Documentary Treatment Guide Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Purpose of a treatment:
  • A treatment is a written pitch for a documentary.
  • It outlines the story, visual style, and reason why the filmmaker is best suited to tell the story.
• Personal Template:
  • The speaker has created a treatment template to save time across projects.
  • The template is useful for developing TV series projects.
  • Template available for download through a provided link.

Key Pages in a Documentary Treatment

1. Title Page

• Decide on a documentary title:
  • Example: "One Breath" for a film about free diving.
  • Titles can be changed during editing.
• Include a Title Image:
  • Sourced from websites like Film Grab or personal images.

2. Story Synopsis

• Write a brief summary of the documentary.
  • Present tense, third person.
  • Clearly state main characters' goals without spoilers.
• Structure:
  • Opening: Engage with an interesting introduction.
  • Length: One page max, adjust based on documentary length.
  • Narration Style: How is the story told?
  • Characters: Introduce uniquely.
  • Ending: Exciting, ties the story, and leaves interest.

3. History or Context

• Discuss backdrop and setting:
  • Adds credibility by showing origins and relevance.
  • Example: History of free diving.

4. Story Arc

• Plan and structure the story:
  • Use a 3-act structure (set up, confrontation, resolution).
  • Story arc should be fluid and adaptable.

5. Characters

• Focus on main characters:
  • Briefly introduce importance to the story.

6. Locations

• Determine filming locations:
  • Could be single or multiple locations.
  • Example: Locations like Hawaii, Thailand, Mexico for "One Breath."

7. Filmmaking Approach

• Describe filmmaking style and techniques:
  • Narration and visual storytelling methods.
  • Example: Interview-led documentary for a cinematic feel.

8. Team

• Detail team members and achievements:
  • Include bios to demonstrate qualifications.

9. Budget

• Provide a budget summary:
  • For potential investors to gauge cost and investment worthiness.
  • Include estimates for pre-production, production, post-production.

10. Distribution

• Plan for film showing & aims:
  • Festival submissions, online release, or streaming platforms.

Conclusion

• Flexibility in guidelines:
  • 10 elements serve as guidelines based on experience.
• Additional Resources:
  • Template available for download.
  • Open to questions and comments.