Caldwell Studios’ hotshot producer signs off on his most successful but self-destructive movie director to film his most ambitious film yet. The director is hellbent to drive his actress-wife and everyone around him insane onset of the troubled film production. I know this is wrong— I need help. I’m not good writing loglines. Can somebody help construct a logline with these elements? There’s a love triangle in this film between these characters.

by ComplexMuse 236 pts

6 reviews

Adam Bernstr?m Samurai · 1,133 pts

Your logline did bring The Shining to mind, but not so much the movie itself as the behind the scenes documentary, how Stanley Kubrick abused Shelley Duvall, turning her into a nervous wreck.

You also remind me of The Stunt Man, from 1980, where Peter O'Toole plays a very overbearing director.
It could be worth watching both of those unless you've already done that.
I agree with what the others said, that you need a clear protagonist in the logline, a goal, who's trying to stop him, or her, and what's at stake.
dpg 112,231 pts

It's your story, your call. ?Who do you want to be the protagonist? ?From whose point of view do you wish to tell the story?

And again: ?what's the objective goal of the protagonist? ?For that matter, what's the point of the movie -- what's the overarching theme??

Also, in what time period is this set? ?The ungolden age of the studio system? ?The present? ?Or...?

ComplexMuse 236 pts

It's a psychological thriller- drama but will be marketing like Black Swan and The Shining.

The producer has the main scope of the film. The movie set is his kingdom. He's the one who has to keep the director in check. He is the one in love with the actress married to the director. The studio is his inheritance and empire but it's the director's movie that drives them all insane. The actress is the person stuck in the middle trying to rationalize her husband's delusions and that she can't change him as well as her feelings for both men. She's a much stronger Wendy.

dpg 112,231 pts

As the others have noted.

Who are we supposed to root for? ?What is the positive objective outcome someone is struggling to salvage from all this negativity?

Neer Shelter 55,464 pts

Best to use the first post for the longline alone and post any questions you have in subsequent posts.

Agreed with Richiev, identify the MC and goal then we can help you with constructing the logline.

Richiev Singularity · 82,714 pts

First I enjoy movies about making movies so probably something I would want to see, as for the logline...

I think the first question would be who is the lead character; the hot shot producer, or the self-destructive movie director?
Which character is the one with the proactive goal?