Why did the screenwriter John Logan turn himself in? Because he Sin bad.
Jail is not giving him coffee like Moses has his, Hebrews it.
On the contrary, I am really hoping John Logan won’t be out of jail anytime soon, if he does get released, he will steal my Microsoft Office, and then I can’t write anymore. I am going to make him pay. You have my word.
I tried to make him pay once before, I tried so hard, I tried to catch him, but he was like fog. I mist.
Yes, I know, what sort of bad humour is this? I guess when hummus gets bad it becomes humorous.
Today we are talking about writing a film treatment or a TV show treatment, you might even come across the term scriptment too. We’ll touch on that topic as well. Let’s dive right in, here’s what you need to know.
What is a film treatment?
A film treatment is usually a 4-to-10-page document that is presented to film production companies before a film script or TV show is written out. It is a document that fleshes out certain parts of a film proposal or TV show weighing on certain aspects that eventually leads to whether the screenwriter will go down the route of writing a full manuscript. It serves as a roadmap and saves the screenwriter time and effort before even writing out the entire script for production companies or investors to decide on the idea and storyline of the treatment. It simply helps the screenwriter with testing out their idea before writing the entire screenplay.
Treatments help to fund/raise funding for the film. Writing a film treatment includes having a title, logline, story summary, and character descriptions.
When writing a film treatment write in prose and in the present tense acting as a roadmap for the reader or producer to buy into the story. Depending on who is reading the film treatment it’s worth asking what they are looking for especially if one lands a chance to have certain record-breaking producers going to read it. An extremely detailed film treatment can exceed 20 pages and go over 70 pages.
How to write a film or TV show treatment?
1) Use screenwriting software such as StudioBinder or alternative scriptwriting software when writing a film treatment.
When using screenwriting software for writing a film treatment it’s useful to sync this production software when writing the script.
2) Use single line spacing.
3) Mention your genre.
4) Write in 12 Courier font.
5) Keep the paragraphs short.
When writing a film treatment include the following:
Name and contact details
Title
Logline
Summarise the plot
Set up the main characters
Explore the acts
- Setup
- Rising action
- Resolution (Climax)
Epilogue
When writing a film treatment or a TV show treatment focus on writing it up like a short story, making it more descriptive rather than the style. Production companies and funders don’t look at the style. How the story is told is going to be the selling point of the film treatment.
Organise the story leaving out all sub-plots. When writing a film treatment or a TV show treatment it’s not common to use dialogue. At this point (when writing a film treatment), don’t add images, or marketing materials, it should be reader friendly.
The most important part of writing a film treatment or a TV show treatment is that writing an excellent treatment, knowing full well the person’s requirements (if personal) i.e., the person who will read it, can secure the film or TV show deal, depending on how excellent the treatment has been written.
I recommend that you take a look at this example of writing a film treatment because I am a writing geek, I am into this sort of writing.
Terminator – Treatment – James Cameron
What does writing a film treatment help with?
When writing a film treatment or treatment for a TV show, it prepares the screenwriter with their thoughts when it comes to writing the script. It helps to jog more creativity and ideas when it comes to the tone, message, development of the script as well as any alternative endings. It’s almost like a revision before writing the script for the screenwriter but for the reader or production company, it is a pitch.
What to consider when writing a film treatment?
Ideally whoever the reader is and the purpose in that will determine the focus of the treatment. If it is a pitch, then everything should be written out accordingly to the format. It is important to know clearly who the film treatment is going to and if they would prefer a longer treatment. If the film treatment is for the scriptwriter, then noting down the development points for the story is essential.
If you want to learn about various ways of screenwriters when it comes to writing a film treatment or a scriptment take a look at these examples.
Scriptment – Spider-Man – James Cameron
Mr & Mrs Smith – Treatment – Simon Kindberg
Scriptment – Battle for the Planet of the Apes – Paul Dehn
Scriptment – Avatar – James Cameron
Before submitting a film treatment or TV show treatment have several people read it.
What is a scriptment?
As you see in the examples above, it’s said (I don’t know James Cameron personally) that he usually writes hybrids which are a combination of a film treatment and script so that the entire film can be entertaining, visualised and show a larger picture. The combination of a scriptment is using script and prose (a combination of script and the requirements of a film treatment).
Some languages to take note of in scripts are INT/EXT, LOCATION, and DAY/NIGHT.
Note: When writing a scriptment this is not the script itself it’s a hybrid and serves as a film treatment or TV show treatment.
Final notes:
The film treatment or scriptment isn’t the only basis on which a production company or investors decide on going with the film or TV show. This is an important requirement and another base that has to be covered since a lot of money is involved in film and TV shows.
In my opinion, it is helpful when producers or the people working behind development provide a concept for the writer to work on especially if they’re looking to bring a concept to life or will fund it but need a writer to write that.
Below are some further resources that help in writing a film treatment.
https://filmlifestyle.com/how-to-write-a-film-treatment/
https://www.movieoutline.com/articles/how-to-write-a-treatment.html
https://www.socreate.it/en/blogs/screenwriting/how-to-write-a-film-treatment
https://www.nfi.edu/film-treatment/
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Yours sincerely
T. Dench Patel
