What is the reason to write a movie treatment?

Question

I am trying to finish my first script. A friend told me that I should write the treatment first. He said I could make money from it. Why would I want to do this if I plann on finishing the script either way?

Answer 1

Actually, a treatment is a description of the action without showing the dialogue. Many screenwriters will make a treatment to flesh out the ideas for the story before writing the actual script. Here is an example of what I am talking about:

SCENE 12 (EXT DAY) The Municipal Baseball Diamond

We come upon the baseball diamond on a hot and sunny morning, as the Oakdale Yankees are facing the much better Springfield Bluejays. RICK JOHNSON is pitching for Oakdale and JIMMY LIGHTNER pitches for Springfield today. We see from the scoreboard that this is the bottom of the ninth inning and that Springfield is ahead 8 to 2. Oakdale is at bat for the last time and the boys all know who will be winning this game. KENNY WATERS is at bat and he's tired. The UMPIRE announces that there are 2 strikes. KENNY raises his bat and prepares for the pitch. We switch back and forth between the faces of KENNY and JIMMY. There is the unmistakable air of confidence on JIMMY'S face and a defeated look on KENNY'S. With a runners on first and third, the pitch leaves JIMMY'S hand and approaches KENNY in slow motion. KENNY'S thoughts are heard in voiceover as he tries to encourage himself, hoping beyond hope to connect with the pitch and bring in all three runs. As the ball continues through the air, we see KENNY'S backswing followed by hopeful images of his MOTHER'S face in the stands, the COACH, JEFF on first base and MICHAEL on third, each of the players leading slightly but not very confidently. KENNY starts his swing and we eventually see that the bat and ball are perfectly aligned. The sounds of his friends' cheers break through and we return to full speed, just as the bat and ball connect in a solid THWACK! We watch as the ball goes over the centerfield fence and the boys round the bases. KENNY is met by his team at home plate and they hoist him up on their shoulders in a celebration.
Cut to
SCENE 13 (INT DAY) Hudson's Ice Creamery
Immediately following, the Oakdale yankees are out for ice cream. COACH gets up and talks to the team about how proud he is of them even though they had a bad day, it was against a team with much more experience. The boys show agreement and the parents join in with ad lib comments about how great they've been doing all season.
~~~
So, you see, a treatment tells what is going on in each scene. As a screenwriter works, scenes can be added and taken out, changed around and otherwise edited all before the dialogue is written. You can still use this format as you edit your work to see what else might work in a given scene. You can email me if you want to discuss this further.

I hope this helps.... good luck

Answer 2

What your friend mean is by a threatment of the movie is a short synopsis of the script that are presented to who ever is bying or wants to by it. I could have one or to key scenes in it or some dialogue to show what kind of script it is. If you do it before you start you could get money or a contract to write the script. But its no point in rushing the treatment when the script is almost done. Do your script and then do a threatment or a synopsis (a shorter threatment) to use when your trying to sell the script or get actors or whatever. I always try to make a short synopsis whenever a idea is formed in my head. Its a good way to remember your idea. Good luck! Johan

Answer 3

Treatments exist because movie execs can't read. (It's true!)

You should write things in the order that comes naturally, personally I plan meticulously but I never write a treatment until the end. ('Cos I hate them.)

The chances of you selling a treatment as an unknown writer are smaller than your chances of winning the lottery. Only known writers sell treatments.

Unknown writers don't write spec scripts expecting them to be made, your spec script is an advertisement of your skill in writing.

Well, okay, unknown writers *do* write spec scripts expecting them to be made. But they almost never are.

Your friend is wrong.


.

Answer 4

I'm not positive what a treatment is, but if it's like a book proposal, it's a good idea because you can get your work circulating before it's finished, and by the time you're done, you may have sold it or almost sold it.

Answer 5

Has to be one of the crucial classics. THe new ones are cool with their visuals however they lack discussion, plot and person progress. Return of the Jedi is usually the quality, then A New desire, then Empire moves again