Hello Travis. Your concept is wonderful, but the logline is a bit long. It's more like a synopsis. I would suggest to leave the logline in: "After rising to a world of wide acclaim from a painful childhood, a musician loses himself into his dark heart, creating the delusion he sold his soul to justify his pain," writing all other details in the synopsis.

That’s really good. Thanks.

Strat from "Rising" and this would be a really cool logline.

Hey, Travis O Harrison. I know who Kurt Cobain is, but I've never heard of Dr. Faustus, so your story sounds intriguing.

I think your logline is vague. Here’s a logline template that might help. Your story sounds like a biopic, so it might not fit in the template, but part(s) of the template might help you.

“After ______ (the inciting incident/the event that sets the plot in motion), a _______ (the protagonist with an adjective) tries to _______ (goal of story) so ________ (stakes).”

Loglines are one or two sentences (a one-sentence logline sounds better and it takes less time for a producer, director, etc. to read it). You can add the antagonist in the logline. The inciting incident can also be at the end of the logline.

Avoid using “must” in loglines because “must” sounds like the main character is forced to do whatever the goal of the story is (instead of the main character doing it willingly), and “must” doesn’t sound active. Audrey Knox (a TV literary manager) also said this during a logline review webinar on Stage 32 (https://www.stage32.com/webinars/The-Write-Now-Challenge-The-Logline-Rev...). Instead of using “must,” use “attempts to,” “fights to,” “struggles to,” “strives to,” “sets out to,” “fights,” “battles,” “engages in,” “participates,” “competes,” etc.

Example #1:

“After a group of dog criminals arrives in a small town, an impulsive dog sheriff defends a dog treat factory so they won’t steal food that’s meant for hungry dog families.”

Example #2:

“A dysfunctional couple works together to survive against bears after they crash on an abandoned road miles from help.”

NOTE: Not all stories will follow this logline template. Biopics and documentaries might not follow this template. The overall logline for a TV show might not follow this template, but the logline for an episode in the show could.

Dr.Faustus was Christopher Marlowe’s interpretation of Goetze’ “Faust.” Both contemporaries of Shakespeare. It’s one of the original selling the soul to the devil stories. Thanks for the info.

You're welcome, Travis O Harrison. Thanks for the info/history.