If you want your movie treatment to sell, your movie or show will often benefit from being “high concept”. Generally, this is an idea with an enormous crisis, established ticking clock, and can be boiled down into a clear, concise sentence. This sentence is known as the logline.
- 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 of the film you're missing.
- Flesh-out characters and figure out the importance of each role.
Why learn how to write a film treatment?
This lets the reader pick and choose what they want to read, while giving a very direct feel for their vision. You can dig up many more film treatment examples (in PDF and HTML) to reference more examples that might help you. Learning how to write a film treatment provides a great resource for both you and “them.”
How do you write a high concept movie?
Achieve (i.e. MONEYBALL, CREED ). Survive (i.e. THE MARTIAN, LIFE OF PI ). Escape (i.e. DUNKIRK). Deliver (i.e. 1917, LORD OF THE RINGS ). Defeat (i.e. AVENGERS: ENDGAME ). Having a simple conflict that promises rising action allows executives, agents, and producers to clearly envision your high concept movie right at the premise line.
What are some good examples of film script treatments?
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 are the parts of a film treatment?
In this format, they divided up their treatment into sections including Concept, Theme, Characters, and Synopsis. This lets the reader pick and choose what they want to read, while giving a very direct feel for their vision. You can dig up many more film treatment examples (in PDF and HTML) to reference more examples that might help you.
How do you write a film concept?
By Marilyn HorowitzHere's the Exercise: There are three steps to developing material concept first. ... Trace the source of your original inspiration for the idea. How did you come up with the idea? ... Complete the “What Happened Was…” exercise. Take a character from your screenplay. ... Identify the concept.
How do you write a stage play treatment?
Treatments should read like a short story and be written in the third person, present tense. It should present the entire story including the ending. Do not write in screenplay form unless necessary to present key scenes and dialogue from the screenplay it is based on.
How detailed should a film treatment be?
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.
How do you write a director's treatment?
The Basics of Writing a Director's Treatment You're basically breaking down all the elements of the story/commercial, and even including a brief paragraph where you talk about why it will connect with audiences. This breakdown should make the idea simple and easy to visualize in your imagination.
What is the difference between a synopsis and a treatment?
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.
How long should a film treatment be?
between five and ten pagesA film treatment should be fall between five and ten pages, twenty max. There are extreme examples where people argue they can be 60 to 70 pages (James Cameron is notorious for long-winded treatments), but as a rule of thumb, less is more. In fact, some executives and producers ask for a one-pager.
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.
How long should a series treatment be?
But generally, rule of thumb, a treatment is no less than 4 pages and now more than 10. The key here is to get all the information down, as interestingly as possible, as economically as possible, with as much clarity as possible and not to over write. You make each word, each sentence, each image, each page, count.
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 creative treatment?
A creative treatment is a pre-production document that summarizes a video's concept and defines the creative slant of the final product. Often included in a treatment are the program's overview and objectives, the creative concept, technical approach, potential contributors and project timeline.
What does treatment mean in film?
A film treatment (or simply treatment) is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards (index cards) and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television program, or radio play.
How do you write a director's concept?
0:044:01How to Create A Director's Concept - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can't pick a concept out of thin air and apply it to a show. It has to come from somewhereMoreYou can't pick a concept out of thin air and apply it to a show. It has to come from somewhere within the script if it doesn't the piece want to make sense. Your concept will have many layers.
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.
Film Treatment Vs Spec Script
A film treatment and spec script often make confusion for writers as they both serve the same purpose of getting a clear view of the screenplay. A treatment is written before you start writing your screenplay and it is a detailed summary of the characters and the events in your film.
How Long Should a Treatment Be?
The length of the treatment depends on you as the writer. Because there are no set rules for the length of a film treatment. You can choose to write a film treatment as short as one page and as long as 20 pages or even more.
Elements of a Treatment
Well, there are no set rules for what you should or you should not include in a film treatment. So, it is totally up to the writer that what they consider as important to include in their film treatment. Generally, a film treatment has:
Finally, Write a Treatment
Now that you know what is a film treatment, why you need a film treatment, its length, and what you should include inside a film treatment, you are ready to start writing your film treatment. So, follow the easy steps below and let us know in the comments if you have any doubts.
Step 1: Start with Your Title
The first thing you need to do is to give your film treatment a title. The title should be something that summarizes the story within a few words. It can be associated with the name of the main character “The Man in the Hospital” or the setting “The Maze by the Sea”. The title can also be metaphoric. For instance, Voes of the hunted city.
Step 2: Make Your Logline
A logline of treatment is a single sentence or sometimes two that is able to capture the essence of the movie. For instance, in your logline, you can say who the protagonist is and how they are against the world in your movie. It should be powerful enough to capture the attention of the reader and make them read your whole film treatment.
Step 3: Summarize the Story Idea
After composing your logline, you can summarize the concept of your film. In this section, you have a chance to expand your logline and give a brief overview of your story and its background. However, you should not tell the entire story yet. So, just keep it brief and minimal.
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 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 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.
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.
The Obvious
This one seems obvious, but it is often overlooked. Instituting a great title is important because it is the first conceptual point of contact anyone will have around your idea or script.
The Logline
A logline is a compact, definitive explanation of your script, containing the premise of your film and the core conflict surrounding the protagonist. It should express the full story in a singular line while capturing the reader's attention and leaving them wanting more.
The Synopsis
Your synopsis is another form of summarization that serves to answer the 5 W's (who, what, when, where, and why), provide the highlights of each act, and contextualize the core conflicts in relation to the key characters.
Technicalities
To propel the action and keep things alive, treatments are written in various forms of present tense. For example: Simple Present: Sapna talks to Aubrey. / Present: Sapna has talked to Aubrey. / Present Continuous: Sapna is talking to Aubrey. / Present Perfect Continuous: Sapna has been talking to Aubrey.
Passion
All in all, there is no substitute for passion or an authentic concept. Yes, you will want to be a decent writer who can crate captivating characters who execute well-crafted dialogue throughout solid storylines, but ultimately we want to be moved by what moves you.
Start with a concept
There is no magic behind creating a concept for a story. For me, ideas pop in my head randomly when I am driving to the grocery store, while others have their ideas right before they fall asleep.
Characters and themes
Once you have a concept, the next step is to think of who this is happening to and why. Knowing who the central character of your concept is and dialing down on what events need to take place in the story, the inevitable ending will start to take shape.
Start drafting the structure of the story
After the who, what, and why—character, concept, and theme—of the story is nailed down, then it is time to start planning the beginning, middle, and end. These sections don’t have to go into too much detail.
Writing the treatment
When all the important points are built out with their whys and hows, then you can start writing your treatment. Treatments are typically a 12- to 18-page document with all of the important details written out.
By Steve Kaire
High Concept is a term that's been confused, misunderstood and misused by writers for decades. The common belief is that it's any movie that can be pitched in one sentence. A man who battles his wife for custody of their children is one sentence, but it's a million miles from being High Concept.
About Steve Kaire
Steve Kaire is a screenwriter and "Pitchman" who has sold 8 projects to the major studios without representation. The last project he sold, he’s Co-Producing for Walden Media. A screenwriter for over 30 years, he holds a Masters in Dramatic Writing and has taught writing classes at the American Film Institute.
What is a high concept movie?
A high concept is a captivating premise (or logline) to a movie that generates audience appeal without attached elements, such as critic reviews or casting.
What is the common pitfall in a screenwriter's journey?
First, a common pitfall in a screenwriter ‘s journey is failing to brainstorm all the possibilities of an idea. Often, writers get caught in the momentum of an inspired idea. Of the 99 out of 100 screenplays that can’t be recommended, 90 fall apart in one very basic way: the story concept sucks.
What if?
The purpose of asking “What if…” is to discover what’s possible. It leads you back to your own creative imagination. It also leads to an idea that may be appealing to your audience.
Can you promise a high concept movie?
In short, no specific step can promise a high concept movie. What these steps do guarantee, is an added advantage to selling a high concept. Additionally, developing a high concept movie often requires weeks of revisions and research.
