Randall_Oelerich
Veteran
I am having trouble crafting my Blake Snyder logline (BS2L) for a protagonist who is in essence the killer, the monster of the story, killing off victims (antagonists). Does BS2L apply as much for a protagonist who is a killer? BS2L is below, for reference. Any thoughts on how to adapt it for a killer protagonist (for example, Anna the troubled Hero in The Uninvited; or Matt Damon's character in The Talented Mr. Ripley; perhaps someone could craft the BS2L for one or both of those films?)? I would rather not get into a debate on the usefulness of the BS2L, for the purpose of this discussion thread let's assume I want to use it as a tool, see if it can be adapted to a killer protagonist.
Blake Snyder Logline Template
On the verge of a Stasis=Death moment, a flawed protagonist has a Catalyst and Breaks into Two with the B Story; but when the Midpoint happens, she must learn the Theme Stated, before All is Lost, to defeat (or stop) the flawed antagonist (from getting away with their plan).
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On the verge of : where the hero is at the start of the story, going in a very different direction than where she will end up. Stasis=Death moment : an emotional starting point implying needed change, where the hero suspects her life is deficient. Flawed protagonist : a deficit suggesting there will be change. Catalyst : inciting incident that puts hero's life in imbalance, propels the story forward, and is usually related to the goal of the hero that becomes clear at the Break into Two. Break into Two : what sets the story into motion, 'the movie poster' that gets us excited. B-Story : often but not always a romance subplot, or some relationship subplot. Midpoint : no turning back, a huge plot point. All is Lost : the hero is worse off than when the movie started. Theme : what this movie is really about.
On the verge of a Stasis=Death moment, a flawed protagonist has a Catalyst and Breaks into Two with the B Story; but when the Midpoint happens, she must learn the Theme Stated, before All is Lost, to defeat (or stop) the flawed antagonist (from getting away with their plan).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On the verge of : where the hero is at the start of the story, going in a very different direction than where she will end up. Stasis=Death moment : an emotional starting point implying needed change, where the hero suspects her life is deficient. Flawed protagonist : a deficit suggesting there will be change. Catalyst : inciting incident that puts hero's life in imbalance, propels the story forward, and is usually related to the goal of the hero that becomes clear at the Break into Two. Break into Two : what sets the story into motion, 'the movie poster' that gets us excited. B-Story : often but not always a romance subplot, or some relationship subplot. Midpoint : no turning back, a huge plot point. All is Lost : the hero is worse off than when the movie started. Theme : what this movie is really about.
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