.png){kind=small}
Logline or Synopsis?
In our previous blog, we mentioned that a well-written logline will peaked interest in your screenplay. Unfortunately, that is not enough to get someone to read it. Unless you are an established writer with decent producing credits, chances are agents, producers, actors would read your synopsis first to decide if your screenplay is worth their while. A one-page synopsis is your first chance or at times only chance to convey your story's central idea and showcase your writing ability. However, even then, History of Violence, screenwriter John Olson, would still not read your screenplay
What is a one-page synopsis?
So what is a Synopsis? A Synopsis by definition is a summary of your screenplay. A synopsis covers the entire story from the main plot to the side characters. As your logline includes only the core story, setting the tone or theme of the story, the synopsis will divulge into the story details.
Although it’s called a “one-pager” the synopsis should be anywhere between one and three pages. In all honesty, the shorter, the better. As you are aiming to be as concise as possible summarizing a 120-page screenplay into a "one-pager", means that you have to include only what's essential to the story.
Here is an example of a full synopsis from the Mel Gibson thriller, Ransom
5 tips for an effective synopsis
Stick to the main plot points and main characters. A one-pager fills up real fast and the reader's patience will wear thin even faster. So get the reader quickly invested in your protagonist’s success and omit fodder subplots and minor characters who don't propel the story forward.
Write in the style of the movie's genre. Use language that elicits feelings associated with the tone of your screenplay's genre. For example, a comedy movie synopsis should convey how funny the script is, an action movie synopsis how exciting the script is, a horror movie synopsis how terrifying the script is, etc.
Create narrative propulsion. Make sure your protagonist’s motivations are clear and that you point out their emotional turning points throughout the synopsis. Additionally, every main character should have one or more distinctive characteristics to make them stand out from the other characters.
Include Your Major Set-Pieces. Set-pieces are large, unified scenes of action, humor or drama. They are the big sequences that make your screenplay unique and memorable. Although your synopsis is necessarily abbreviated, take time in your telling to describe three or four big set-pieces, as these are ultimately your script’s biggest selling points
Go Out with a Bang. Leave your reader with the feelings you want paying audiences to experience at your final fade out. Ultimately, your synopsis is your movie in miniature, so it must necessarily suggest the intellectual/emotional/spiritual impact of the full, final product.
Sagittly's role in inspiring collaborative screenwriting
Even though it’s clear that email is the undisputed king of office communication, it is no secret no one likes to send or receive an email. Unlike millennials, Gen Z ( those born after 1997) are not adopting email as their primary mode of communication, which shows that their preference lies with Instant Messaging. We understand that continual communication is vital to ensure that writers are continually on the same page as such we are working towards a more mobile method of communication.
Synopsis Template
Download the one-pager synopsis template to empower you to write your synopsis more efficiently and effectively.
Author’s Notes/References