The Treatment § So far we have been through the first two steps towards writing your script/screenplay
§ Your verbal ‘Pitch’ § Short precise ‘Outline’ § And so onto…….
The Treatment § Being asked to write a Treatment by a Broadcaster or Production Company means you are really being taken seriously.
The Treatment § In some respects your Treatment will be the single most important document.
§ It is detailed § It is informed / informative § It tells your main story § It tells all your subplots § It tells your story as it will happen in your script
The Treatment § Most brilliantly…… § When working with § Production Companies
§ You can get paid for § writing the Treatment!
The Treatment § But not all, the BBC often § does not pay until the § script stage, same with ITV § Too much is asked for § ‘on-‐spec’ in the industry § Decide for yourself how § much work you will do § ‘on-‐spec ‘ § On-‐spec = no payment
The Treatment § Again, like your Outline you can write emotion into your treatment when dealing with characters
§ Give your characters life and their experiences passion…..up to a point
The Treatment § Every scene is basically written out § Every incident § Everything…..
§ Short of actual dialogue (you can actually put snippets in but not a lot or often)
The Treatment § A good and detailed Treatment makes the writing of the actual screenplay much easier
The Treatment § It is just me, the discipline and structure that I know has to be done but does not come naturally.
§ It is the only part of the process that I dread but at the same time acknowledge how important it is.
§ Because……
The Treatment
§ A (feature) script written without a detailed Treatment will be a mess.
§ Full of plot holes and missed opportunities. § Spending time to write a good treatment will pay dividends when it comes to writing the screenplay
The Treatment
§ Spend time to get it right. § You will also now generally be working with a Producer or a Script Editor
§ So there will probably be more than one version you are asked to write
§ It is only when they are pleased with the Treatment you get the go-‐ahead to write the script
The Treatment
§ Here are some definitions:
§ They vary in length but a feature treatment can go from 20 – 60 or more pages it is that detailed.
§ Up to 10 pages would be considered short for a feature
§ For your short it will be short.
The Treatment § You can go right ahead and write your screenplay after the outline
§ But it will generally mean more revisions and re-‐writes to your script.
§ A Treatment simply makes writing the screenplay much more straightforward and enjoyable as it is already mapped out and you wont forget important details.
The Treatment § A treatment is a short narrative of your story. The treatment explains what happens at each step of your story. The treatment is not an outline, nor is it just a script without dialogue.
§ Your outline is the skeleton of your story. Your script is the exterior with all of the details that other people will see. The treatment is the interior, the collection of internal organs that makes everything work together.
The Treatment § A treatment is a valuable tool (better than a plain
outline) for helping you figure out how your story will flow and feel, and it saves you time. If you discover that you don't really like the story while writing the treatment, you can trash it before you spend days on a script.
§ Likewise, if you have some of your friends read the treatment, and they say they aren't likely to watch the movie / play you described, then you can completely rewrite it or trash it before you invest all the time and energy of writing it.
The Treatment
§ The treatment isn't set in stone. Some people don't like following a roadmap like a treatment because they prefer to be more spontaneous in their writing.
§ Don't worry about it. If you change your story while writing the script, you can always go back and change the treatment.
The Treatment
§ When you want to sell your story, your treatment is a short story version of your screenplay used to show the movie executives what your story is about, how it progresses, and what your characters are like.
The Treatment § Your treatment is like telling a friend about the
amazing movie you saw last night scene by scene. Pretend that your friend won't get the chance to see the movie, but she wants to know what it's all about.
§ Explain briefly but vividly what's going on in each scene. Give vivid character description as characters appear in the story. Don't recite dialog unless you're certain that it's absolutely necessary. Don't talk about camera angles unless there are one or two that really add to the story.
http://www.lightsfilmschool.com/articles/treatments/index.html
§ A film treatment states how the audience will experience the film. It's important to write treatments in an active voice and avoid the use of hyperbole (such as "this unique film will explore" etc). When writing treatments you want your audience to be able to visualize your film. You will want to write in present tense and provide an overview of the characters, locations and details of the film.
http://www.lightsfilmschool.com/articles/treatments/index.html
§ You can write your treatment creatively. The purpose of a treatment is to allow your audience to smell, taste and experience your environment. Reading a treatment (second only to reading a full script) is the closest written equivalent to the look of your film.