Film & Video Treatments

I was recently asked to contribute my thoughts on why treatments are helpful for documentary. I don't always use them--it depends on the project and approach. Here's what I wrote:

Writing a treatment is a way to envision the program and its structure, based on your current knowledge and what you expect to happen in the field. It allows you to share your creative vision with the D.P., Animator, Production Manager, Editors, and other crew so that they can begin to contribute to that vision. Writing the treatment will force you to think through the elements of production—is a special rig required, a second unit, aerials, or a creative shot to bridge to the next scene. Once you’re out in the field, it helps to remind you of key elements that you need to help structure and convey the story. That all being said, it’s important to not be a slave to the treatment-- to take advantage of the serendipity of the moment, the wonderful things that often occur on camera that can’t be planned. It’s a bit like the improvisation that is used with some comedy films—provide a framework for the actors and let them run with it.

The importance of the treatment can also vary with the kind of project that you’re producing. For example, a project with lots of animation or CGI will require a stronger foundation than one that is more dependent on a more verite approach in the field.