FOUNDATION PRODUCTION

AIMS FOR TODAYS LESSON:

To understand the definition and

purpose of a film treatment.

To identify the elements of an

effective treatment and how to
write one for your own thrillers.
AS PART OF YOUR COURSEWORK YOU NEED TO SUBMIT A
WHAT
DETAILED IS AKNOWN
SYNOPSIS TREATMENT?
IN THE INDUSTRY AS A
‘TREATMENT’.

A full account of a film’s narrative written in

continuous prose, which also gives a strong sense
of how the film might look. Treatments are often
used to sell an idea to production executives so
they need to convey vivid ideas on character,
action and setting, generally using only small
samples of dialogue to give a flavour of the tone of
the projected screenplay. Treatments are
sometimes commissioned from writers, but can
also be written speculatively to interest a company
in an idea.’
(Blandford, Grant & Hillier. 2001
 WHY SHOULD I WRITE ONE?

• It can communicate the main ideas, events, and

characters in the film to anyone who reads it (in your
case, teachers and examiners)

• It will help the filmmaker foresee any problems in

securing locations, actors, equipment and crew.

• It will help in the organisation of the sequence of

events in the film, so film is easier to film and edit.
EACH GROUP SHOULD   PRODUCE A
TREATMENT OF AROUND 750 WORDS
 WHAT SHOULD MY
TREATMENT INCLUDE?
- Title with an explanation of connotations
- Identify T.A with appeal, with some primary research e.g.
focus group.
- Technology – how will it be used and why that technology
is suitable.
- Representation – characters, types.
- Narrative – Summary of opening sequence with
conventions
- Conventions - how will they be observed/subverted – with
explanations
- Style & Iconography effects of camerawork/editing, use
of costumes, props
- Institution – who would produce/distribute/exhibit this
film? Why?
 TITLE
• What does the title connote about the film’s
themes/content?

• Is the title conventional for the thriller

genre?

• How will it appeal to your target audience?

 TARGET AUDIENCE
• Who is your target audience (age, gender,
interests, other media consumption, class)

• Why will your film appeal to them (themes,

representation, narrative, USP)

• You should also conduct some primary research

(questionnaire/focus group to find out more about
your audience’s opinions on your film)
 TECHNOLOGY
• How will use technology to realise your
production – try to be innovative!

• Why will that technology be suitable?

• Are there any limitations?

 REPRESENTATIONS
• Who are the key characters in your thriller
(protagonist/antagonist)

• Can you apply Propp’s character types to

the characters in your film?

• Will your film subvert or challenge typical

representations of any groups in society?
 NARRATIVE
• Brief summary of what will happen in your film.

• A more detailed summary of what will happen in

your opening sequence.

• How will you use the conventions of an opening

sequence, specifically those of the thriller genre?
 CONVENTIONS
• How will you use the conventions of the
thriller genre (conform/subvert)?

• Will your thriller fall into any sub-genres of

the thriller genre?

• Will your thriller have any hybrid elements?

 STYLE AND ICONOGRAPHY
• How will you use camerawork to create an effect for the
audience?

• How will you use editing to create an effect for the

audience?

• How will you use costumes/props as visual signifiers for

the audience?

• How will you use sound (music, effects) to create an effect

for the audience?
 INSTITUTION
• What type of company would produce your film
(Hollywood/Subsiduary/Independent)? Give a
specific example explaining why.

• What type of company would distribute your film?

Give a specific example explaining why.

• Where would your film be exhibited (Types of

cinema/home release/NMT)? Offer specific
examples.
 POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN WRITING
YOUR TREATMENT

GENRE- Think about the conventions of the genre, good

background research will help you with this.
 
The key elements of all thrillers are:
SUSPENSE, TENSION and ANTICIPATION
 
As Hitchcock says-
“There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it"

 
The conventions of an opening sequence-
How is the narrative set up?
How will you position the spectator,
How will you hook your audience?