Screenwriting : Treatment by Marie Pier Perreault

I hate, hate, hate writing treatments. I'll only write one if someone considering one of my scripts demands it. To me they're a waste of time. It takes what to read an entire screenplay - an hour?

I do not believe it is absolutely necessary to write a treatment unless the person you are pitching to asks for it. I sometimes write a treatment or something short of a treatment to help organizing my ideas. It helps me know what happens in each act, especially if I am writing a bunch of episodes instead of a film, it helps me organize a lot better. So I think you only should write a treatment if you want to/ if it is ask for.

I often write a treatment before going to script, but not always. Treatments are basically part of a step deal, so they aren't required on a spec. If it helps you, fine... if it doesn't, skip it.

Thank you all for your insights on this, that's what I thought too. Mark: I hate them too! That's exactly it, it is faster to read the script (or skim it) and see the script's true potential. Felicia: By the time I start with the first rewrite, my outlines become more or less a mix of treatment and outline, so I can see the big picture better. Like you said, it helps with organizing the ideas and thoughts, but to go as far as writing an actual treatment just for the sake of it.... William: Yes, I'll skip it for now...I'll write one if it becomes necessary, so for now I'll focus my energies on another script. Thank you all again!

My script has changed so much. I threw out the first attempt, have changed scenes in the second. I'll write a treatment when I get ready to start pimping it. For now, I outline.

Robert- I believe more in outlining than writing a treatment as well, unless it is absolutely necessary to write one. And not before the script is done, I couldn't agree more. It's one thing to rewrite a script, but a treatment as well? No, thank you.

Aren't treatments meant for the pitch? I'm not quite clear on their purpose, but it seems when they are brought up, it's as a pitch tool. Similar to a one page, but the one page is left behind.

You make a good point, Alle. Part of why I don't like treatments are because it can never be as good as reading the script. It is so much easier to skim through the script to get an idea of the writer's style and the potential of the story, than just read a 1-5 pages treatment who was polished in a way it doesn't necessarily tell the real story anymore. I'll write treatments if absolutely needed, but...the real piece of work, the script, should speak for itself. Treatments and scriptments should be personal tools for the writers. Don't you think?

Treatments are primarily a tool to see if a writer can plot - I still hate 'em.

I have never written a treatment. The closet thing I did was write an 8 episode bible for a proposed television show outlining the episodes. For feature screenplays I always write a solid, catchy logline and a one/two page synopsis.

Treatments can be a good way to ensure the dramatic elements of the story are strong, full, engaging and fit appropriately.

It's always different for each writer, it's best to just write what works for you. They can be really helpful when writing the script itself I've found. For getting a script sold or funded it's a necessity however.