how to write a film story treatment story synopsis

Top tips for writing your movie synopsis

• Keep it brief. Your synopsis should be roughly two to three pages long. A one-page synopsis is likely to not have enough...
• Write in the present tense. You should always write in the present tense, even if your story’s set in the past. For...
• Use the third person.
• Get your spacing and paragraphs right. Use single spacing. Keep...

Full Answer

How do you write a treatment for a story?

In a treatment, you can start adding in the juicy bits of your story–salient bits of dialogue, arresting visual images, and pieces of important action. You can now include the action of any and all subplots, and describe your characters with a little more nuance.

What is a film treatment and how to write one?

What is a film treatment, and how do you write one? It's a multi-page document written in prose, that tells the story that happens in your screenplay. It is a synopsis, with action, sparse dialogue, and works as a roadmap for the reader, producer, and writer.

What is the difference between a movie synopsis and a treatment?

The main difference between a movie synopsis and a treatment, is that a synopsis is only one page in length. A treatment, on the other hand, is usually around 5 to 10 pages. Both can be used as selling tools.

Can a story be found in a movie synopsis?

And a story in its purest form can be found in a movie synopsis. Whether you plan on writing a film synopsis for a script that’s done and dusted or is yet to be written, being able to refine a story down to 400 or so words is an invaluable skill to acquire. Click to tweet this post. What is a synopsis?

How do you write a synopsis for a film story?

5 Tips for Writing an Effective Movie SynopsisStick to the main plot points and main characters.Write in the style of the movie's genre.Create narrative propulsion.Emphasize character development.Spoil the ending.

What is the difference between a film treatment and a synopsis?

Treatments Are Longer Than Synopses Remember, a synopsis is a short but succinct description of your plot, main characters, and fictional world. It tells the whole story from beginning to end but in a breezy, brief, easy-to-read sort of way. Treatments give you more room to write, so they're naturally longer.

What should be included in a film synopsis?

What's a film synopsis? A film synopsis is typically a one-page document that summarizes your film. It contains the film's title, genre, logline (a one-sentence summary), and a five-paragraph explanation of the film's storyline, major plot points, and key characters.

How long should a treatment synopsis be?

There's a simple rule of thumb here. For a synopsis, try to stay to one page. For a treatment, shorter is always better. Aim for a maximum of five pages, ten if you must.

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 treatment?

How To Write The TreatmentFind A Title. Whether the screenwriter is creating a new story or writing a treatment based on an existing script, the first step is to make sure that the screenplay has a good title. ... Write a logline. The second step is to write a logline. ... Write a synopsis. The third step is to a synopsis.

How long is a film synopsis?

one to three pagesHow long is a movie synopsis? A synopsis is usually one to three pages long, depending on what you're using it to do within the industry.

What is a treatment of a film?

A film treatment is a summary of a film or television show. It should communicate all of the essential scenes, themes, and tone of the project to entice or pitch to buyers and producers into reading, developing, or even purchasing your idea.

What is the difference between a story and synopsis of a film?

The relevant sense of plot is "The general course of a story including significant events that determine its course or significant patterns of events." The relevant sense of synopsis is "A brief summary of the major points of a written work, either as prose or as a table; an abridgment or condensation of a work."

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.

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.

How many pages should a movie treatment be?

If you’re writing without anyone specific in mind, try to keep a series or film treatment under ten pages, single spaced.

What is a story roadmap?

A thorough story and structure roadmap that previews for others any major revisions that a screenwriter (or screenwriters) will make before starting on a rewrite.

How many pages does James Cameron write?

Treatments can be much longer than that too. James Cameron, for example, writes 70 page treatments to get his stories organized.

What is a behind the scenes reference?

A behind-the-scenes reference for the screenwriter (or screenwriters) to guide and give a framework to the full script being written.

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.

How to write a movie script?

Generally you want to keep your film treatment economic and reader-friendly. Don’t go into too much exposition on anything — be it characters, locations, or actions. Avoid also: 1 Any dialogue (save it for the script) 2 Images, clip art (and anything else that’s not text) 3 Paragraphs that are too long 4 Distracting fonts

What is treatment in a movie?

Treatment: longer scene-by-scene breakdown of the storyline that screenwriters use to pitch a movie idea before writing the full screenplay (read our film treatment guide)

What is a synopsis of a movie?

What’s a film synopsis? A film synopsis is typically a one-page document that summarizes your film. It contains the film’s title, genre, logline (a one-sentence summary), and a five-paragraph explanation of the film’s storyline, major plot points, and key characters.

What is a logline in a screenplay?

A logline is typically two sentences that identify the main character, the challenge they’re trying to overcome, and why they need to overcome it. You might also want to follow the logline with a paragraph that explains why your screenplay is appealing for filmmakers.

How long should a synopsis be?

Keep it brief. Your synopsis should be roughly two to three pages long. A one-page synopsis is likely to not have enough detail, but anything over three pages is too bulky. Your reader should be able to finish reading your synopsis in a few minutes, and have a good idea of whether it’s right for them.

Why is a synopsis important?

A screenplay synopsis is a vital tool in the filmmaking world, helping you sell your movie idea to agents, managers, producers, and studio execs. Before anyone commits to reading your full screenplay, they’ll want to check out a one-page synopsis. So it’s super important that you get it right.

What is the catalyst in a story?

Then, you'll need a catalyst or ‘inciting incident’ – something spicy that happens to get the story started. This will spark a series of events that sets the protagonist on an epic journey of character development. It inspires their character arc and helps them reach their goals.

How to hit all the plot points?

In your quest to hit all the plot points, don’t forget to call out your character arcs. Your protagonist’s motivations, and emotional turning points, need to be clear. Make sure each main character has at least one distinctive characteristic that helps them stand out from the other characters.

What does treatment give a writer?

A treatment gives them some bit of hope, a scrap of paper to put into their file, something tangible to hold onto. And I suppose treatments do offer some small insurance, to all involved -- if the writer is way, way off, it's probably better to know that sooner than later.

What is a synopsis in a screenplay?

It is a synopsis, with action, sparse dialogue, and works as a roadmap for the reader, producer, and writer. This is your story, broken down into an easy-to-follow document, that anyone who picks it up can grasp immediately.

Why do you need a script treatment for your film?

Screenwriters find treatments are beneficial when it comes to shopping the work around town.

Why do you write a script after treatment?

As you know, the best reason to write a script after the treatment process is that someone is paying you to do it!

What is treatment in acting?

Treatments are where I explore ideas in greater depth. It’s where I feel free to make mistakes, to find out what happens in Act II, and to nail my opening and closing scenes.

What is treatment in a project?

A treatment is a great way to organize your thoughts about a project. While they may not be the most commercially viable things, they’re great ways to get on a development executive’s good sides and to see if your idea is worthwhile in the marketplace.

How many pages are in a treatment script?

While a script can be 80-120 pages, your treatment’s length will vary.

Why do screenwriters use treatments?

In filmmaking, lots of screenwriters find treatments to be a useful marketing tool when they’re trying to sell their work to Hollywood bigwigs. They’re a vital part of the development process, helping you to stress-test your story idea before writing a draft screenplay.

What is a film treatment?

A film treatment (or film script treatment) is a multi-page, detailed synopsis of your film or visual project. It contains all the key elements of your film, like important scenes, main characters, and crucial plot points. And it’s written in prose, not as a script.

How long should a treatment be?

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. If you’re writing your treatment for someone specific – like a reader at a production company – then screenwriter John August suggests asking them exactly what they’re looking for. Sometimes readers have a certain page count (i.e. level of detail) in mind.

Is there a way to write a treatment?

As Terry Rossio says, “There is no way to write an effective treatment… yet there are effective techniques that should be used to write them.” Once you’ve cracked the art of writing treatments, you’ll have something you can use in a bunch of different scenarios.

How to write a synopsis for a movie?

How to write a synopsis: the core story. The best way to think of a movie synopsis is as a short story version of your script. It is simply your script’s main plot written in prose and condensed down to a single page.

What goes into a movie synopsis (as a selling tool)?

industry people. But one of the most overlooked devices when pitching a screenplay is a tightly written film synopsis that sells the core concept and story.

What is a logline in a plot?

A good logline explicitly tells us what the story is about, and what our protagonist is up against, in two sentences. For example:

How many words should a synopsis be?

Whether you plan on writing a film synopsis for a script that’s done and dusted or is yet to be written, being able to refine a story down to 400 or so words is an invaluable skill to acquire.

What is a synopsis in a script?

A screenplay synopsis is simply a breakdown of its core A-story into prose. Its primary function is as a selling tool to aid the writer in the marketing of their script.

How many paragraphs should a plot synopsis be?

Some people say you should break your plot synopsis down into three paragraphs—one for each act. Others insist it should be four, while others recommend five.

What is the second function of a movie synopsis?

The second function of a movie synopsis involves condensing your story down to a page before starting on the script. Or, early in the process of writing it as you attempt to tighten up the story.

What is the difference between a script synopsis and a treatment?

For instance, what’s the difference between a script synopsis and treatment? A script synopsis is a short overview of your plot that could be used in part as a pitch to producers, managers, or agents. A script treatment is a longer overview of your script that’s often written before the script is completed.

How to write a synopsis?

When writing your synopsis, use a voice and tone that’s as similar to your script as possible. That often means sticking to the third person and present tense.

What is a Script Synopsis used for?

Okay, so before I jump into the differences between your script synopsis and treatment, I want you to be clear on the meanings of both. So let’s start with a script synopsis.

What is a Script Treatment used for?

Next, I want to discuss a script or film treatment, as this is a different animal from a synopsis.

How to write a script treatment?

What is a Script Treatment used for? 1 You need a title (not necessarily set in stone) 2 a logline 3 a plot summary 4 the characters all included in your script treatment.

How many pages should a script be?

If your script is for a TV show rather than a movie, or if your movie is made-for-TV and shorter than average, then your treatment maybe 5 or 10 pages . Some treatments are only a page long, which would put them right on par with synopses.

What is a synopsis in writing?

Remember, a synopsis is a short but succinct description of your plot, main characters, and fictional world. It tells the whole story from beginning to end but in a breezy, brief, easy-to-read sort of way. Treatments give you more room to write, so they’re naturally longer.

What does Anna tell Lily about her dad?

She tells Lily her daddy was a famous patriot, who died to save her and many others from the oppression in their country. When Lily asks if he's really dead, Anna hasn't the heart to confirm the truth. She pretends that there's a big secret. She tells Lily that Daddy really escaped and came to America, where he is searching for them everywhere.

What is the only cure for Anna's helplessness?

Anna can only attempt to comfort her. The only cure is a new story about Dad. Anna's helplessness turns to anger and depression, and she neglects her work and this causes her to lose her day care center.

Why does Anna plead with Jon Van?

Jon Van appears with his usual request, but Anna resists. She pleads with him to give her more time to respond to him, and to give her a job.

Who takes over the syndicate?

With new resolve and confidence, Anna takes over the syndicate, but brings prosperity and a new modern tradition into the community. She never tells Lily that Daniel, the thief, wasn't her father.

Who holds the tiny girl in the book?

It's June who holds the tiny girl, and cuddles her.

Does Anna have the heart to destroy Lily's joy?

He's so badly beaten that he's not even a threat, and so, Anna doesn't have the heart to destroy Lily's joy. They have a little party, and Daniel and Anna pretend that the necklace is from her "father."

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 can you add to a treatment?

In a treatment, you can start adding in the juicy bits of your story–salient bits of dialogue, arresting visual images, and pieces of important action. You can now include the action of any and all subplots, and describe your characters with a little more nuance.

What is the next important piece of information you must relate to the reader?

The next important piece of information you must relate to the reader is what makes your story unique. What does your voice bring the the table? What kind of tone are you trying to set?

What is a logline in a story?

A logline is a one sentence compelling and cinematic description of your story, its main character, that characters main objective, and the main obstacle they face.

Is a screenplay a short form?

You could say that a screenplay isn’t really a “short form” tool –it is, after all, the most complete written version of your story. However, the screenplay is effectively the blueprint of the movie or first episode of the television show, and it includes the entire storyline, the action, and the dialogue in only two hours (or less, in a television adaptation). This is a lot less time and commitment for a reader than reading your entire book, which could easily take 20-30 hours to get all the way though. If you want the most complete version of your story to have the greatest chances of getting read by a producer, you should certainly not discount the screenplay as a powerful tool.

Is it bad to give away a twist ending in a logline?

Lastly, make sure that your logline leaves something to the imagination! It’s bad form to give away the twist ending in a logline. You don’t have space to spoil your twist, and leaving a little mystery should entice the reader to want to read more to find out what happens next.