Full treatment

Definition

A full treatment is a detailed outline of a screenplay that expands on the story's premise, character arcs, and key scenes without being as formal as a script. It serves as a comprehensive guide for writers and producers, providing a clear narrative structure and emotional tone of the project, allowing for creative exploration before the script is fully developed.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A full treatment usually spans between 5 to 15 pages and includes descriptions of key scenes, character motivations, and narrative arcs.
2. It allows writers to develop their ideas more fully, exploring themes and character relationships in depth before diving into dialogue writing.
3. Full treatments can be shared with producers, directors, and other collaborators to gain feedback and align everyone’s vision for the project.
4. The treatment is often the first document that helps secure funding or interest from potential investors or production companies.
5. Unlike a script, a full treatment does not include dialogue but focuses on visual storytelling and emotional beats.

Review Questions

• How does a full treatment differ from a logline in terms of content and purpose?
  • A full treatment provides an in-depth overview of the story, including character arcs and key scenes, whereas a logline is a concise one-sentence summary highlighting the main conflict. The purpose of a full treatment is to explore the narrative structure more thoroughly, allowing for creative input from collaborators. In contrast, the logline serves as an attention-grabbing pitch to entice interest in the project.
• Discuss how using a full treatment can improve collaboration between writers and producers during the development phase.
  • Utilizing a full treatment improves collaboration by offering a clear blueprint of the story that both writers and producers can refer to. It allows producers to visualize the narrative arc and provides an opportunity for feedback on character development and scene structure before diving into scriptwriting. This shared understanding helps ensure that everyone is aligned on the creative direction, reducing potential conflicts later in the process.
• Evaluate the importance of crafting an effective full treatment in the context of securing funding for a film or television project.
  • An effective full treatment plays a crucial role in securing funding as it articulates the project's vision in detail, showcasing its potential to investors. By providing insights into character motivations, plot dynamics, and thematic elements, it helps investors understand what makes the project unique and marketable. A well-crafted treatment can instill confidence in backers about the project's viability, making it easier to gain their financial support.

Related terms

Logline: A one-sentence summary that captures the essence of a film or television project, highlighting the main conflict and characters.

Beat Sheet: A structured outline that breaks down the major plot points and emotional beats of a screenplay, serving as a roadmap for the story's progression.

Synopsis: A brief summary of a screenplay that outlines the main plot points, characters, and themes, typically used for pitching or selling the project.