete strangers pass each other, but swear they know each other from another life.
3. Felipe imagines an annoying kid tripping over, not long after it happens.
Outlines
1. Armando, stricken by grief, goes to hug his brother Ricardo. As the brothers embrace, Armando suddenly can read Ricardo’s mind. Armando now believes Ricardo had some involvement in his girlfriend’s death.
2. In a subway station in London, two strangers pass by each other but manage a quick glance. Both stop in their tracks and swear they know each other. They remember another life together in the past.
(Washing)
3. Bored while waiting for his train, Felipe imagines the annoying kid beside him tripping and falling. As his train pulls up, Felipe snaps out of his trance. But soon after, Felipe’s imagination became true.
(Breathing)
Hi Jorge,
First, thank you for sharing your ideas. I think they are great. I love the idea of the brother who can read his siblings mind. That could be really interesting. The second one is also really interesting. It reminds me a lot of movie called Sliding Doors. You should watch it. It’s a great movie. The third one is really cool too. It is almost like telekinesis. Really great ideas. I am a little curious in number 2 how you’d pull off a train in London to film it, but I think the first and third are definitely doable. Nice Work.
Michael Cannetti
Hi Jorge! I really like the second one because I can imagine it being done here in the city! You could have two people bump into each other in the station while one exits and one enters or maybe even from the train. Person A could be in the train and Person B can so happen to be standing exactly where the door stops, etc. Before the doors open, they could interlock looks and maybe then a vision can occur.
Hi Jorge,
Though we aren’t in London, using two people that see each other pass by seems like an achievable peak scene accompanied by a series of transitions and small tender moments they could have shared before flicker by. Id love to find out if they actually do know each other or if its a possible future they might share “if”.
Logline:
1. Josh is home playing video games with his friends and while playing he heard his mom call his name from downstairs but his parents are away on vacation.
2. Fred was delivering newspapers around his neighborhood and notices that a black van has been following him for awhile.
3. Ben and his friends were going on a road trip and suddenly one of the tires pops stranding them nowhere.
Outline:
1. While Josh played games with his friends he heard his mom call his name but he knew it couldn’t be her because his parents are on vacation. Now he has to build up the courage to go downstairs to see who or what it really is.
2. While early in the morning when everyone in his neighborhood was still asleep, Fred was delivering newspapers as part of his part time job. As he was going from house to house he noticed a van following his every turn from one block behind. Fred has to find out if his life is in danger or if it’s just a mere coincidence.
3. Ben and his friends were excited to go on a road trip that they were planning for awhile. They were set to leave in the afternoon. While on the road one of the tires popped which made them stranded. Without any phone service Ben and his friends have to figure things out before night falls.
Hi Shabaj,
All of your stories are interesting. Maybe first and second stories are easier to set the location and film than third one. I like the idea of early morning job and being in danger as senes. Because it’s very realistic and I’ve experienced working in the early morning it was a bit scary however it’s in NYC;(
Hi Shabaj,
Thank you for sharing your story ideas.
I really liked all of them. The third might a little hard to pull off, unless you want to pop a tire on your car. I think the first two stories are definitely worth pursuing further. I think they both would have a decent amount of humor and suspense to be really interesting.
I look forward to seeing what you decide.
Nice job.
Michael Cannetti
Hey Shabaj,
I was reading through the first outline and I believe that it can be really well executed creatively at home. Using an effective set up, you can stage josh to investigate a sound coming from a secluded area. This could either take a comedic route with a tense set up or an equally terrorizing outcome. Either way an unexpected prop can cause enough tension to the plot.
Loglines
1. Jacob takes his bag of chips and opens the bag.
2. As Jhoanna was leaving her apartment she grabs her purse, she wears her mask and leaves.
3. Still no sign of the next R train! Jason shouted.
Outlines
1. Once Jacob opens the bag he realizes that there is a strange item inside… He turns pale and drops the bag. As the bag hits the floor a human thumb rolls out from the bag.
2. After a few minutes as she was approaching the subway station she realizes that she forgot to grab her keys. “Not again..fuck my life,” Jhoanna said. She walks back to her apartment and as she was walking back she sees her ex.
3. It’s 3:16 am and Jason is now regretting not taking a ride with his friend’s house.
Hey Isabel,
I liked your first tag line and outline. Even though it was short, you were able to add an element of surprise.
Isabel Corral
Logline
1. Jazmin a belly dancer hides from the police.
2. Jhoanna takes her purse and puts her mask on as she steps outside from her apartment.
3. Miguel tries to deny that the luggage does not belong to him.
Outline
1. She runs as fast she can. Takes the back door where all of a sudden a van stops and two-man takes her immediately. She tries to scream for help, but one of her abductors covers her mouth with a heavy piece of fabric. They covered her head with a black bag so she cannot see where they are taking her.
2. “Fuck!” She shouts. ” I forgot to take my keys”. She takes the stairs and heads up to the superintendent’s office, but it’s closed. She decides to leave her building and take the subway.
3. The Colombian airport police officers take Miguel into a room with his luggage. As they ask Miguel where he was heading, and why. Miguel tries to act calm. One officer takes all the items out from Miguel’s luggage. The police officer noticed that Miguel has 8 small containers. He asked, “How come he has 8 small containers, and what’s inside?”
Hi Isabel,
Wow these are some really interesting story ideas. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Columbian Airport Police story is going to be doable for this class. It seems like it might be really challenging to film. The first two story ideas would be really fun stories. The first one might be challenging, but I am really interested in it. I think with some really cool lighting to make it feel gritty, would make it exciting.
I look forward to seeing which story idea you decide on.
Nice Work.
Michael Cannetti
Hi Isabel,
I think your ideas are great – although it seems like the second would be easiest to film. The first and third ideas would need more specific things to create – for instance a van in the first idea, and police outfits in the second.
Loglines
1. Nathalie is traveling for the first time to Egypt. On one layover she gets called by police for questions. She needs to rush and deal with the matter before her plane departs.
2. Nathalie is riding the train home and finds her ex is sitting on the seat across from her.
3. Two old friends meet after having not spoken for months. Both share strong feelings but know they cannot be together.
Outline
1. It is Nathalie’s first time traveling on her own. While eating at the airport during a layover, she hears her name announced while being told to go to the terminal early. It seems as though her luggage holds something suspicious. She must rush to fix this matter as her plane departs in 10 min.
2. On her way home from work, Nathalie finds the person across from her having familiar eyes. While he looks up, they both realize who it is. They had dates two years before and the breakup was brutal. However, it is not sure if this encounter was either deeply wanted or avoided.
3. Two friends decide to meet after having been gone from one another for many months. They rekindle as if not a day passed by. After dinner in the city, they had their own plans to attend. However, they ditch their plans to have a night of adventure. After their night in the city and a walk on the bridge, they realize as fun as it was, they must part ways again. In the subway, they both say their goodbyes and go their separate ways.
Loglines
1. Nathalie is traveling for the first time to Egypt. On one layover she gets called by police for questions. She needs to rush and deal with the matter before her plane departs.
2. Nathalie is riding the train home and finds her ex is sitting on the seat across from her.
3. Two old friends meet after having not spoken for months. Both share strong feelings but know they cannot be together.
Outline
1. It is Nathalie’s first time traveling on her own. While eating at the airport during a layover, she hears her name announced while being told to go to the terminal early. It seems as though her luggage holds something suspicious. She must rush to fix this matter as her plane departs in 10 min.
2. On her way home from work, Nathalie finds the person across from her having familiar eyes. While he looks up, they both realize who it is. They had dates two years before and the breakup was brutal. However, it is not sure if this encounter was either deeply wanted or avoided.
3. Two friends decide to meet after having been gone from one another for many months. They rekindle as if not a day passed by. After dinner in the city, they had their own plans to attend. However, they ditch their plans to have a night of adventure. After their night in the city and a walk on the bridge, they realize as fun as it was, they must part ways again. In the subway, they both say their goodbyes and go their separate ways.
Hi Nathalie,
Thank you for sharing your story ideas. I really enjoyed all of them. I think the first one will be really hard to achieve based on rules and regulations in airports and locations. It feels challenging logistically. The second two feel definitely attainable and would be really interesting. I am really intrigued to see which one you choose and where you take your story.
Nice job.
Michael Cannetti
Hey Nathalie,
I found your first story really interesting in how the luggage ended with a suspicious thing inside. Could it be like a comedy where the suspicious things turn out to be embarrassing things that she packed the night before while drunk, and now she has to explain it to the TSA agents? Or could it be like a mystery thriller where the suspicious thing packed is something only the main character would know of?
Haha! I can see it being so.. since in real life it did turn out to be a funny misunderstanding. Thanks!
Logline 1: This has been the lousiest Christmas of Keith’s life, but little does he know that it’s about to get a whole lot worse.
Outline 1: It’s Christmas Day, and Keith has been facing one setback after another. The presents got misplaced, the food was burnt to a crisp, and a muddy thunderstorm is making the outdoors a miserable place to be. Just when he thinks that things can’t get any worse, the doorbell rings ominously.
Logline 2: Janet is working late one night when the lights suddenly go out, and someone is in the building with her.
Outline 2: It is nighttime, and Janet is the last one working in her company’s office. All of a sudden, every single light in the building goes out at the same time. While Janet is left reeling in confusion and alarm, she can hear the sound of a window breaking downstairs.
Logline 3: Wendy is visiting is visiting her grandmother’s house out in the country, but something isn’t right.
Outline 3: Wendy is standing in front of the door to her grandmother’s house in the countryside. No matter how much she knocks on the door or how loud she calls out, she doesn’t receive a response. As she circles around the house to investigate, she is unaware of the eyes watching her from the forest.
Hi Kyle,
I really like all of these stories. Though I do love a good Christmas movie/mystery, it may be hard to pull off for this class based of the timing of production. I am really interested in the office building story and the story at grandmas house. I look forward to seeing what you decide.
Nice work.
Michael Cannetti
Hello Kyle,
You have nice ideas and am looking forward to seeing how you produce these loglines. The Christmas story looks really complicated but it does look doable, maybe whoever is behind the door will turn the Christmas day around. For the second outline, how did Janet know there was someone in the building with her. The third logline is scary. I can’t imagine what happened to Wendy’s grandma. Maybe you can film that during the evening to make it more suspenseful.
Hey Kyle,
Your longlines giving me criminal minds vibes, which I’m loving. You can take a lot of attention grabbing scenes with longline 3 that can make people feel how Wendy felt with a first person point of view.
Logline 1 : Jay and Jack decided too go too the arcade.
Outline 1 : Jay ended up at the arcade, as Jack usually shows up late. They proceed too get there cards to access there favorite games, “Guitar Hero, Mario Kart, and dance dance revolution”. Jack ended up breaking his leg
Logline 2: Dan was in a 2 year relationship. All of a sudden, Dans ex broke up with him to be with someone better.
Outline 2 : Dan was walking on a boardwalk to capture the sunset. He suddendly feels this weird breeze that moves him only just alittle. He looks around too figure out who or what caused it. It was only Dans gf, She forced the breeze to go too Dan too show the new person she was with.
Logine 3: Cloud decided to try out a rollercoaster one day. He has never tried one or been close too one.
Outline 3: Cloud decides to face his fears, because of all the people who bullied him about not getting on a rollercoaster at school. As cloud is secured to go, the rollercoaster actually decides to surpise the riders and go backwords. As the ride comes to a end Cloud decides to shout and tell everyone that he will never went get on a rollercoaster again.
Hi Jermaine,
I really enjoyed reading your Loglines and outlines. I think the first one is the most doable, and maybe the second. The third, though I would love to meet the character of Cloud, might be really hard to film during our class. I think the Arcade Story and the Relationship story are both relatable and fun. In some universe I can even see them both as one story about the same character who’s maybe plagued by bad luck and the wind.
Good work.
-Michael Cannetti
Thank you Professor ! definetely gonna try and exppand on this !
Hello Jermaine! I also agree with Professor, that the first and second can somewhat sync together. Perhaps adding a story or history to their arcade visit give an underlying feeling to the event. Which can then end with the accident and how that may bring up a tense emotion. Or perhaps the accident is a sign they should not be hanging out.
Logline
1) Jason moves into a new house and finds a Rubik’s cube in the attic
2) Melinda goes on a shopping spree with girls from her school and gets shamed in the fitting room
3) Drew marries the love of his life until he finds someone else.
Outline
1) Jason gets sucked into the Rubik’s cube and must find his way out. He finds people along the way that used to live in the house. They all must escape before it is too late.
2) Melinda is broadcasted on the malls screen by the mean girls for everyone to see her make a fool of herself. She goes on a journey to try to change herself but loses herself in the process. She meets the love of her life causing her to be true to herself.
3) Drew marries Andrea and starts to have the dream life he always wanted. Until one day, he drops his son off at school and instantly falls in love with his son’s new English teacher, Mrs. Foreman. Both love birds must figure out if they will leave their marriage to be with each other.
Hi Taina,
Thank for so much for sharing your story ideas.
I really thought they were all very interesting. I am fascinated by the Rubix Cube Story idea, but I am not sure how you’d be able to pull it off for this class. The other two story ideas are equally strong and I think would make for some really fun movies.
I look forward to seeing what you decide.
Nice work.
Michael Cannetti
The rubix cube logline reminds me of the segment in Interstellar where they travel through the 4th dimension. Is this what you have in mind while developing this idea as Jason sees the different owners of the house?
Hey Taina
I really like the first logline and outline a lot, it kind of gives off Hellraiser vibes to me (if you’ve ever seen the series of movies. The second logline and outline kind of remind me of those early 2000’s teen romcoms, while Drew in the third logline and outline sounds like he could be a star in a romantic drama.
Logline: Doris is drenched from the rain as she waits for the bus at night and sees a bus moving slower than usual uphill with no driver.
Outline: Doris just got out of her nightshift and got caught in the rain. All the streets are silent as she waits for the bus but then she hears something creak uphill. The windows of the bus were completely frosted and she couldn’t see the driver, the doors opened and saw a child on the drivers seat.
Logline: Gilbert is on the ledge and his wallet dropped into the train tracks
Outline: Gilbert is running late to a job interview that may decide whether he stays or leaves his dreaded hometown. He sees no one else at the station but his ex waiting for the train on the other side of the tracks. Suddenly he is in the crossroads of taking a risk to get his wallet with what’s left of his money and plane tickets or to ask for help from an old friend he longed to see.
Logline: Mortimer sees his owners come in and out the house every day and never questioned it until they don’t come home and wakes up to an empty apartment.
Outline: Mortimer is an old housecat and he doesn’t know his owners are moving since he sleeps all day. One day he wakes up and realizes his owners are gone. Now he has to figure out what would happen to him now that his life is gone and wonder if even an old cat can learn new things.
Hi Adrien,
Thank you for sharing your Loglines and Outlines.
I really like all of your story ideas. I think the story about Doris is really interesting. It might be challenging to film, but I’m not sure if it’s impossible. Though I really like the Gilbert story, I am nervous about the dropping something on the train tracks. Unless you use a prop wallet that you don’t mind losing, I would be hesitant to pursue this story. The Mortimer story might be a lot of fun to make. I really think you could have a blast telling this story. The hard part about pets is getting them to cooperate.
Nice work.
Best.
Michael Cannetti
Hey Adrien,
I found your Mortimer story exciting in that there are so many possibilities to shoot it, like a low pov shot of the cat running frantically through the empty house.
Hi Adrien,
I like the first idea because I feel like you can take different mysterious routes with it while still giving horror feels as well.
Hey Adrien,
I really like your crossroads longline and outline. I can feel the tension between both extremely important. between some one he loves and money.
Logline:
1. A man finds that his friend has been bitten by something but doesn’t know what it is, and it seems to be getting bigger by the day.
2. A new pandemic hits the world. It seems to be mutating humans and animals in different ways.
3. Inter-dimensional travel becomes possible.
Outline:
1. John’s friend gets bitten by something unknown. The bite wound expands killing johns friend. An alien comes out of johns friend, and then quickly leaves. John tries to tell the authorities but no one believes him, and John goes to jail as a suspect for the death of his friend.
2. A new pandemic hits the world that infects every living species on earth. Some species aren’t affected, some gain supper powers, some become zombies that want to destroy everyone. Those with super powers do not trust those without and vise vera, but must team up together to survive against the zombies. The world has changed so much because almost every living species on earth (including plants) have mutated creating an alien-like unknown terrain that may work against those fighting against the zombies.
3. Inter-dimensional travel has been made possible. Humans of all dimensions are now able to travel between dimension. An identity crisis arises. A war breaks out, which human dimension will be the last one standing.
Hi Alex,
I really like all of these story ideas. I think the bite one might be the most doable in this class to film and edit. A new pandemic and a inter-dimensional portal might be too difficult to create in this class.
Michael Cannetti
Logline: Daniel wakes up in a stranger’s home and tries to remember what happened the night before
Outline: While celebrating with friends, Daniel ends up having one too many drinks. He wakes up in an unfamiliar home and tries to piece together what exactly happened the night before. He refuses to leave without his new phone.
logline: While on his way home Mike forgets a very important bag on the train/bus.
Outline: Mike is on his way home from a long day of work, on his way home he dozes off. He wakes up and rushes out the train to not miss his stop forgetting the bag. Mike must track down his bag!
logline: Carlito wakes up in and empty lot but how did he get there ?
Outline: Drug cartel affiliate carlito wakes up in a empty lot. Battered and bruised he wakes up with a cellphone with a single number on it in his pocket. He calls the number and the adventure begins.