Hi guys,

Seems I am always the one hijacking this page. Sorry.

I have never written a treatment for any of my shorts or features and was wondering if there is any good reading info on the web or even PDF'S or threads etc on treatments.

How to structure them? is it done as a Scene by scene listing? What needs to be included etc etc etc.

Wanting to do 3 or 4 treatments from synopsis's I have done and would appreciate being pointed in the right direction to any info that would make life easier.

Regards Alex

http://www.simplyscripts.com/treatments.html

No hard and fast rules for treatments.  Some are just a few pages.  Whatever gets your story told.

Including dialogue is a rarity -- maybe if you have a particularly choice line, you might include it.

There is no need to do a treatment for a short.

Thanks Bert,

The link gave some good samples that I wil look over in more detail shortly.

I always thought that a treatment was more of a scene by scene layout of he movie though these samples are really a breakdown of the story and not breakdown of the movie.

Is this generally the way it's done or are there alternatives to this format?

Regards Alex

Alex...

Has someone asked for your treatment?

If not, I see a treatment as a form of outlining your story.

I start about by just a skeleton of the major beat/turns. Then I try to do a longer beat sheet similar to the STC model. All that stuff is just for ME though. It helps me stay focused and keeps my story from trailing off like a shooting star! ;)

d

Thanks Dena,

No one has asked for it ATM, just want it for myself.

Want to outline the story to make life easier when I write the screenplay, so I can stay on track.

Forgive my ignorance what is STC ?

Alex

Alex,

STC is "Save the Cat."  By Blake Snyder.  Check out his beat sheet.

http://www.blakesnyder.com/

http://www.blakesnyder.com/category/beat-sheet/

________

Agent Barbara (Babz) Bitela has a regular podcast here at SS.  She often refers to Snyder’s STC and his beat sheet. Obviously she covers a lot more ground. Really worth the listen.

http://www.simplyscripts.com/category/babz-buzz/

Thanks Abe

Looks like a GR8 read, appreciated.

Alex

USE THE BEAT SHEET: and EXPAAAAAAND ON IT.
so if a beat sheet is a few sentences per beat, EXPANNNND in a verby way.
That's a treatment.
KEY BEATS with elaboration. REMEMBER, TREATMENTS SELL. So don't go sending things out unless you know to whom you're communicating.
b

Let's say that a production company outside of the US asks for a treatment. How can you protect yourself from having it stolen?

Gabe

Thanks Guys,

I only want the treatment for myself and wont send it out to anyone. If i was going to anyone for a read I would ask for a signed non-disclosure agreement just to cover my arse.

Alex

I was asking generally since you created the thread about treatments. Didn't want to create a new thread.

Gabe

There's a good example of a full treatment in this book...

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Movies-Fun-Profit-Billion/dp/1439186758

It's a fun read.
I know there's a thread for it around here somewhere. LOL.
But they include full treatments you can read.

Regards,
E.D.

Quoted from Mr.Ripley Let's say that a production company outside of the US asks for a treatment. How can you protect yourself from having it stolen? Gabe

you can't
you can have them sign a release
but an agent would vet that first for you
b

Alright. Thanks Babz..

If you're worried about someone taking the treatment and running with it on their own, put less into the treatment.

Usually, a full treatment is your entire script in prose without the dialogue. It can be upwards of 25 pages, and there are cases where the treatment has been longer than the actual script.

If you're submitting to someone outside of North America, keep it to 5 or 6 pages. You give them enough story detail to get the idea without giving away the farm, so to speak. Don't hold back on key elements, you still need to tell a complete story, but don't flesh out everything for them.

I'm speaking from experience. I submitted a 5 page treatment to a European prodco and landed the job. If the story's right, 5 pages is plenty.

I see and understand your point Rene. Thanks for sharing.

Gabe

I was considering writing a treatment and would be intersted in sending it out. I do not have an agent. First what is the procedure, if there is one for those of us without representation. And also Rene, I understand what you said about making the treatment bare minimum if I was concerned about someone stealing my idea. My idea for the treatment and ultimately the script is so sensitive that all I would have to do is mention the name of the individual in history the script is about and the cat would be out of the bag. Is there anyway to protect the idea in this case?  Marvin K. Perkins  

Quoted from ReneC If you're worried about someone taking the treatment and running with it on their own, put less into the treatment. Usually, a full treatment is your entire script in prose without the dialogue. It can be upwards of 25 pages, and there are cases where the treatment has been longer than the actual script. If you're submitting to someone outside of North America, keep it to 5 or 6 pages. You give them enough story detail to get the idea without giving away the farm, so to speak. Don't hold back on key elements, you still need to tell a complete story, but don't flesh out everything for them. I'm speaking from experience. I submitted a 5 page treatment to a European prodco and landed the job. If the story's right, 5 pages is plenty.

HOLLLLAAAA! BB

Quoted from marvink I was considering writing a treatment and would be intersted in sending it out. I do not have an agent. First what is the procedure, if there is one for those of us without representation. And also Rene, I understand what you said about making the treatment bare minimum if I was concerned about someone stealing my idea. My idea for the treatment and ultimately the script is so sensitive that all I would have to do is mention the name of the individual in history the script is about and the cat would be out of the bag. Is there anyway to protect the idea in this case?  Marvin K. Perkins

You should only send a treatment if you're asked for one. Never send a treatment unsolicited. It's like trying to sell a pitch, you need an audience first.

Some prodcos put out a call for scripts and will indicate they'll read treatments as well. This usually happens if they want something specific and want to work with the writer to have the script tailored to their needs. It's rare, but it does happen.

More likely, you'll have to query to get requests for your treatment, which means a good logline including your historical figure. So the cat's going to come out regardless, but that's okay.

Ideas can't be protected, especially not if you want to sell your scripts or pitch ideas. But don't worry about that. A script based on a 5 page treatment about a very specific event or person from history can be written a million different ways. It's about you, your story, your writing style. A treatment might open the door, from there you'll have to sell yourself as the only person who can write your vision.

Thanks Rene, that was very helpful. I appreciate it, Marvin.