Cliche phrases in loglines

Hmm, I've never actually seen "hilarity ensues" before except in an obviously joke/spoof logline, or in the worst kind of "Me want to bee Holywood screnwritr" amateur hour first attempt.* Ditto for high jinks (or hijinx) ensues.

I dislike seeing "struggles" -- someone struggles to do this or that, as if that's supposed to tell you something.

* I copy/pasted that from my very first post, which me saved for posterity.

-Derek

Writing a good logline or synopsis can often take as long as the first draft, and, like I've mentioned before on AWC, a lot of great films have dreadful loglines. Tag-lines can be even worse.

I think the mark of a good log-line is something that doesn't grate, which means cliches are bad and long words are silly. Make it simple and hooky enough so that you can pitch it face-to-face without feeling embarrassed!!!