Preparing the Video Treatment
and Script
Treatments are also useful for "selling" program ideas to executive producers because they tell at a glance what will be involved in the production. For this reason great care should be taken to present a neat package. Typing should be neat, spelling and grammar correct, and drawing attractive.
l. Title- This is important because it frequently will help your potential audience find the program. An instructional program should have a straight forward title so that it can be located in catalogs by people interested in the content. Entertainment programs should have interesting titles which will stand out in a TV viewing guide.
2. Goal and Objectives- These are critical for instructional and informational programs. They describe how the program will affect the viewers. Frequently omitted for entertainment programming.
3. Target Audience- A brief description of the type of viewers which the program is aimed at. This should be stated specifically and should not be too broad. It is equally important for entertainment and informational programs. The target audience may be included in the narrative description.
4. Narrative Description- This is a short description of what is going to happen during the program. This can usually be accomplished in a couple of paragraphs and should not exceed one page. Take great care with this section because it will be read first by busy executive producers and will determine whether or not they go on to the script.
5. Justification- A brief statement of why the program described in the narrative description will appeal to the target audience. May be included in the narrative description.
6. Materials List- A list of the materials needed for the production. Set pieces and furniture are included here as well as graphic aids, props, etc.
7. Facilities (Fax) List- A list of equipment, studio time, crew, etc. needed for the production.
8. Cast List- A list describing all cast members required for the production.
9. Storyboard- Rough sketches to show what various shots will look like. This is used in commercials to preview various approaches before shooting, and can be helpful in any situation where there is some uncertainty about the visualization.
10. Floor Plan- A plan view (from above) of the layout of the shooting area showing all items which take up floor space. KU-TV studio blank forms are available for student use.
11. Light Plan- A plan view of the shooting area showing the type of lighting instruments which will be used and their placement.
12. Budget- An itemized list of estimated and actual costs for the various elements in the production including: talent, script, crew, facilities, materials, travel, etc. A KU-TV work sheet is available for student use (see below). Note that facilities time is always charged in FULL hours so that a program which uses 65 minutes of studio time must budget for two hours.
13. Means of Evaluation- For instructional or informational programs it is important that we specify how we will evaluate the effectiveness of the program in meeting its goals and objectives. This may be a written test, expected observable change in behavior, etc. Not usually included for entertainment programs.
Script- While not usually considered part of the treatment, a script or format sheet in as complete a form as possible is essential! The three column shooting script format should be followed for this class.
Scripts- Scripts should be as complete as possible, even for a semi-scripted show. They should be organized in three columns: Video, Time, and Audio, oriented from left to right by convention. They should be typed, double spaced, with three (or four) spaces between shots.
The top of EACH page should contain the title of the show and the page number.
Each video shot description should include (1) transition, (2) source, and (3) shot description, including angle and a list of important elements. For example: Cut to Cam. #2, CU of John and Mary. For single -camera productions, omit source. For real-time productions, time should be backtimed (begin with program run time, and end with 00:00). A time should be included for EACH shot. On the audio side, all items not spoken are placed all in CAPS. Dialog is in normal upper and lower case. Stage directions are frequently placed on this side in CAPS and surrounded by parentheses.
Keep in mind that TV is a visual medium. The picture should carry at least part of the message and not become merely something to break up the boredom of the audio.
Floor Plan- Care should be taken to make this plan view. It is critical that it be drawn to scale (1/4" = 1' in the case of our studios). It should show everything which takes up floor space, including:
The type of flat, or special instructions for decorating a flat or other set piece may be written in beside the item on the floor plan.
In addition to the items above, indicate the angles for each camera's major shot with solid lines, and other frequent shots with dotted lines. This will help you to place background pieces appropriately to prevent shooting off the set and may suggest better camera placement.
If the plan becomes too busy because of multiple shots or talent movement, make more than one plan.
Light Plan- This may be drawn on the same sheet as the floor plan if it is fairly simple. If drawn separately, be sure to include talent and major set pieces which are being lit.
Each light instrument should be drawn using a lighting template (see sample treatment below). The number of the socket on the lighting grid should be indicated (6 per bar in Studio 1).
Comments such as how each light is used (key, fill, etc.) may be included to help the gaffer quickly set lights without having to confer with the producer.
For field productions a site survey is substituted for floor and light plans. It should contain as much of the above information as possible and be drawn approx. to scale.
Take special note that in the interests of space the script below contains ONLY the beginning and end, however a complete script is required for class projects.
Target Audience: Men and women, l8-35 years old, with an interest in the hobbies and interests of their neighbors.
Narrative Description: An original concept for a weekly, four-minute interview/demonstration show conceived by David Kintsfather. Each week a different guest from the community will discuss some item of personal interest and demonstrate how this item is used.
Justification: This program will be popular because young people are curious about their neighbors and want to expand their knowledge of various hobbies and other interests.
Materials List:
Fax List:
Cast List:
Script, Floor Plan, Light Plan and Budget are included below. A sample site survey from an unrelated show is also included.
Client: KU-TV Title: Show and Tell Page: 1 of 7 Writer: David Kintsfather VIDEO TIME AUDIO Fade FX, CG over 4:00 (FADE UP MUSIC) C#2, ("Show and Tell with HOST" over LS of set) Remove key & 3:55 (MUSIC UNDER) Dissolve C#1, MCU of HOST HOST: Hello and welcome to "Show & Tell," a program where we bring you exciting demonstrations you have asked to see. Zoom out to 2-shot 3:45 (MUSIC OUT) of HOST & GUEST I'm your host(ess) ____ and our guest today is ____. Tell us what you have brought to show us today. Cut to C#2, 3:37 GUEST: . . . . . . . . . MCU of GUEST * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dissolve to CG, 0:05 (MUSIC UP) ("Our Thanks to GUEST") over Blue BG Fade to BLACK 0:00 (MUSIC OUT)
Video Program Budget Sheet
Producer: D. Kintsfather Program: Show & Tell ITEM ESTIMATED ACTUAL Time Cost Time Cost PREPRODUCTION Production planning 12 $120 10 $100 Script preparation 1 $ 10 2 $ 20 Typing & reproduction 1 $ 6 1 $ 6 Graphics Audio production @ $25/hr. Misc. FIELD PRODUCTION EFP unit @ $30/hr. Misc. STUDIO PRODUCTION Studio use @ $150/hr. 1 $150 1 $150 Misc. REVIEW Video playback @ $12/hr. Misc. POSTPRODUCTION Video editing @ $85/hr. Dubbing @ $20/hr. Music fees Misc. PERSONNEL Director @ $20/hr. 1 $ 20 1 $ 20 Studio crew @ $10/hr. 7 $ 70 7 $ 70 EFP crew @ $10/hr. Talent @ $50/hr. 2 $100 2 $100 Misc. MATERIALS Video tape $ 25 $ 25 Audio tape Graphics Misc. BUDGET SUMMARY Preproduction 14 $136 13 $126 Field Production Studio Production 1 $150 1 $150 Review Postproduction Personnel 10 $190 10 $190 Materials $ 25 $ 25 __ ____ __ ____ PROGRAM TOTALS 25 $501 24 $491
Site Survey of a Remote Location
