Shop it around town, with producers, directors, writers, etc. People will skim anything longer unless requested. Don’t be esoteric.Īim for a 5-pager or slightly more detailed 10-12 pages. Will anyone come back?Ĭharacter list - include backstories and something original about each that will make us remark, “Wow, I’ve never read that before…”.īackstory, research, exposition where needed - anything else that will help the reader to “get it” quickly. Opening scene: How do you keep butts in seats (or in bed and putting down the remote!)Īct One: The set-up, introductions, and inciting incident that gets the plot moving.Īct Two: The conflict, action, obstacles, excitement, wins, losses.Īct Three: The story rises to a climax in an entertaining and satisfying manner.įinal sequence and scene: What’s the final image/feeling/emotion that is evoked by the end.
#Writing a screenplay online page set how to
Summary of your 3 Acts, the structure of your story: I’ve covered the structure in my previous posts on How to Write a Screenplay in 6 weeks and my synopsis writing (with a template).
For more help with this, you can visit my articles, How to Write a Logline that Sells, the High Concept idea post or my synopsis writing template post.
Logline - showcase you can boil down your huge idea into a few lines that hook a reader’s attention (the most important). Your name and contact - don’t misspell it. Remember your title is also a marketing tool and the first impression of your work. Title - make it memorable, catchy, one-of-a-kind. There are no hard or fast rules to writing a treatment, but the form usually contains a couple of things that are generally accepted: Here are some to consider:ġ - 10 pages - short and concise, a quick read.ģ0+ pages or more - very detailed and usually reserved for experienced writers or directors.Ĭomponents: Treatments usually start with a logline, a list of the main characters, before a scene-by-scene summary or Act sequence breakdown.Īgain, do whatever to tell your story so your reader doesn’t have to leap over hurdles to understand you. Length: A treatment document can come in many different forms. You’re aiming to show the mood of your story, and you can do it in any way you see fit. As long as it enhances the story you are trying to tell.
You can break the fourth wall if you want to. Language and tone: Aim for present tense, third-person and direct, rather than too poetic or descriptive. Just tell the story in the simplest and best way possible. Script stylings but not too much: Treatments can include dialogue, shots, music, set-pieces, whatever you need. Prose form: Your story is written in prose form, similar to a novel or short story but with a script-like flourish.
#Writing a screenplay online page set full
Its purpose is to literally get everyone “on the same page” with your story, characters, and tone of what you aim to achieve with the full script (eventually). But to understand the form better, let’s start at the top: What is a treatment and how do you write one?Ī treatment is a multiple page document written in prose - much like a short story or a novel manuscript. I’ve included a template treatment document at the bottom of this article.
Treatments are an effective way to streamline your writing process, organise your ideas from the get-go, and even seal business deals without a script.Ī treatment document is sometimes deemed as more valuable than a full-fledged script - as many networks and producers see more value in developing a screenplay with you, rather than buying an I.P or screenplay outright.īy mastering the treatment form, you can also get hired, sell your idea quickly, and showcase the most important asset of all: your talent.