A forensic photographer on stress leave takes the pilgrimage home, only to become embroiled in a cold case from her youth. What she discovers is her worst nightmare. What she finds is redemption.

This is all very useful. My thanks. Funnily, this script is far more developed than my other- logline below- which seems to have a tighter story. My challenge is fitting the immensity of the cold case and it's outcome and the resulting change in the hero into a short but readily understandable sentence. I got lazy in the second half. Ha! Isn't that always the challenge! :)

Hi kb,

I agree with you.
Personnaly, I start with a premise (it don't need to be formal as a logline), then I make a project chart (something like a Gantt chart and a chart of characters, as we use in building or industry), the synopsis, treatment,... and I finish with the logline (what I didn't now how to write up a few days ago).

Hi Jean & Sara,

Jean, I take your point. But the details might make for a stronger hook in the logline. I think loglines for completed scripts are generally less vague than loglines written before. Personally, I tend to start with an idea which develops into a lengthy treatment after which I know what I'm writing about and then searching for the logline. I'm just saying - I'm sure every writer has a personal style.

Hi Sarapensalfini,
Hi kbfilmworks,

My feeling is a little different (if I don't mistake due to my broken english):

I see a characterized hero (I assume her perception of forensic environment will influence her behavior)
I see a flaw: her stress leave
I see a quest: reconnect with her past,
I see a hardship that suggest antagonism and conflict : an eembroiled cold case
I see what's at stake: overcome her worst nightmare

And the resolution could be told like: what she will plead for (or seek) is redemption.

"A forensic photographer on stress leave takes the pilgrimage home, only to become embroiled in a cold case from her youth. What she discovers is her worst nightmare. What she will plead for is redemption"
(35words)

I see a good story behind this.

Thankyou! Definitely helps. Will rework on this basis after lunch. ;)

Seriously cool idea. I think you need to forget the 'stress leaves takes the pilgrimage home' bit - your set-up. And detail the actual story - 'the cold case from her youth' - and also detail the complication 'what she discovers is her worst nightmare'. Finally, I suggest you jettison the bit about redemption - I'm supposing that's your ending - in which case it's not required in your logline. Hope this helps.