Should You Write a Treatment Before a Script?

Understanding when and in what order to write a treatment, script, or screenplay can be particularly challenging for a beginner.

The terms, film treatments, screenplays, and scripts are often used interchangeably creating a misconception that they are all the same or that they all mean the same thing.

However, treatments are not the same as the script or screenplay and generally one does come before the other, but should you write a treatment before a script?

Treatment vs Script vs Screenplay

Before we dive into whether you should write a treatment before a script or if you write the treatment before the screenplay or not, let’s just get this order of business out of the way:

A treatment, a script, and a screenplay are not all one in the same.

The film treatment is essentially a written document that describes the screenplay. 

Likewise, the screenplay and script are not the same, either, although sometimes they can be.

A screenplay is a script that is meant to be played on a screen such as a television screen, a movie screen, or a computer screen.

However, a script could be a screenplay, or it could be a script for a stage play in theater, a script for a video game, a radio show script, or it could be a programming script. 

In film, a treatment is a summary of the screenplay or script and, in general the words screenplay and script as used interchangeably with minimal confusion.

Which Comes First, The Chicken or the Egg?

Not really…we’re actually talking about treatments and scripts, not chickens and eggs.

But oddly enough there’s enough confusion that the chicken and egg scenario may have come to mind.

So which comes first, the treatment or the film script? The reality is, many screenwriters will write the treatment before they write the script.

However, writing a treatment isn’t a requirement before a script can be written. 

Should You Write a Treatment Before a Script?

So if writing the treatment is not a requirement, should you write a treatment before a script?

The answer is really up to you to decide what’s best for your individual scenario.

Many screenwriters find that they can write a treatment that outlines key elements of importance that make writing the script easier. 

In this case, if writing the treatment is going to help you be more successful with working out the ideas and individual narratives of your story, then it makes perfect sense to write the treatment before the script.

Some screenwriters also find that writing a treatment before the script allows them to hash out the key details regarding plot, characters, and other information that is essential to copywriting the work.

The United States Copyright Office will accept a film treatment or a script outline for the initial application of copyright so this is another important consideration for a screenwriter to make.

Why You Should Consider Writing a Treatment Before a Script

If you’re not convinced that writing a treatment before a script is the right choice for you, perhaps you need some additional encouragement.

Many screenwriters find that writing the treatment first is an essential task that leads them to saving time when it comes to writing the script.

Actually, writing a treatment first could save you a lot of time. 

Consider the following scenario:

Two screenwriters come up with ideas that they think are going to be great.

One screenwriter immediately begins working on the treatment. They can copyright the work and begin sharing it with producers.

The other begins working on the script instead of “wasting time on a treatment.”

Writer A not only obtains a copyright protecting their work right away, they also begin sharing their treatment with producers and directors

They’ve managed to get great feedback which they’re going to use when they write the script.

Writer B is still working on the script, can’t share the details because it hasn’t yet been copyrighted, and still has a long way to go before the script will be ready to share.

Which opportunity sounds better to you?

Doesn’t it seem like Writer A has the better opportunity?

They’ve not only got the copyright already but they’ve also got some proven interest from producers and directors which gives them the drive to write the entire script.

Writer B doesn’t even know for sure if others will like the concept, and they won’t know until they’re done writing and can share. 

So, should you write a treatment before a script?

Yes! You absolutely should write a treatment before a script.

The reasons are:

The fact that the treatment represents a key outline or summary of the potential script that can be copyright protected

It can be shared with others to guarantee interest in the story before taking the time to write the entire concept out in a script.

These are just a few reasons that many screenwriters choose to write a treatment before they choose to write a script.