13.3 Creating Detailed Treatment Documents
3 min read•august 9, 2024
Creating detailed treatment documents is a crucial step in the screenwriting process. It's where you flesh out your story, diving deep into characters, plot, and setting. This expanded version of your and serves as a roadmap for your screenplay.
Treatments help you organize your thoughts and showcase your story's potential. They're also essential for pitching to producers and executives, giving them a clear picture of your vision. A well-crafted treatment can make or break your chances of getting your script greenlit.
Story Structure
Treatment and Outline Components
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- Treatment expands on logline and synopsis providing detailed narrative overview
- Story outline breaks down major plot points and narrative arcs
- divides screenplay into distinct segments (typically three acts)
- Scene breakdown delineates individual scenes with brief descriptions
- Subplot incorporates secondary storylines that complement or contrast main plot
Structural Elements and Their Functions
- Treatment serves as extended pitch document for producers and executives
- Story outline functions as roadmap for screenplay development
- Act structure creates narrative rhythm and pacing (setup, confrontation, resolution)
- Scene breakdown aids in visualizing story flow and identifying potential gaps
- Subplot adds depth and complexity to overall narrative (character development, thematic reinforcement)
Examples and Best Practices
- Treatment length typically ranges from 2-5 pages for short films, 10-30 pages for features
- Story outline often utilizes bullet points or numbered lists for clarity
- Act structure follows traditional three-act format or alternative structures (five-act, eight-sequence)
- Scene breakdown includes sluglines, brief action descriptions, and key dialogue points
- Subplot examples include romantic relationships, personal growth arcs, or parallel storylines
Character and Setting
Character Development and Description
- Character descriptions provide physical attributes, personality traits, and background information
- Includes detailing how characters change throughout the story
- Establishes character motivations, goals, and conflicts
- Defines relationships between characters and their roles in the story
- Incorporates character backstories to add depth and context
Setting and Visual Elements
- Setting details encompass time period, location, and overall atmosphere
- Describes physical environments where scenes take place (interiors, exteriors)
- Includes sensory details to enhance immersion (sounds, smells, textures)
- Visual elements cover key props, costumes, and set designs
- Establishes mood and tone through setting descriptions
Practical Applications and Examples
- Character descriptions typically range from a paragraph to a full page per main character
- Setting details often include both broad strokes (city, era) and specific locations (character's apartment)
- Visual elements might include iconic props (lightsaber in Star Wars) or distinctive costumes (Batman's suit)
- Utilizing setting to reflect character emotions or themes (stormy weather for internal conflict)
- Incorporating visual metaphors through setting and props to reinforce themes
Writing Style
Narrative Voice and Perspective
- Narrative voice establishes the storyteller's personality and attitude
- Determines point of view (first-person, third-person limited, omniscient)
- Influences how information is revealed to the audience
- Affects pacing and rhythm of the narrative
- Can vary between characters or remain consistent throughout
Tone and Stylistic Choices
- Tone conveys the overall emotional feel of the story (humorous, suspenseful, melancholic)
- Style encompasses word choice, sentence structure, and descriptive techniques
- Influences the reader's emotional response and engagement with the material
- Consistent tone and style help maintain the story's atmosphere
- Can be adjusted to fit different genres or target audiences
Examples and Techniques
- Narrative voice examples include unreliable narrator, multiple perspectives, or objective observer
- Tone examples range from dark and gritty (noir films) to light and whimsical (romantic comedies)
- Stylistic choices might include minimalist descriptions for fast-paced action or flowery prose for period pieces
- Utilizing dialogue to convey character voice and reinforce overall narrative style
- Adapting writing style to match the story's themes and (young adult, literary fiction)
Key Terms to Review (18)
Act Structure: Act structure is a framework used in screenwriting that divides a screenplay into distinct sections, typically three acts, each with its own purpose and narrative arc. This structure helps to create a cohesive story by guiding the pacing and progression of the plot, ensuring that essential elements like conflict, climax, and resolution are effectively incorporated.
Backstory: Backstory refers to the history and background of a character that informs their current motivations, behaviors, and relationships. This narrative element provides context for a character’s journey, influences their decisions, and shapes their development throughout the story, making it essential for crafting compelling character arcs, motivations, and subplots.
Character Arcs: Character arcs are the emotional and psychological journey that a character undergoes throughout a story, reflecting their growth or change from the beginning to the end. This transformation often influences the narrative, showcasing how characters react to challenges and experiences, and is essential for creating relatable and engaging stories.
Character Motivation: Character motivation refers to the driving forces behind a character's actions, desires, and decisions in a story. It is essential in creating believable and relatable characters, as it shapes their arcs and development throughout the narrative. Understanding character motivation helps in balancing their internal struggles with external conflicts, ultimately influencing how they evolve and interact with other characters and the plot.
Emotional resonance: Emotional resonance refers to the ability of a story, character, or moment to evoke strong feelings and connect deeply with the audience's emotions. This connection can enhance the impact of storytelling, creating memorable experiences and making themes more relatable and significant. When crafted effectively, emotional resonance can drive engagement, enhance character development, and amplify narrative stakes.
Font choice: Font choice refers to the selection of a specific typeface or style of text used in written documents, which can greatly influence the tone, readability, and overall presentation of the content. Choosing the right font is crucial for conveying the intended mood and ensuring that the treatment document is accessible to its readers. Different fonts can evoke different emotions and set the stage for how a script is perceived, making font choice an important consideration in creating effective treatment documents.
Full treatment: A full treatment is a comprehensive narrative outline of a screenplay that details the story's plot, character arcs, themes, and major scenes in a format that resembles a short story. It provides a clear roadmap for the entire screenplay, allowing writers to flesh out their ideas and visualize how the script will unfold before they begin writing dialogue or shooting scenes.
Genre classification: Genre classification refers to the system of categorizing films, stories, or scripts based on shared themes, styles, and conventions. This classification helps creators and audiences identify the nature of a narrative, setting expectations about tone, content, and structure. Understanding genre classification is essential for developing a treatment document as it informs the choices made in plot development, character arcs, and overall storytelling approach.
Logline: A logline is a brief summary of a film's plot, typically one or two sentences long, that captures the essence of the story and highlights its main conflict and characters. A strong logline serves as a hook for audiences and industry professionals, conveying what makes the story unique and compelling.
Margin settings: Margin settings refer to the specific adjustments made to the white space surrounding the text on a page, which is crucial for creating visually appealing and readable documents. Proper margin settings help to frame the content, allowing for a structured layout that enhances clarity and comprehension, particularly in treatment documents where organization is key.
One-page treatment: A one-page treatment is a concise document that summarizes the main elements of a screenplay or film project, typically focusing on the logline, key characters, and the overall narrative arc. This short format allows writers to present their ideas clearly and effectively, making it easier to communicate the essence of their story to producers or collaborators.
Step outline: A step outline is a detailed, scene-by-scene breakdown of a screenplay or narrative that outlines the key events, actions, and character arcs in a clear and structured format. This document serves as a roadmap for writers, helping them visualize the flow of the story and identify any gaps or inconsistencies before diving into the full script.
Synopsis: A synopsis is a brief summary that outlines the main points of a story, including key characters, plot events, and themes. It serves as a crucial tool for writers to communicate their narrative effectively and gives readers a clear understanding of what to expect from the work. A well-crafted synopsis is essential in various contexts, such as treatment documents and submission packages, where it helps to entice potential producers or agents by succinctly conveying the essence of the story.
Target audience: A target audience is a specific group of people that a project, such as a film or television show, aims to reach and engage. Understanding the target audience helps in crafting content that resonates with viewers, influencing decisions related to writing, marketing, and distribution. Knowing the demographics, interests, and preferences of this audience ensures that the storytelling and presentation style aligns with their expectations.
Ten-page treatment: A ten-page treatment is a detailed narrative outline of a screenplay that captures the essential elements of the story in about ten pages. It typically includes a synopsis of the plot, character descriptions, key scenes, and the overall tone and style of the project, serving as a vital tool for writers to clarify their vision before diving into the script.
Theme exploration: Theme exploration is the process of analyzing and interpreting the underlying messages or central ideas within a narrative. This involves examining how these themes are conveyed through characters, plot, and dialogue, ultimately enhancing the audience's understanding and emotional engagement with the story. A well-explored theme can provide depth to the narrative and resonate with viewers on a personal level.
Tone description: Tone description refers to the way a story conveys its emotional atmosphere and attitude, influencing how the audience perceives the narrative. It encompasses the choice of language, style, and mood that shapes the reader's experience and connection to the characters and events. A well-defined tone is crucial in treatment documents, as it helps communicate the intended feelings and themes of the screenplay.
Visual storytelling: Visual storytelling is the art of conveying a narrative or message through images, colors, and compositions, rather than relying solely on dialogue or text. This technique enhances emotional engagement and communicates complex ideas quickly, making it a powerful tool in film and media. It’s about using visuals to show what characters are feeling, experiencing, and how they interact with their world, ultimately creating a more immersive experience for the audience.