Tips for writing a documentary treatment
- Use the active voice and present tense. Tell the reader what they’ll see and hear on the screen as the documentary...
- Be specific. Your treatment needs to describe situations, locations and characters in precise detail to make the...
- Use nontechnical language. Not everyone reading your documentary treatment will be a...
What is a documentary treatment?
Your documentary treatment is essentially a roadmap for how your project will develop from start to finish. There are four main parts every treatment must include: The logline is two to three sentences that introduce the documentary. It needs to grab the reader’s attention, like an advertising tag line does.
How to make a documentary?
There’s no one way to shoot a documentary. Preparing for how to make a documentary is about laying out what you need, and being open to the natural changes that emerge. Now you’ll need to list out all of the shots and sequences you’ll shoot. For this, you will need to make a storyboard that diagrams your intentions.
What is a well-written documentary treatment?
Well-written documentary treatments give these people a reason to get involved. You can add more sections based on who you plan to share the treatment with. For example, include a distribution plan if you’re presenting to investors. Use your documentary treatment as a tool to help manage the production process as the story evolves.
How do I write a film treatment?
Your treatment should contain the following elements: - Synopsis – a short (1 paragraph) description of the broad themes of your project, and its place and time, as well as a short description of what happens in the film. Usually the Log Line is contained therein.
How do you write a documentary treatment?
Tips for writing a documentary treatmentUse the active voice and present tense. Tell the reader what they'll see and hear on the screen as the documentary unfolds, from beginning to end. ... Be specific. ... Use nontechnical language. ... Get your formatting right. ... Only describe what's seen and heard on camera.
How do you write a documentary treatment and a documentary proposal?
4 Tips for Writing a Documentary ProposalBe as thorough as possible. This isn't a time to be general. ... Be realistic with your film budget. Along with a documentary treatment, you also need to develop a realistic budget for your film. ... Determine your fundraising strategy. ... Stay confident in your project.
What does a treatment for a documentary look like?
Documentary Treatment – The treatment is almost like a script, detailing exact scenes, characters and story structure. This is a constantly developing and organic document, adjusting as the story unfolds. This document is sometimes requested by large funding agencies.
How do you make a documentary step by step?
How to Make a Documentary Film Step-by-StepStart with Pre-Production and Planning. ... Gather Your Equipment. ... Focus On the Story, Not the Gear. ... Collect a Variety of Shots. ... Each Night, Offload Your Footage and Organize It. ... Assemble the Story in Post-Production. ... Share and Promote Your Documentary.
How long are documentary treatments?
The treatment, as the term suggests, sets out the dramatic and cinematic way you intend to 'treat' the story in terms of style and unfolding narrative. It's generally a 5–20 page document (although for a short drama it would be shorter).
What is documentary example?
A documentary is defined as a film or television program that is educational and tells a true story. An example of a documentary is the An Inconvenient Truth, a movie about global warming.
What is a video treatment template?
What exactly is a video treatment? The main purpose of a treatment is to convey your project's concept and story in a concise way. It's a key building block of video production that could make or break a project. The tricky thing is that there are no hard and fast rules on format and length.
What should be included in a documentary?
Making Documentaries Step-By-Step: How To Make a DocumentaryTell a story you care about. Start with a subject that excites you. ... Research. Learn everything you can about your documentary subject. ... Make a Plan. Create an outline. ... Create a Shot List. ... Start Shooting. ... Write a Script. ... Begin Editing. ... Check Legal and Copyright Issues.More items...
How do you structure a documentary pitch?
Elements of a documentary pitch deckFront cover. The cover needs to tell the story in one captivating image. ... Proposal. Your proposal is a summary of the documentary. ... Film synopsis. ... Audience details. ... Casting ideas. ... Director notes. ... Writer notes. ... Producer notes.More items...•
How do you write a documentary?
Here are 7 steps on how to write a documentary script:Finding the Story You're Meant to Tell. Why documentary? ... Research, Research, Research. ... Blueprint Your Documentary. ... Writing the Script. ... Compel Your Viewer. ... Declare Your Point Of View. ... Finesse Your Project.
What makes a good documentary story?
A good documentary shows people from a different perspective than they're used to seeing in the media. It opens people's minds and hearts to the struggles of other people in the world. It makes people question the way things are and the way they should be.
Is it hard to make a documentary?
Documentary filmmaking is a difficult challenge, so you'll need a fire-breathing spirit to get you through. You should find a topic that you are passionate about and tell its tale in order to communicate your point of view. Look for a beneficial topic and think about how to build a story that your audience can enjoy.
Why use a documentary treatment?
Use your documentary treatment as a tool to help manage the production process as the story evolves. With documentary treatments, you can: Without a treatment, it’s harder to plan as your documentary progresses. A documentary outline explains the story you’re telling, but it’s only a starting point.
Why do we need treatment for documentary?
Treatments also help you plan your documentary as it moves from idea to reality.
What is a logline in a documentary?
What’s in a documentary treatment: There are four main parts every treatment must include: The logline is two to three sentences that introduce the documentary. It needs to grab the reader’s attention, like an advertising tag line does. The logline can play up a mystery, be controversial, or share factual information.
Why do we use transcription?
Use transcription throughout production to help you write your initial treatment and to update it as needed. For example, conversations with interviewees and collaborators can be tracked accurately so you don’t have to rely on memory or incomplete notes.
How long does it take to get a transcript of a 30 minute audio?
With Rev, a transcription for 30 minutes of audio is ready in just twelve hours. You can read the final transcript to create an initial production schedule and list the responsibilities of internal stakeholders.
How long is the synopsis of Free Solo?
The synopsis for the documentary Free Solo is only five sentences long but it effectively explains who the filmmaker and photographer are. It also explains what the documentary is about, who the main subject is, and why their story is so unique.
What is a documentary outline?
A documentary outline explains the story you’re telling, but it’s only a starting point. A treatment lets you determine which scenes you’ll need to shoot, set goals for each interview, create a compelling story, highlight how the documentary caters to audience interests, and much more.
How to engage in documentary filmmaking?
To engage in documentary filmmaking you must brave the unknown, and capture a story that unfolds in its own unpredictable way. Although, if you are a filmmaker, then you know controlling chaos is your job. All you need is an idea that you believe in. Along with a solid grasp of the filmmaking process, your path will soon emerge.
Why is it important to have a unified vision in documentary filmmaking?
Having a unified vision will allow you to adapt your filmmaking approach to the truth that you discover as you go. Keep that initial creative spark close as you tackle the documentary filmmaking process.
Why is context important in documentary filmmaking?
Context is key in documentary filmmaking. In addition to finding an engrossing subject, you need a bigger theme to relate it to. In Abacus, its small story speaks volumes to why the financial collapse happened in the first place.
What to do after finding all the data to support your thesis?
After you find all the data to support (and refute) your thesis, capture it all in a treatment document. This should summarize your story and its controlling idea, and also outline the progression of events you wish to capture. Of course, everyday reality will change the intentions that you set for your story.
Why do you find a subject you care about deeply?
You must find a subject you care about deeply because, through telling its story, you will have to express your personal worldview. Errol Morris, one of the great documentary filmmakers, behind the scenes.
Step-by-step instructions to make a documentary
Documentary filmmaking is a difficult challenge, so you’ll need a fire-breathing spirit to get you through. You should find a topic that you are passionate about and tell its tale in order to communicate your point of view. Look for a beneficial topic and think about how to build a story that your audience can enjoy.
Types of Documentaries
Documentaries are divided into a variety of groups and categories. This allows filmmakers to push traditional boundaries or combine elements from different modes to create a unique and amazing film.
What are the Five Elements of a Documentary?
The majority of successful documentaries emphasize five main elements. Every component addresses a key narrating device, ensuring that your audience understands and empathizes with your subject. Your documentary can sound rich and unique while providing a lot of information if you use a joined approach. The following are the five elements:
What Amount Does It Cost To Make a Documentary?
The costs of producing a documentary have decreased dramatically as DSLR and mirrorless camera technology improve. Producers used to have to rent expensive equipment to film their projects, but now the equipment is much more affordable, and many producers own their own equipment.
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 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.
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.
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 ...
Who is the best actress to have a masterclass on filmmaking?
No one knows this better than Jodie Foster . In Jodie Foster ’s MasterClass on filmmaking, the two-time Oscar-winner talks about her experience on both sides of the camera and reveals insights into every step of the filmmaking process, from storyboarding to casting and camera coverage.
What is a treatment in a film?
Writing a treatment can also really help you sharpen your own ideas and concept of your film. Your treatment should contain the following elements: - Synopsis – a short (1 paragraph) description of the broad themes of your project, and its place and time, as well as a short description of what happens in the film.
How many pages are treatment pages?
They are a succinct and descriptive way to get across the elements of your film to others. They are usually 1-2 pages and contain only the essential information about your project.
What is documentary film?
A documentary film records true events. Any subject matter can lend itself to a good documentary as long as it sparks your interest. “Documentaries have always been a way for me to live vicariously through a subject,” says filmmaker Truen Pence. “When I started making them, it was through things I was just interested in.”.
Where to spend time researching a documentary?
For a historical documentary, you can expect to spend a lot of time in libraries or historical society archives. For a film on the rainforest destruction in the Amazon, you can learn a lot online and through phone calls, but you’ll eventually have to pack your bags ...
What was the name of the documentary that Dziga Vertov made in 1929?
The 1929 Soviet film Man with a Movie Camera remains the most well known of these documentaries. In it, director Dziga Vertov used several new shooting and editing techniques, including the match cut and jump cut.
What is observational film?
More subtle than expository or participatory documentaries, the observational film attempts to show life in a particular place and time as it might occur if neither filmmaker nor camera were present. One great documentary of this type is the 1994 film Hoop Dreams, which follows two Black high-school basketball players from impoverished Chicago neighborhoods over eight years.
What is participatory film?
In these films, the documentarian interacts with the subject. To make a point or capture a deeper truth, the filmmaker appears on screen or adds their voice to the film . In Paris Is Burning, Jennie Livingston explores the ball culture of New York City and conveys the struggles of Black and Latinx gay and transgender New Yorkers.
What is a poetic documentary?
Poetic. Poetic documentaries are like audio-visual poems. They focus more on mood and tone than on narrative. Werner Herzog’s 1971 film Fata Morgana falls into this category, with an off-screen narrator telling a Mayan creation myth over footage of African deserts.
Can you predict which documentaries will get picked up by distributors?
Once you have a final cut, you’re ready to submit to film festivals. No one can predict which documentaries will attract attention and get picked up by distributors, but no matter the subject, if you are interested in it, you’re sure to find other people who are interested in it too.
Why are treatment documents important?
Treatments are an effective way to streamline your writing process, organise your ideas from the get-go, and even seal business deals without a script. Yes, I said that last part correctly! A treatment document is sometimes deemed as more valuable than a full-fledged script — as many networks and producers see more value in developing ...
How long is a treatment document?
Here are some to consider: 1 - 10 pages - short and concise, a quick read. 10 - 25 pages - much more detailed. 30+ pages or more - very detailed and usually reserved for experienced writers or directors.
What is script treatment?
A script treatment is a great tool for pitching - whether to use it as a skeleton for a presentation or to send after a pitch.
What are the components of treatment?
Components: Treatments usually start with a logline, a list of the main characters, before a scene-by-scene summary or Act sequence breakdown. Again, do whatever to tell your story so your reader doesn’t have to leap over hurdles to understand you. Clarity is key.
What is a treatment in writing?
A treatment is a multiple page document written in prose - much like a short story or a novel manuscript. Its purpose is to literally get everyone “on the same page” with your story, characters, and tone of what you aim to achieve with the full script (eventually).
What is a prose form?
Prose form: Your story is written in prose form, similar to a novel or short story but with a script-like flourish. Don’t mistake it for a script. It’s a leaner, more direct animal. Script stylings but not too much: Treatments can include dialogue, shots, music, set-pieces, whatever you need. Just don’t go too extreme.
What Is A Film Treatment?
What Is Included in The Treatment?
- To write your film treatment you will need to visually create, consider and arrange your films potential main scenes, characters, story structure, themes and other key aspects. Remember, you are sharing and describing the story of your film and the integral elements that will be within it. You will want to depict specific scenes and play them out i...
When to Write It?
- Writing a strong treatment for your film project is an important step in the initial phase of making it. Once you’ve had your idea and done your research, writing a treatment is the next step to complete. Writing a treatment can be hard at first, but once you start to let the story and your imagination develop and awaken, you will have clairty and conviction in your project like never b…
What Else Should I Know?
- In terms of length, your film treatment can be anywhere from 4 to 10 pages. In terms of content, ensure that what you are presenting is realistic and factual. You want to create and describe an enticing story, but you must also remember that it is your intention to actually make it in real-life! Ensure you write your film treatment with conviction and assertive language. This is not the plac…