Outlines, treatments, synopsis

N

NoTalentAssClown

Member
Sorry for the 3-part question. Thanks in advance...

1. Is there a good book out there on writing/proper formatting of outlines, synopsis, treatments, scriptments, etc?

2. Is there a difference between an outline and a step outline?

3. Can you send me links or just let me know of some good outlines from movies I can use to guide myself and use as example?
 
1) I don't know.
2) a step outline is the most common type of outline. It's just the scenes or story beats in order. I do a weird modified step outline that breaks it down into 5 page segments, some people assemble the scenes into sequences in their outlines, etc - the thing to do is find the method that works best for you: that gets you the best results.
3) Problem there is that *writers* use their outlines to write the scripts, but the outlines don't really get out into the world.

Here are some of my outlines (and my outlines of existing films):
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/timelines.htm

A Script Tip on outlines:
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip19.htm

- Bill
 
James Cameron published his treatments on the Aliens and The Abyss DVDs. Check them out as to what a proper feature film treatment should be.
 
Here's an example of a one page synopsis from my website:
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/screenplays/icezero.htm

Funny thing is, my one page synopsis often end up on the back of the DVD box.

And here's a detailed treatment written for a Jamie Lee Curtis project that died before hitting the screen:
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/screenplays/Third-law.pdf

And here's another one:
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/screenplays/Barrel.pdf

Most treatments are between 10-15 pages. but ask the producer what they want. Some want them longer, some shorter.

- Bill
 
THANKS Y'ALL! Extremely helpful.

Just to make sure I'm on the right track...

treatments, synopses and outlines ARE A PAIN IN THE ASS!

Am I on the right track?
 
You are on the right track!

You write the screenplay, and you think it's over... and then someone wants a 1 page synopsis before they read the script and someone else wants a sing;e paragraph and... well, you jump through a lot of hoops you didn't expect.

- Bill
 
NoTalentAssClown said:
THANKS Y'ALL! Extremely helpful.

Just to make sure I'm on the right track...

treatments, synopses and outlines ARE A PAIN IN THE ASS!

Am I on the right track?
Click to expand...

LOL! Welcome to the real world!

I've never written a treatment, do write synopsis', write the barest outlines imaginable.

The more I progress and come into my own, the more I begin to wander away from even the barest outline. The treatment, to me, is unnecessary effort on everyone's part.

Why would you read a treatment if I have a full blown script? And, why should I write a treatment instead of writing a full blown script? Not efficient. I could be missing something, but not for me.

The outline helps a lot when getting out the first draft, the first draft then mutates on its own. By the tenth draft it may not look anything like the baby you crapped out two years ago.

I've reached a point now where I get main characters, throw in goals, jot down key scenes then immediately move to page one.

Definitely do outlines. I'd learn an effective and comfortable way to do those before any other technique.

That's probably just me.
 
The archive page on Terry Rossio's Wordplayer.com site is also a target-rich environment for not just treatments and outlines, but their scripts, interviews, some query letters, and other tasty treats.
 
I used to write treatments, but now I just do outlines then script. Though, I'm also making these movies so I don't have a producer telling me what he wants to read...
 
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