Don't forget to do your reading in Media Now, Chapter 7.
The link for your cybercollege assignment (see your syllabus) is: http://cybercollege.com/tvp_ind.htm
Remember the following key principles as you prepare your loglines (one original/5 based on movies that are already made). Don't forget to blog them and bring a printed copy.
Loglines should:
1) Be one concise sentence.
2) Illuminate character.
3) Describe plot.
To test your success, look at your character descriptions (remember, there may be more than one). Are they generic or vague? Every character should have at least one POWERFUL adjective to describe him/her. Names are unnecessary and distracting unless it is a high concept name like Garfield or Batman in which case it might be okay ( notice emphasis on "might").
Plot should:
1) Spark interest.
2) Peak curiosity (don't give it all away).
3) Tell what happens in the first fifteen minutes.
Remember, sentence structure is important too. You don't want readers to stumble over a long, rambling sentence. Try structuring it a few different ways. At the same time, avoid being vague, general, or non-descript in an attempt to condense your logline.
AVOID PASSIVE VOICE AT ALL COST (except in rare circumstances).
Please review the following website for a great explanation of active vs. passive voice. I'm sure it will help you to have those super-polished loglines (and overall writing) that demonstrate you are educated, informed, filmmakers and valuable human resources.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_actpass.html
Enjoy! You're on your way to excellence!
Mariah
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The Thin Blue Line
It’s November 1976, a Police Officer has been shot, follow the night’s events through the officers, detectives, lawyers, and witnesses involved in the case of Randal Adams as the Texas criminal justice system begins to take on a whole new light.
Premonition
Linda Hanson seems to be living in a permanent nightmare, one day her husband is dead and the next day he is alive, she must unravel the truth of what’s happening to her before it’s too late to save what truly matters.
Driving Lessons
When 17 year old Ben takes on a summer job as escort for Evy, an old eccentric actress, he soon learns that the most valuable lessons are found by living.
National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets
Ben’s great great grandfather was recognized as a national hero, that is until a man produces a diary page that accuses him of being the mastermind of Lincoln’s assassination, now Ben must set out on yet another quest, this time to prove his great great grandfather’s innocence and clear his family name.
The Holiday
Amanda, a successful producer from Los Angeles, Ca, and Iris a writer from London England, decide to exchange lives for 2 weeks in an attempt to escape the men who made their lives a misery.
The Diary
16 year old Athena wakes suddenly to discover her sister and only guardian has disappeared, now she must follow the clues her sister has left behind in a search for the one man who knows the secrets of their dark past.
Remember, no names...this is a logline that generalizes character and plot, not a synopsis...
Steve O’Brien
8-5-08
week 3
Back To the Future
A rambunctious teenage slacker gets involved with a scientist that has invented a time machine which sends him to the past and he must now find a way to get back to his own time while trying to get his parents together before time runs out!
Daddy Day Care
Two fun loving fathers are tired of their jobs and decide to open a day care to spend more time with their children but learn that keeping more than just their own children entertained is a very daunting task while trying to keep from getting closed down as they take on more and more children.
Ironman
A super cocky billionaire travels to another country to test his newest weapon for the government and gets caught by the wrong side and almost losing his life, the experience has now given him the knowledge for a new weapon to take the enemy down!
Crank
A professional hit man has had his luck turned against him when he wakes up only to find that he has been poisoned and only giving him an hour to live as he tries to take revenge on the people who are responsible for giving him certain demise while also trying to find a cure.
The Sandlot
An intelligent youth moves to a new neighborhood and gets accepted by eight other youths who teach him the value of having fun, baseball, and good times until they loose the prized Babe Ruth autographed baseball and must battle the beast to get it back!
The Pendant of the Ages
A strong willed and determined adult learns that his mother has had a pendant that was pick pocketed when she was at the market before he was born and sets off to find what was wrongly taken from his family but learns that there is much more to the locket than was known and now has turned out to be an even greater quest for what is his while acquiring a new long friend and companion.
1. The Crow
A man returns from the dead to exact revenge on a group of criminals responsable for the deaths of his fiance and himself.
2. Live Free or Die Hard
A middle-aged detective must stop a group of cyber terrorists with a plot to take over America’s digital infrastructure.
3. Mortal Kombat: The Movie
Three complete strangers must face many mystic warriors in a martial arts tournament that will result the fate of the world.
4. Desperado
A vigilante musician sets off to kill the drug dealers that corrupt the streets of his native Mexico.
5. Raiders of the Lost Ark
An adventurous archeologist fights off Nazi occultists to retrieve the mythical Ark of the Covenant.
6. Paradise of the Rose (Paise de la Rosa)
A young man is sent to the United States to receive an education only to become influenced by the art of drug trafficking and later becomes the competition of the Mexican drug cartel owned by his only father.
Angy Nylund
Two kingdoms in peril, a century long war, that won’t subside, awaiting the help of the chosen ones to bring it to an end. (Forbidden Power)
A Young couple, trying to see past each others differences, and problems, and receive help from an older farm man who himself is fighting his own problems, in order to make it through life. (Black Snake Moan.)
A man fights for his families freedom, while being enslaved himself, as well as end a war of corruption over a small mineral, worth millions. (Blood Diamond.)
Four animal’s go on the adventure of a lifetime, when one of them wishes to be in the wild again, as they fight and struggle to find their way back home to the zoo. (Madagascar.)
An older man sets up his Nephews family in a house made of glass, inside hiding secrets that are invisible to the naked eye, in order to attain the last piece to a gruesome puzzle. (13 Ghosts)
Twin sisters, decide to switch places in order to see how the other parent is, and to take a risk at reuniting the family back together again. (The Parent Trap)
Zoolander
A male model of the year tries to hold onto his title while getting brainwashed into becoming an assassin to save the fashion world.
I Am Legend
An army Dr. is the sole survivor in New York City trying to find a cure for the mutated virus that has devastated the earth’s population and turned humans into mutated monsters that take over the city at night fall.
Munich
An Israeli operative leads a squad of assassins whose mission is to avenge the brutal slaying of their fellow countrymen at the 1972 Olympics.
Into The Wild
A disillusioned college grad leaves his life and identity behind on a soul searching adventure meeting fellow travelers along the way towards the Alaska wilderness.
Bless the Beast and the Children
A group of teenage misfits sneak away from summer camp on a quest to save a herd of buffalo from the inhumane slaughter by the townies at the shooting range.
The Long Road Home
A middle aged couple takes their rebellious daughter on a trip around the world to exotic India hoping to teach her that there is more to life than texting and shopping malls.
DeJuan Henderson
Ms. Lichtenstern
DF1101: Digital Filmmaking
loglines HW Week three
Aug 7, 2008
Homework week 3
Halloween 2008
The story of an adolescent child on a murderous journey to becoming a psychopathic killer.
Menace II Society
A detailed look at the grim reality of inner city life growing up as a youth in the late 80’s early 90’s.
The Bucket List
After discovering they only have a certain amount of time to live, two men embark on an adventure to rediscover themselves.
Wanted
A young man, physically affected by his below average life, becomes recruited by a secret society of assassins to avenge the death of his long lost father, only to find out the situation isn’t all that it seems.
The Incredible Hulk 2008
After a freakish life altering accident, a lonely scientist roams the earth in search of a cure to rid himself of the uncontrollable, genetically enhanced beast within him before it is unleashed.
Have a Good One
The untold story of an average Joe/aspiring musician with a lot of free time on his hands, become hoodwinked into a proposition that ultimately leads to his demise.
Grease:
A musical comedy set in the 1950’s tells a story about what happens when an unlikely couple the girl next door and tough greaser fall in love.
Mean Girls:
A wholesome teenage girl soon discovers her dark side after befriending the popular Plastics, a group of girls that rule the school.
The Notebook:
Ever since his wife Ali began suffering from Alzheimer’s, Noah has read their story to her with hopes that if only for a moment she will remember the deep love that they shared.
Just Friends:
Transformed from the shy nerd to a Hollywood playboy, Chris’ accidental meeting with his former cheerleading best friend 10 years later sends him on a mission to be more than Just Friends.
Flashdance:
A young orphaned woman struggles between her life as a welder and exotic dancer while falling in love and pursuing her dream of performing ballet.
Finding Nemo:
Marlin, a gentle clownfish and his forgetful friend Dory meet a large group of funny characters on an ocean wide search for his son Nemo who was kidnapped and placed in a fish tank in Sydney.
Manuel Velazquez
8-7-08
HW Week 3
Fun with Dick and Jane
A hard working honest couple decide to turn to a life of crime after being plunged into bankruptcy by a corrupt corporation.
Be kind Rewind
After accidentally erasing all of the tapes in their video store, two friends decide to re shoot every movie themselves in order to keep the customers satisfied.
Saving Private Ryan
During the second world war a group of paratroopers must go behind enemy lines to recover a soldier whos brothers have been killed in combat.
Apocalypse Now
During the Vietnam War, a veteran captain is sent on a mission to kill an ex Green beret who has gone insane and has created his own civilization deep in the Cambodian jungles.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
When a cartoon rabbit is accused of murder, he looks to a cartoon hating detective to help him prove his innocence.
Death is a good business
The owners of a small funeral home in an old town are forced to kill people and create funerals in order to keep their business alive.
The Darjeeling Limited
Three distant brothers meet on a train to travel through India, while encountering many obstacles to get to their destination.
The Weatherman
A divorced weatherman tries to get his family back while having to deal with the everyday problems of being known as the weatherman.
Shaun of the Dead
A recently dumped slacker tries to get his girlfriend back while his town is being overrun by zombies.
Punch-Drunk Love
A lonesome company owner of toilet plungers meets a woman and tries to build their relationship, while having to deal with criminals blackmailing him.
Brick
An outcast high school student, whose girlfriend was murdered, goes to great lengths to find the murderer and uncover the scandals of his school.
Obsessed and Lost
A television show obsessed guy, sinks into a depression when his favorite television show goes on a hiatus.
1. Young male football player struggles to make it to college but can't escape the hood. (Boyz N The Hood)
2. Young man finds out what gangster life is all about by selling drugs and controlling the streets.(American Gangster)
3. Young male immigrant comes to America to become a filthy rich gangster.(Scarface)
4. Middle aged man hunting in the woods finds a large amount of money from dead drug smugglers.(No Country For Old men)
5. Male super hero finds out he's not the only one left of his kind. (Hancock)
6. Young Boy sent to jail for manslaughter falls asleep and wakes up in an alternate dream world surround by demons.(Hell In A Cell)
fear and loathing in las Vegas:
author and reporter is to sent to report on a motorcycle race in las Vegas while the duration of his trip is spent under the influence of drugs.
superman:
an alien hero of earth returns to restore a balance between good and evil
batman:
multi-billionaire turns vigilante to protect his home city.
lake placid:
a small group of biologist's examine mysterious death related to a small town lake
pursuit of happiness:
middle aged man struggles to provide for his son when he is evicted and divorced
Mariah film class:
student exceeds teachers expectations and learns how to keep a schedule
Do The Right Thing
Social examination or race through the eyes of Mookie, an African American Pizza boy living in a Brooklyn,NY community racially divided that turns violent at the end of one hot summer day in front of his job Italian Sals Pizza Parlor.
Training Day
Jakes first day working under a ruthless veteran cop names Lorenzo is eye opening, and he eventually realizes he's caught in a web of police corruption and lies.
Undisputed
Two unbeaten Boxers are brought together in prison fight for their reputation, and the right to be known as the underworld Undisputed boxing champ.
Notebook
An elderly man reciting a love story to a woman about to young people who meet, fall in love, and then are removed from one another to later rekindle their undying love.
Paid In Full
a young shy kid from the ghetto of Ny creates a drug empire, and eventually suffers the consequences of this dangerous streetlife.
Can I help You
Janet a club going call center, thinks she finds whst she feels is love in a co-worker, only to be betrayed and forced to defend her reputation at work.
H and K is about two potheads that set out on a journey in search of the perfect food at this place called White Castle.
GR
A man that inherits an ancient curse from satine.
Ba
A small time criminal,that is used by the FBI to catch a gold thief.
40Dand40N
A collegian that takes vow not to have sex for 40 Days.
WCK
This is a story about a Killer who goes on a killing spree in LA and runs into problems after killing a cops brother.
the terminator:
a nervous young single woman trying to make her way in the big city is now targeted for termination by a murderous machine, now only one scruffy rebel soldier can help keep her safe, and in so doing claims to be protecting the future of all man kind.
troy:
in the ancient times of greek story and legend there were once armies lead by an infallible young warrior who's skill and spirit knew no equal, to whom it had been asked to crush the city of troy and her aries for the glory and greed of the greek empire, a chronicle to the tales of men who's names will live for ever.
the matrix:
a talented hacker by night, and a corporate jockey by day begins to believe that he's stuck in an alternate version of reality as he dredges through his day to day, until he meats a group of odd people who lead him to believe that his world is simply an artificial form of reality.
back to the future:
an impetuous adolescent boy gets stuck in the past with the aid of a mad scientist after a series of mishaps, and now he must find his way back to the future.
army of darkness:
after a normal sporting goods department working man checks his last nine to five at s' mart, he is tossed back to the year 1300 A.D. he must combat the armies of the undead to locate a magic book that can send him home to his own time.
my own:
an anxious and creative film student compiles a group of stories to portray his take on the life he lives and what it means to be alive.
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