Crafting the Perfect Video Production Treatment
Are you ready to dive into the thrilling realm of video production treatments? Buckle up! This blog post is your ticket to a journey of creative vision, your treatment, and more. It's about the art and science of writing a treatment - the lifeline of a video project.
Whether for a short film, music video, or TV show, a well-written treatment can be invaluable. So, let's delve into the world of writing treatments and decode the secrets to crafting a compelling video treatment.
What is a Video Production Treatment?
Think of a video production treatment as the blueprint of your video. It's a detailed summary of your video project, laying out the basic storyline, the main characters, and other elements.
It's not a full script, but it outlines the story beats and provides a peek into your creative vision for the video.
From visual references to character breakdown, from the intended audience to the color palette, a treatment packs in everything that sets the stage for the final product.
Why Write a Treatment?
A treatment is a critical step in the filmmaking process. It allows the production company or production companies, your production team, and even your intended audience to get on the same page.
It's a marketing tool that sells the film project's concept and can also help you secure funding or a green light for your filmproject.
Start Writing a Video Treatment: The Basics
Before we dive into the best practices, let's start writing with a basic structure:
Title and Logline: The first sentence should grab attention. Think of a catchy title and a compelling one-sentence summary that encapsulates the idea of your video.
Story Synopsis: Follow the logline with a brief story summary that gives an overview of the story arc.
Visual References: This is where the visual medium comes into play. Incorporate reference images or describe the aesthetics, style, or color palette you envision for your video.
Main Characters: Write a character breakdown for each of the main characters. Describe their personality, role in the story, and relationships with other characters.
Plot Points: Give a detailed description of the important scenes and the sequence of events. Use bullet points or big blocks of text as needed.
Hard and Fast Rules for Writing Treatments
While there are no hard and fast rules in the realm of creativity, there are a few things to keep in mind while creating your treatment:
Use Present Tense: Treatments are like a present tense short story. Describe the events as they are happening, not as they have happened.
Descriptive Language: Use descriptive yet concise language. Avoid overly flowery language that might distract from the main concept.
Target Audience: Keep your intended audience in mind. Your language, tone, and style should appeal to them.
Treat it as a Story: Though a treatment is a tool for your video production, it needs to tell a good story. Make sure your treatment has a beginning, middle, and end.
How to Write a Music Video Treatment
Are you working on a music video production? You'd need to follow the same steps as above with a few additions:
Music: Include information about the song or album. How does the music influence the narrative of the video?
Performance: Describe how the artist or band's performance will be showcased in the video.
Styling: Elaborate on the look and feel of the music video, from wardrobe to set design.
For example, some of the best music video treatments include reference to past videos of the artist, detailed descriptions of the visual effects, and how the video enhances the music.
A good music video treatment template will help guide you through this process.
Tools for Writing a Treatment
Using a template can streamline your writing process, whether it's a film treatment template or a music video treatment template. Various templates, treatments, and screenplay writing software like Final Draft or Celtx are available online. Remember, the template is just a guide.
It's your creative vision that will bring the treatment to life.
Wrapping Up
There you have it - the A-Z guide to writing the perfect video production treatment. With the right balance of story, characters, and visuals, a good treatment can be your stepping stone to a successful video project.
As a bonus, it can help your production company communicate effectively with stakeholders and create an accurate budget.
So, take your time, let your creativity flow, and create a treatment that is as captivating as the video you envision. Remember, a well-written treatment is like a polished mirror, reflecting your vision for the finished product.
And once you have this strong foundation, the rest of your video production journey will be smooth sailing.
Happy writing!
