Writing a screenplay is a serious undertaking. No matter how much your experience in screenwriting, it’s a rare thing to be able to sit down and just automatically spout off a full-length film script! To make the process easier, screenwriters use a tool called a treatment.
What is a film treatment?
A film treatment, also known as a film script treatment, is a tool that screenwriters use to explore ideas for a film using a narrative format. Through this strategy, you can flesh out possible scenarios for your story, and even develop the characters you need to tell the tale.
The treatment features a detailed synopsis of your visual project, usually done in several pages. It includes all the important components of your film, such as the main characters, key scenes, and critical plot points. And, contrary to your expectations for a script, you write the treatment in prose.
One way of looking at it is that the treatment is actually the entire story written into a simple document, serving as a roadmap, not just for you as the writer, but also for potential producers or other readers. For example, you can show it to a potential agent or executive, and it should help them understand—and hopefully love!—your story idea.
Here are the important functions of a screenplay treatment:
- To summarize your film’s main storyline
- To help you decide on the tone of your film before writing the first draft
- To develop and refine the story arc before you write the actual script
- To serve as a guide for when you write the actual scenes
- To sell your story idea to potential investors
What is a treatment format?
In this section, we hope to give you a basic idea of how your film treatment should look:
Page length
Spec script usually has strict rules, such as how long it should be. Film treatments tend to vary. The key thing to remember is that it needs to be short and engaging, but covering enough of the plot points to sell your story.
Ten pages is a good number when you’re writing without any specific target audience. But if you’re writing for a specific reader, be sure to ask them, because they might have their own preference for an ideal page count.
But ten pages is only a suggestion. Do you know that James Cameron is known for writing film treatments that are 70 pages long?
Important information to include
Here are the details that you will need to include in your treatment:
- your movie or show title
- your name and contact information
- a logline that summarizes your story’s what, who, why, when, and where
- a quick explanation of Act 1 (opening scenes), ideally in about one to three paragraphs
- an explanation of Act 2, or middle part, in about two to six paragraphs
- an explanation of Act 3 or the last part of your story, in about one to three paragraphs
- the resolution or ending
- possible sequel or offshoots
How to Write a Treatment
Here are the steps to writing a good film treatment:
1. Decide on your theme or storyline using possible titles.
Before you start writing, you have to know what you want to write about. Remember, any movie is essentially a story at its core. You don’t just throw random scenes together and call it a movie.
When you pick your theme or storyline, write possible titles for your film that encapsulates what you want to tell. These may not become the actual title, but the exercise will help you focus your thoughts.
2. Write your logline.
Now that you have your overarching storyline, write two lines that summarize what your story is about. Writing coaches believe that unless you can summarize your story into two lines, or an elevator pitch, you really don’t know yet what you’re writing about!
3. Outline your story using the Three Act Structure.
Consider breaking down your story into the Three Act Structure. This helps you outline where things should be at the beginning, middle, and end of the story. This doesn’t mean that you will stick to only three acts, but it helps you build a foundation from which you can then build up.
Act 1 will be the setup scenes, where you introduce the characters and the situation. In Act 2, you will focus on the conflict and expanding it until it reaches a crisis point. Act 3 is when you escalate the crisis to a climax and offer ways for your characters to resolve it.
Once you have your three-act structure in place, you can then write the synopsis of your film in the form of a short story.
4. Write a short story version of your film in the present tense.
Think of your movie or TV show in terms of a short story. What are the important plot points? What tone would you like? Write your story idea down in narrative prose, and stay away from being as detailed as a novel.
Film treatments usually come in a present-tense story form. This helps you create the necessary flow of a dynamic, action-packed tale.
5. Cut out unnecessary details.
If you find yourself bogged down with too much detail, take a look at the plot points and weed out all but the most necessary ones. Save your subplots and sub-subplots for the actual writing of the script. This helps you focus on the major events that need to take place.
6. Consider using screenwriting software.
Lastly, consider writing your treatment using screenwriting software. That way, once you get into the actual scriptwriting process, you can just continue on the same software.
Examples of Film Treatments
If you want to take a look at some examples of film treatments, check out these documents available online, written by some of the leading personalities in film. (Of course, these may be much more detailed than a screenwriter with less experience may write, but at least you get the idea!)
- Terminator, a film by James Cameron
- Spider-Man, a film by James Cameron (not made into an actual movie)
- The Circle, a TV show by John August
Writing a Treatment
Writing a film treatment is an important step in coming up with a great screenplay. It helps you refine and focus on the crucial parts of your story, so that when you write the actual script, you don’t wander on unnecessary rabbit trails!
Also, even if you don’t currently have the time to write a full-length screenplay, consider plotting out film treatments as a way to store story ideas. The practice will also hone your storytelling skills, which hopefully will benefit your actual writing at a later time.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
