
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.
What is a film treatment and how to write one?
Dec 06, 2020 · 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. Film treatments are also referred to as story treatments, script treatments, and movie treatments.
Why are film treatments so important?
Oct 23, 2018 · 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 part of a series is a film treatment?
Oct 07, 2019 · A treatment is a narrative screenwriting tool that helps you explore ideas, flesh out various story possibilities, and develop your characters.
What is a screenplay treatment?
Sep 26, 2019 · A film treatment is a detailed summary of a film or TV show that includes important scenes, example sequences, and story points in a prose style that evokes the tone of the movie. Download the FREE film treatment template and learn from our samples how to write and format a script treatment that will snag readers and transform your vision into a great film.

What is a video treatment?
What's a Video Treatment? A video treatment is your best effort in defining your project, presenting a clear synopsis of your story, developing your production and organizing its purpose. It is often the first and only chance you have in presenting a commercial project – making a pitch.Nov 1, 2010
What is the difference between a screenplay and a treatment?
Typically a treatment is a much longer and more detailed description of the screenplay than a synopsis. Treatments are often written before the script is written as a guide for the screenwriter and producer so that the screenwriter doesn't waste time writing a draft that the producer isn't going to like.
What is treatment in TV production?
A treatment consists of a written condensation of a proposed film or TV dramatic production. It covers the basic ideas and issues of the production as well as the main characters, locations, and story angles. In part, its purpose is to sell the proposal to financial backers and major stars.
What is the visual treatment?
Many writers are starting to include a Look Book as well. This is a 10-40 page visual treatment of the story (showing the main locations, characters, and other visual elements). The photos and artwork you select should closely match the tone, color, and the framing of the written narrative.May 16, 2019
What is treatment?
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.Sep 3, 2021
Is treatment and synopsis the same?
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.Sep 17, 2020
How long should a treatment be for a short film?
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 director's treatment?
A director's treatment is a document that clearly outlines all elements of a film, music video, commercial, or TV pilot. It's typically used by filmmakers, directors, television producers, or any other video professional pitching an idea.May 18, 2020
What is a treatment in advertising?
A treatment is a common device used to pitch a director's idea. Synopsis, outline and summary are all often used interchangeably with the term treatment throughout production for both film and TV. Ultimately, a great director treatment can convey the director's vision to not only the client, but the crew involved.
What is a treatment in music videos?
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.Jan 21, 2020
What is documentary treatment?
What is a documentary treatment? Documentary treatments are between two and ten pages and help you summarize the essentials of your project: the budget, the topic, who's involved, where filming takes place, and more. It's meant to give investors, collaborators, and others a window into your perspective.Dec 9, 2019
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.
What is a film treatment?
Film Treatment: Everything You Need To Know. A film treatment is a written document that describes the story that your screenplay will tell. Most film treatments follow a narrative format and include key information about the characters and the plot while guiding the reader through the story arc and the acts of the film.
What is a spec script?
A spec script tends to be much longer and more detailed than a film treatment. A spec script is generally in screenplay format rather than narrative format. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations.
How to make a movie a movie?
1. Decide on a Title. Begin your film treatment by stating the title of the screenplay. Your title can refer to the setting or the characters or it can be more abstract. Either way, make sure your screenplay has an original title that doesn’t copy the name of an existing movie. 2.
What is an outline in a screenplay?
Yet the two documents serve different purposes. An outline is an organizational tool that allows screenwriters to put scenes in order. An outline can also help you identify any plot holes or redundant scenes.
What is a scriptment in a movie?
A scriptment is a combination of a film treatment and a screenplay. It uses the main elements of a film treatment to tell the story, and it also includes select screenplay components like scene headings and dialog. Although a scriptment has more detail than a film treatment, it’s much shorter than a screenplay.
What is a film treatment?
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. It is generally longer and more detailed than an outline (or one-page synopsis), and it may include details of directorial style that an outline omits. Treatments read like a short story, but are told in the present tense and describe events as they happen. A treatment may also be created in the process of adapting a novel, play, or other pre-existing work into a screenplay.
What is a treatment in a movie?
Treatments are widely used within the motion picture industry as selling documents to outline story and character aspects of a planned screenplay, whereas outlines are generally produced as part of the development process. Screenwriters may use a treatment to initially pitch a screenplay, but may also use a treatment to sell a concept they are pitching without a completed screenplay.
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.
Is James Cameron a good writer?
Credit: James Cameron. Turns out, this James Cameron guy is a pretty good writer, especially in this film treatment sample. But let’s take a look at a more traditional example from the screenwriter, John August. This is his treatment for a TV show called “The Circle.”.
What is script treatment?
Wrapping up script treatments. 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.
Is free work a bane?
Free work is the bane of all writer's existence. If you don't know how to turn down the offer or suggestion that you do free work the WGA has you covered check out this video:
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 screenwriting?
A treatment is a narrative screenwriting tool that helps you explore ideas, flesh out various story possibilities, and develop your characters. In her first-ever online class, Jodie Foster teaches you how to bring stories from page to screen with emotion and confidence.
How to write a logline?
Compose your logline. A logline is just a brief sentence (or two) that captures the general premise of your movie. In your log line, include who the protagonist is and what they’re up against in their world. This condensed summarization of the overall concept of your film should make the reader want to see the rest.
What is a treatment in film?
What Is a Treatment? 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.
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 a title in a story?
A title should be something that encapsulates the essence of your story. Some titles use the characters (“The 40 Year Old Virgin”), the setting, (“Manchester by the Sea”), or the premise, (“Get Out”). Titles can also be metaphorical, (“Silence of the Lambs”).
What is Jodie Foster's masterclass?
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.
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 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.
What is treatment in writing a screenplay?
For someone that is new to the business of writing screenplays, the term "treatment" will most definitely be new to them as well. Basically, if a writer has an idea for a story but for one reason or another does not want to write an entire script, they'll need to know about treatments.#N#As stated in Kenneth Atchity and Chi-Li Wong's book, Writing Treatments that Sell, the primary functions served by the treatment in today's entertainment business are selling and diagnosing a story. This concept remains the same, whether you are selling a fast-paced thriller. For the outsider's purposes, what distinguishes one treatment from another is simply its effectiveness in making the sale, and/or laying out the story. So how exactly does one go about writing a treatment? Why do you need one and what do you put in it? What differentiates a treatment from a screenplay?#N#Agents, producers and movie studios receive hundreds of screenplays every year. Because of this, rarely does the buyer have the time to read each one without having some idea of what they are about to look at; hence the treatment becomes a very important selling tool. Atchity and Wong state that "second only to writing an entire screenplay or teleplay on 'spec', your treatment maybe the best tool for getting a foot in the door of moviemaking.
How many pages are there in a treatment?
Generally, a treatment will range anywhere from one to twenty-five or more pages, depending on the kind of treatment it is and its purpose. The three most common kinds of treatments are Original dramatic treatments, treatments of true stories and Adaptation treatments.
What are the aspects of a treatment?
These include a solid opening that takes hold of the reader from the very beginning. There must also be a climax to the film that strikes and satisfies them.
What is the protagonist in a story?
This does not mean that the main character will always be a hero or someone that the audience likes, only that the protagonist is someone that stands out and draws the audience in.
Where is Sarah Yong currently studying?
She is currently studying for an MA in Screenwriting at the IADT’s National Film School. In 2015, she won a place on the Red Rock Writers’ Academy where she underwent intensive training in writing for television drama with John Yorke, founder of the BBC Writers Academy.
Who is Norah Ephron?
Academy Award nominated screenwriter and journalist, Norah Ephron ( Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally ), refers to the insatiable demand for ideas for the screen in Telling True Stories,A Nonfiction Writers’ Guide published by Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation: “There is more justice in the print world than there is in ...
Is treatment the same as treatment?
The word ‘Treatment’ is used interchangeably and doesn’t always mean the same thing. Some Treatments, like the one I sold to Warner Bros TV, are designed to help sell an idea and are sometimes accompanied by a script, while others are part of the production process. The main difference between the two is size.

Understand The Script Film Treatment
The 6 Elements of A Film Treatment
- The most effective film treatments include six essential components. Be sure to include these parts in your treatment: 1. Title:The confirmed or working title 2. Format and Genre:The film type and category 3. Logline:A one- or two-sentence summary 4. Plot Summary:A rundown of your story 5. Main Characters:An introduction to the protagonists and the...
How to Write A Film Treatment
- From deciding on a title to tying the narrative together, follow the steps below to produce an effective treatment.
Film Treatment Examples
- Reviewing treatments, scriptments, and outlines for successful movies can help you understand how to make yours as effective as possible. Get inspiration from these well-known film treatment examples. “Avatar” Scriptment Scene from “Avatar“ “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” Outline Scene from “Battle for the Planet of the Apes“ “Big Fish” Outline Scene from “Big Fish“ “Godzilla” …