Film Proposal
What is included in
the Film Proposal?
- Film Synopsis
The introduction or synopsis is the most critical
element of your film proposal. It tells how compelling the project is and
reveals how passionate the filmmaker is. If your synopsis is dynamic and is
strategically placed, it will remain active in the readers mind. Sum up the basic premise of your project.
- The Logline
If you speak to a producer, director or agent, that
person will ask you: What is your script about? This is your Logline. You will have 30 seconds to describe the plot in
a captivating way and be able to state the main concept of your story in one
concise sentence.
Writing a Logline
Follow the example below when writing a logline:
And Then Came Love is a character-driven romantic comedy about a high-powered Manhattan single mom who opens Pandora's box when she seeks out the anonymous sperm donor father of her young son.
- Screenplay Structure
This is a visual industry and the person reading
your film proposal needs to visualize your story, here you will give a brief
summary of key aspects of the film. Many screenplays are organized into a 3-act
structure.
- Act 1: The Set Up: classically 30 minutes long us where the situation and characters and conflict are introduced.
- Act 2: The Conflict: often an hour long, is where the conflict begins and expands until it reaches a crisis.
- Act 3: The Resolution: the conflict rises to one more crisis and is then resolved.
Writing a Screenplay Structure
Break down into three acts. For example (Silence of the Lambs):
Act 1: While still a student at The FBI, Clarice is asked to help on a case. She's eager to help and interviews Hannibal Lector who gives her a clue.
Act 2: With his help, she is able to overcome many obstacles, and finds the identity of the killer.
Act 3: She confronts the killer, saves his intended victim and atones for the death of the lamb. The scriptwriter should follow this break down for his or her story, and then expand this into a synopsis.
Act 1: While still a student at The FBI, Clarice is asked to help on a case. She's eager to help and interviews Hannibal Lector who gives her a clue.
Act 2: With his help, she is able to overcome many obstacles, and finds the identity of the killer.
Act 3: She confronts the killer, saves his intended victim and atones for the death of the lamb. The scriptwriter should follow this break down for his or her story, and then expand this into a synopsis.
- Characters
Describe the relevant characters in detail that are
present in your idea.
- Film Treatment
This part of the film proposal should read like a
short story and be written in the present tense. The film treatment presents
the entire story including the ending. It is more detailed than the synopsis
and may include details of directorial style that an outline omits.
Writing a Film Treatment
Follow the example below of And Then Came Love:
Julie (mid 40s), a successful Manhattan reporter-turned-columnist believes she has it all - a great job, a rent controlled apartment, a boyfriend and best of all, an adorable six-year-old son named Jake, whom she conceived via an anonymous sperm donor.
Her perfect world, however, is rocked when she's called in for an emergency parent-teacher conference and learns that her son has been acting up, needs to be 'tested' and is on the brink of expulsion. Over-whelmed, Julie instinctively blames herself... it's easy to do since her mother has made her feel inadequate for not being a stay-at-home mom.
Julie, however, will not concede that her mother could be right, so she places genetic blame on Jake's anonymous father. Through a private investigator, Julie learns the identity of the donor and meets him - Paul, a struggling actor and law school dropout. Julie has neither intention nor desire to reveal her identity to him, she simply needs to check her sources, get the facts, and move on.
A child psychiatrist tells Julie that Jake does not appear to have ADHD, but could benefit from a "father figure" in his life. Julie's boyfriend, a charismatic photo-journalist is up for the challenge and proposes. Julie believes her life is back on course until Paul, the donor, shows up, hoping she'll promote the off Broadway show in which he's performing.
Jake instantly bonds with Paul. No matter how hard Julie tries to keep Paul from complicating her life, the more he does as he begins to fall for her, and she finds she cannot deny her feelings for him, and her boyfriend is pushing to set a date.
Julie (mid 40s), a successful Manhattan reporter-turned-columnist believes she has it all - a great job, a rent controlled apartment, a boyfriend and best of all, an adorable six-year-old son named Jake, whom she conceived via an anonymous sperm donor.
Her perfect world, however, is rocked when she's called in for an emergency parent-teacher conference and learns that her son has been acting up, needs to be 'tested' and is on the brink of expulsion. Over-whelmed, Julie instinctively blames herself... it's easy to do since her mother has made her feel inadequate for not being a stay-at-home mom.
Julie, however, will not concede that her mother could be right, so she places genetic blame on Jake's anonymous father. Through a private investigator, Julie learns the identity of the donor and meets him - Paul, a struggling actor and law school dropout. Julie has neither intention nor desire to reveal her identity to him, she simply needs to check her sources, get the facts, and move on.
A child psychiatrist tells Julie that Jake does not appear to have ADHD, but could benefit from a "father figure" in his life. Julie's boyfriend, a charismatic photo-journalist is up for the challenge and proposes. Julie believes her life is back on course until Paul, the donor, shows up, hoping she'll promote the off Broadway show in which he's performing.
Jake instantly bonds with Paul. No matter how hard Julie tries to keep Paul from complicating her life, the more he does as he begins to fall for her, and she finds she cannot deny her feelings for him, and her boyfriend is pushing to set a date.
6. Target Audience
Who is your envisaged audience? How do you know this? How can you justify that your project fits well with the interests of this demographic? What is your Unique Selling Point that helps your project stand out from the crowd?
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