Screenwriting : Cheap Logline? by Mike Heff

Consider only putting in physical traits if it directly relates to the narrative. If anything, consider using an interesting characteristic which directly relates to your character or that will affect the plot.

Dan Guardino I thought the same thing, but this person insisted that it's to our advantage to put race in the logline becuase industry people are looking for more scripts with diversity.

There is the "Default White" issue. If a character doesn't have to be white I'll often make them a non-white race. Remember it will be change to suit what they have and what they want. As far as I know Scarlett Johansson isn't Asian, didn't stop them from casting her in "Ghost in the Shell" and "Lucy". Yes they did that for sales reasons, but it was done.

Using race and gender gives you a massive amount of free stuff. Everyone has gender and racial stereotypes in their heads. As much as we push against these to make ourselves better people, we are all bias. So why not used that to your advantage.

You have to get their interest. Gender or race may do that. Plus they will change it.

If the character's race is imperative to telling the story (ex. 12 years a slave, guess who's coming to dinner), then include it. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

Mike, I've got to be honest: For me, mentioning a character's ethnic background in the logline is an absolute no-no. (I'd rather wait until the script itself.)

Mike, thanks for posting!

Sometimes you don't have to mention the race directly but can sometimes reveal it through the name or if the person is an immigrant, you mention where they are from.

Casting Directors will find the characters best suited to the story line - let 'em do their jobs.

I never include color or ethnicity unless it's important to know, because many of my screenplays deal with racism. Otherwise I leave it out, because otherwise it really doesn't matter. In my opinion.

You are right that is cheap but in the ugly reality around us, we see this cheapness all round. Non-whites have become the politically correct races that leftist entertainment and media cartels promote regardless of talent or importance of substance. So yoru industry contact was in his own way giving you a commercial hint which I am sure is the case. But in good sense, it fails to fit.

I would include the race/ethnicity of my character if it's a crucial element to the understanding of my character and story. Like, "A German immigrant... Or "A Nigerian priest...." Or "An Irish mobster..." Or "A Honduran refugee..." etc. etc. There's nothing "cheap" about that.

Best fortunes to you in your creative endeavors, Mike!

It felt a bit off putting, myself, for my recent pitch, though, I utilized my protagonist's job as a farmer, for the exposition of the Latin culture in California. But a simple line of complimenting dialog from another character calling her the latina marilyn monroe, also helps.

Interesting. I mostly consider my characters to be white, since I am, but I try to WRITE them to be malleable, since I assume the reader will project their own ethnicity onto the story. But you know, if you want to increase non-white representation in this industry, maybe we should start with the logline!

I was having this internal dialogue just today. I love that we live in a day and age where we are seeing more diversity and inclusion. It still isn't to a level that is fair or appropriate, but, hey, baby steps. That said, in my own personal life and in my writing, I struggle to find some kind of balance between being patronizing or pandering vs. a genuine need/desire to connect with people who do not look like me or have my background. (For the official record, it is a LOT more of the latter and a lot less of the former). I try to be sensitive to what that might need to look like, but the last thing I want to do is to be part of the problem and not part of the solution. Because I'm so cautious about this, I probably throttle myself from intentionally creating more specific diversity in what I'm working on. Self limiting is bad for creation, ya know? I pretty much leave these items out of descriptions unless necessary to advance the story. All I can say is that I genuinely hope that when I create characters whether they are named "Chad" or "Thug One" that no particular race/ethnicity is ever cast on name alone. I really hope we can get to a day/age when we don't even have to have these conversations or self-doubt. Until then, I hope my intentions speak louder than unintentional harm.

If it's a story about their culture/race then I think it's important because I'm sure it would be a very unique story. Look at Green Book. "A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South. " If its' pertinent to the story, then include it. If not, you are limiting yourself. It's like when we see certain actors for the roles we write. We should never say "I see Tom Hardy playing this role." Anyway, I hope this helps : )

Do they Dan?

Dan I'm thinking the same thing. I'm sure it's a more collaborative effort. I'd like to think, after spending more time on my log line than my script, that I'd have some say. But I'm sure it's highly unlikely.