Matt Simmonds Film Treatments
I'm currently working on a film treatment and was wondering how people find the experience of creating such a document?
I find there's no consistency in my process. There's times when I've written a first draft of the script then worked on the treatment, and vice versa.
Be great to hear your thoughts.
Thanks. Matt.
My experience is very similar to the one you described.
It´s just very dependent on the project.
Good to hear, it's a process I've never really thought about before. Until now.
I normally try to write a detailed treatment first before starting the script. I like to do a lot of work on the characters, story and plot before I sit down to write the script. I don’t really enjoy the process of writing a treatment and character breakdowns etc but I find that it helps to keep me on track and tell the story I want to tell.
That said, I have on occasion written a script first and then written the treatment afterwards. While at other times I have written a treatment first and then strayed away from it significantly while writing the script and have had to go back and completely rewrite the treatment afterwards.
So I guess my process varies but I do try to write treatments for all of my ideas first. I find that it helps me to work out the story and I like to have that worked out fairly well before I commit to writing the script. So when people ask me for advice on process I suggest that they try to write a detailed treatment before writing the script. But of course each person has their own process, so it could be a detailed treatment, a vague outline or they might even go into the script fairly blind to the story. I know what works for me but it’s not going to work for everyone, I hope you find what works best for you.
Thanks Anthony.
One thing I've noticed about my process is that it depends on the film/genre that I'm working in.
I'm currently writing a horror treatment, a genre that I've not written in previously. I think it makes sense that I've chosen the treatment first on this occasion to ensure I hit narrative/genre beats.
Had it been a genre I'm more confident with then I probably would've gone straight into the script.
From the first-person (writer/director) perspective, I find the key question is 'what's the point ?' Invariably, precious little, if the concept/ideas are clear enough to be already convinced to write a film about the subject.
From the production perspective - even less, since the script will be the operative blueprint.
From the funding perspective - that's probably where the need arises for such a thing, to convince others of the business case. Which tends to suggest a treatment is an independent piece of text with different persuasive parameters.
It's a good idea, imv, not to overburden the essential writing process with extra revision - there'll be plenty of that involved already (!).
Each to their own.
To me, the ideas of planning out a script is just bonkers. Have an idea, start writing, and in the writing, comes clarity.
At which point you tear up what you have written and start again :-)
Other people plan it all out. Whatever works for you.