Treatments are usually written in paragraph rather than screenplay form, but there are no hard and fast rules. Outlines are often more rudimentary, with just sluglines to refer to sequences. A "pitch" is the oral presentation of a movie idea, where screenwriters explain to studio executives that their movie is "Ghostbusters meets Titanic."
Full Answer
What is the difference between a pitch and a treatment?
One opinion is that it is a one page written pitch. The second, which I agree with, is that it is a two to five page document that tells the whole story focusing on the highlights. The third opinion is that a treatment is a lengthy document that is a scene by scene breakdown of a script.
How do you pitch a project effectively?
Make a point of being as open, interesting and charming as possible. Try to come across as easy-going but willing to work hard. • Be passionate. When delivering your pitch you want to get across your enthusiasm for the project.
What is the best way to write a pitch?
The general rule for writing and delivering a pitch is, "the shorter, the better.". This also depends on who will be receiving the pitch. In some situations, a time/word/page limit is given. (If so, be sure not to exceed it!) Try to keep it down to a few sentences if possible.
How can I avoid making my pitch too long?
Avoid making your pitch too long. The general rule for writing and delivering a pitch is, "the shorter, the better.". This also depends on who will be receiving the pitch. In some situations, a time/word/page limit is given. (If so, be sure not to exceed it!) Try to keep it down to a few sentences if possible.
How do you pitch a treatment?
How to pitch a perfect treatment for every briefMake your profile stand out. ... Tailor your work for the job. ... Don't rush. ... Be visual. ... Introduce your team. ... Keep it simple. ... Save, preview and pitch before the deadline.
How should a film treatment look?
A treatment is a document that presents the story idea of your film before writing the entire script. Treatments are often written in present tense, in a narrative-like prose, and highlight the most important information about your film, including title, logline, story summary, and character descriptions.
How does a treatment differ from a pitch?
If they ask for a treatment before you've pitched, then again it's semantics: they don't mean a treatment, they mean a written pitch. But if you've pitched and they like the idea, and they tell you the next step is a treatment, what they're really looking for is a way to make sure you know how to execute the story.
What is a film treatment or pitch?
A film treatment (also known as a story treatment) is a prose-based prewriting and marketing document that reads like a short story. It is generally used to pitch a film, television series, or adaptation.
What is an example of a treatment?
Treatment is the manner in which something or a disease is cared for or dealt with. An example of treatment is when someone is cared for very well. An example of treatment is when you are given antibiotics for your illness. The act, manner, or method of handling or dealing with someone or something.
Should there be dialogue in a treatment?
Even without dialogue, you can — and should — put as much emotional content into your scenes. The feelings behind actions and reactions is just as important as the action themselves. Remember, emotions are things actors can “play” even without dialogue.
How long should a treatment be for a short film?
In essence, your treatment needs to be short enough to be snappy and engaging, but long enough to cover all the plot points and sell the story. If you're writing without a specific audience in mind, then a ten-page document is a sensible length for a film or series treatment.
What comes first outline or treatment?
Writers will use outlines — with or without feedback from collaborators — to prepare to write the screenplay. Studio executives, producers, and potential representation will use treatments to decide if they are interested in the eventual screenplays that they'll read or hire someone to write.
How do you write a one page treatment?
Write a few notes to yourself about what your story is about. Go ahead and get philosophical. "It's about lies." "It's about how love can cure you." Your message can be cynical or positive, but be aware of what it is. You're going to have to cut out all kinds of important information to fit it into such a small pitch.
What does a music video treatment look like?
A treatment is a document that outlines the overall idea for a music video production by describing (through both text and images) the concept, direction, aesthetic, and style of the video.
How long should a 5 minute film treatment be?
A film audience will be able to stand “not knowing” such basic information as where we are and what's going on, for a maximum of about five minutes (which translates to about five script pages).
How many pages are in a treatment?
For a typical movie, film treatments are about five to 10 pages. That's long enough to convey the right information without overwhelming the reader.
What is a pitch in a movie?
A "pitch" is the oral presentation of a movie idea, where screenwriters explain to studio executives that their movie is "Ghostbusters meets Titanic.".
How long is a spec script?
A "spec script" is a completed screenplay, probably about 120 pages long, that a writer wrote on his own. That’s the "spec" part, meaning that no one paid the writer in advance to write it, just like a house built on spec doesn’t have a buyer until it’s finished.
Why are screenplays considered specs?
Most writers’ first screenplays would be considered specs, because it’s rare for someone to hire a writer without reading his or her work first. "Treatment" and "outline" mean different things to different people, and one writer’s treatment might be another’s outline.
How can treatment help you find your film?
Treatments can help you find your film’s story, while simultaneously helping to raise money. The research for both treatment and film involves gathering the same facts, talking to the same individuals, and shaping the same story. By figuring out how to communicate your passion, knowledge, and vision on the page, ...
Why are treatment scripts and spec scripts confused?
A treatment and a spec script are sometimes confused because both serve to help writers hash out screenplay ideas and potentially sell a film or TV show. A treatment comes earlier on in the development process and provides a detailed summarization of the characters and events that will unfold throughout the film.
How to write a treatment for a movie?
A script treatment comes earlier in the writing process, before any actual scriptwriting, which allows you to sort out the necessary story elements you need. The point of writing a film treatment is to: 1 Set up the world you want the reader to envision. 2 Lay out the structure o
What is a treatment in a story?
Treatments contain detailed descriptions of the setting, theme, character roles, and plot in order to show how the story will play out for the audience. There are four main things a treatment should contain:
What is a script treatment?
A script treatment comes earlier in the writing process, before any actual scriptwriting, which allows you to sort out the necessary story elements you need. The point of writing a film treatment is to: Set up the world you want the reader to envision. Lay out the structure of your whole story. Help you identify plot holes, or parts ...
What is treatment in filmmaking?
A treatment is a narrative screenwriting tool that helps you explore ideas, flesh out various story possibilities, and develop your characters. Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking. Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking. In her first-ever online class, Jodie Foster teaches you how to bring stories from page to screen with emotion and confidence.
Why do we need to write a treatment before writing a screenplay?
Writing a treatment before you write your next screenplay can help you work out problems and determine whether your story idea is a diamond in the rough, or just a lump of coal. The goal is to combine stories told from the heart with a deep understanding of what other people want to see.
What is the second step in writing a screenplay?
The second step is to write a logline. Preparing a log line for your screenplay is a basic marketing tool that I have repurposed for developing treatments. It is similar to the summary given in TV Guide. It is a technique for boiling down a plotline to its essence that has been described as trying to vomit into a thimble.
Does leaving something behind hurt your pitch?
If they like the idea, that's all you want. You've done your job. They'll do their job from there. Leaving something behind will only ever hurt your chances of selling the pitch. Sometimes, when you're selling a movie pitch, they might request a treatment, and that's a little different.
Do you need to turn in a pitch without a check?
When the time comes you'll need to do it, but you don't ever need to turn one in without a prior written agreement and a forthcoming check. If you don't use an outline when you write, there's plenty of time to learn how to do one after you've sold your pitch.
Outlines
Since outlines are often written solely by the screenwriter during their own development and writing process, they vary in size, shape, and form — depending upon the writer, as well as the needs of the possible producers, directors, and managers that they may be working with during the developmental phase leading up to the actual writing of the script..
Treatments
Treatments vary in length and cover the more specifics of the story, utilizing prose in the form of descriptive paragraphs that tell the story from beginning to end with all of the plot points, twists, turns, revelations, and character descriptions, but void of much dialogue.
21 Outlines, Treatments, and Scriptments That Screenwriters Can Study
Since outlines, treatments, and scriptments represent the pre-writing stage of the screenwriting process, you don't often find many online examples.
1. Avatar (Scriptment)
Written by James Cameron (The Terminator, Aliens, True Lies, The Titanic, Avatar)
2. Batman: Year One (Treatment)
Written by Larry & Andy Wachowski (now known as Lana and Lilly Wachowski). They are best known as the auteur sibling writing and directing duo behind Bound and the Matrix Trilogy.
4. Big Fish (Sequence Outline)
Written by John August (Go, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Aladdin)
5. Big Fish (Post-First Draft Outline)
Written by John August (Go, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Aladdin)
What is a film treatment?
A film treatment (or story treatment) is a detailed summary of your film, TV show, or project. The screenplay treatment communicates all important scenes, sequences, and story points in a prose style that evokes the tone of your movie.
Why are film treatments important?
This is why film treatments are so useful: they boil your idea down to your characters and the story events that drive them to change. So let’s examine how to write a treatment that both snags your readers and organizes your vision.
Who wrote the treatment for Mask of Zorro?
On their site Wordplayer, working screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio posted a few of their own film treatment examples. Their 1994 treatment of Mask of Zorro is a glimpse into an effective script treatment.
What is the rule for writing a pitch?
The general rule for writing and delivering a pitch is, "the shorter, the better.". This also depends on who will be receiving the pitch. In some situations, a time/word/page limit is given. (If so, be sure not to exceed it!) Try to keep it down to a few sentences if possible. If you don't need to elaborate, don't.
What is the point of a pitch?
Writing a pitch is not as complicated as it seems. The whole point of a pitch is to 'sell' your idea. In this case, to sell your film. It's likely that the people you'll be pitching your idea to have other things to do, so you need to tell them why your film is worth their time and/or investment.
What to do if your film isn't what the reader is looking for?
If your film isn't what the reader is looking for, you may not get the answer you expect. Prepare for negative feedback or no feedback. Although, this doesn't mean that another reader will feel the same way. Perseverance is important.
What is a film pitch?
A “film pitch,” “screenplay pitch,” or the phrase “to pitch a screenplay,” simply means verbally selling your script to someone in the industry who may be interested in it. These people are usually studio executives or producers.
How to get the sixty second pitch?
Practice your pitch to get the sixty-second ( or twenty-minute) timing down pat. Say it to yourself in front of a mirror and maybe record it too. You’ll notice things when you watch a recording of yourself talking that maybe you’ve always missed.
What is a twenty minute pitch?
A twenty-minute pitch involves getting into much more detail—laying out the story act by act, sequence by sequence. You have much more time to describe characters, themes and specific scenes, but the general principle remains: stick to what’s essential for the listener to know.
Which is easier to pitch: a movie or a movie?
Movie ideas with a high concept are easier to pitch than ones with a low concept. A film like A Quiet Place, for example, would be much easier to pitch than, say, Roma.
How long does it take to pitch a screenplay?
The most common form of screenplay pitch is the “elevator pitch”—so named as it should only take around sixty seconds to deliver. Ninety seconds is fine, but anything over and you’re probably going into too much detail.
