WRITING

TREATMENT
OF A
PRODUCTION By
Shakeel Adnan Hashmi
TREATMENT
 Treatment is a document that presents the story
idea of your film before writing the entire script.
Treatments are often written in present tense, in
a narrative-like prose, and highlight the most
important information about your film, including
title, logline, story summary, and character
descriptions.
 Treatments are a way for a writer to test out an
idea before investing their creative energy fully
into a new screenplay.
 Treatments also allow for writers to summarize
their story idea so they can present the story to
studio executives or producers who might want to
finance the film.
Difference between Script & Treatment

A treatment and a spec script are

sometimes confused because both serve
to help writers hash out screenplay ideas
and potentially sell a film or TV show. A
treatment comes earlier on in the
development process and provides a
detailed summarization of the characters
and events that will unfold throughout the
film. A treatment comes before the first
draft of a spec script is written.
Spec Script
A spec script is the longer, complete version
of that story written in screenplay format.
Writing a film script takes a lot of
preparation, and even the most experienced
and successful screenwriters may find it
difficult to sit down one day and start writing
a full-length screenplay. A treatment is a
narrative screenwriting tool that helps you
explore ideas, flesh out various story
possibilities, and develop your characters
6 Steps of a Treatment
1. A treatment is a narrative screenwriting tool
that helps you explore ideas, flesh out
various story possibilities, and develop your
characters
2. Treatment is a document that presents the
story idea of your film before writing the
entire script. Treatments are often written in
present tense, in a narrative-like prose, and
highlight the most important information
about your film, including title, logline, story
summary, and character descriptions.
6 Steps of a Treatment
3. Treatments are a way for a writer to test
out an idea before investing their
creative energy fully into a new
screenplay. Treatments also allow for
writers to summarize their story idea so
they can present the story to studio
executives or producers who might
want to finance the film.
6 Steps of a Treatment
4. A treatment comes earlier on in the
development process and provides a
detailed summarization of the characters
and events that will unfold throughout the
film. A treatment comes before the first
draft of a spec script is written.
5. For example; using V/C
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DESIGN,BLOCKING,VENUE,LOCATION
6 Steps of a Treatment
5. If you are showing your treatments to
people who want to fund your film, it is
best to communicate the most pertinent
information as efficiently as possible by
keeping your treatment on the shorter
side— the sweet spot is usually
between two and five page
 6 Steps of a Treatment
6. There are four main things a treatment should contain:
Title Give your treatment a title, even if it’s just a working
title.
Logline This is a short sentence summarizing the
premise.
Plot summary How long you want your story summary to
be depends on you as a writer—some writers give short
one-page summaries, while others use 70 pages to tell
their film’s story.
Key characters Provide a breakdown of key characters,
including their arch or how their character develops in the
story.
Why do you need a Treatment
Treatments can help you find your film’s
story, while simultaneously helping to raise
money. The research for both treatment
and film involves gathering the same facts,
talking to the same individuals, and
shaping the same story. By figuring out
how to communicate your passion,
knowledge, and vision on the page, you
reach a deeper understanding of how your
story needs to be told on the screen.
Point of writing a film treatment
 Set up the world you want the reader to
envision.
 Lay out the structure of your whole story.
 Help you identify plot holes, or parts of
the film you’re missing.
 Flesh-out characters and figure out the
importance of each role.
 Serve as a roadmap that makes the
journey of your film easier to navigate