The Plot Thickens

In a world much like our own, a team of freedom of information advocates capture members of an intelligence unit and threaten to expose world-altering state war crimes.

This assignment really threw me into the deep end of treatment writing! It took some practice to get used to writing about events in the story as they unfold, and I found myself wanting to give backstory a lot.  This form of writing also forced me to be super succinct, as a a treatment is shorter than an actual script. This was a very useful exercise for me as I usually write with a lot of superflous description and fluff!

Treatment Final Dominique (1)

In a post apocalyptic world, Bronte struggles to not only find her place and understand her crazed mother’s actions, but uncover the truth of her father’s death and the intentions of The Underground City. 

I initially didn’t realise just how taxing this task would be. I have definitely gained such a respect for script writers and the brain power that goes into figuring out the puzzle pieces of a treatment. I had so much fun coming up with the plot and characters backstories. Working with my classmates and getting to hear their stories and feedback on my work was tons of fun and such a great opportunity to hear different perspectives.

TREATMENT -TPT Deadly Cure

A5 pt2 Studio Review

In creating “Escape Down Under,” my primary objective was to engage the audience through a gripping narrative that entertains while provoking thought and emotional response. The film, centered on the protagonist’s struggle for survival in the harsh Australian outback, highlights themes of resilience, identity, and transformation. To achieve audience engagement, I employed suspense and tension, ensuring the narrative keeps viewers on edge and eager to see the protagonist navigate situations. Emotional connection is also crucial, as the protagonist’s determination to survive, moments of despair, and hope resonate deeply with viewers, making them emotionally invested in the outcome. My core concern in studio The Plot Thickens was exploring how individuals confront extreme situations and the transformations that result. “Escape Down Under” portrays human resilience and the capacity to endure and overcome adversity, inspiring the audience to reflect on their own resilience. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, stripped of their previous life’s trappings, encourages viewers to consider how extreme situations can lead to profound personal change. The Australian outback serves as a metaphor for the protagonist’s internal journey, emphasizing nature’s role as both a formidable adversary and a source of profound insight and growth. By incorporating interactive elements like post-reading  discussions, I aim to further engage the audience, prompting reflection and feedback on what works and doesnt work.

If I were to continue working on “Escape Down Under,” there are several core aspects I would focus on improving and extending to enhance its potential for different platforms and audiences. Firstly, I would refine the treatment further, considering it was my initial draft and there’s always room for improvement. This would involve strengthening character arcs, adding depth to relationships, and tightening the plot structure. Creating another draft treatment would allow me to explore alternative narrative paths and character motivations, enriching the story’s complexity.Moving beyond the treatment, the next step would be to develop the screenplay. This would involve translating the treatment into a full-fledged script, including dialogue, scene descriptions, and visual cues. Developing the screenplay would provide a more detailed blueprint for the film, allowing for a clearer vision of pacing, character development, and thematic elements.In terms of improvements, refining character dynamics and interactions would be crucial. This includes deepening the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, exploring their internal conflicts, and adding depth to supporting characters to create a more immersive experience for the audience.

Additionally, refining the dialogue to ensure authenticity and impact would be essential in capturing the audience’s attention and enhancing emotional engagement.Furthermore, expanding the world-building elements would be important, especially if considering adaptation into different formats or marketing strategies. Exploring the backstory of the Australian outback setting, incorporating cultural elements, and enhancing visual storytelling would enrich the film’s cinematic experience.Beyond the film itself, marketing and distribution strategies would be vital for reaching broader audiences. Developing a pitch deck tailored for potential production companies, film festivals, and streaming platforms would be essential. This pitch deck would highlight the unique aspects of “Escape Down Under,” its marketability, target audience, and potential for international appeal. Creating a short film adaptation based on a pivotal scene could serve as a teaser, attracting attention and interest. Hosting live script readings or table reads, submitting the short film to film festivals, and entering online screenplay competitions would also expand exposure and networking opportunities.Additionally, partnering with film schools for student projects or workshops could cultivate talent, showcase the story to a wider audience, and potentially lead to collaborations.

Reflecting on my peers’ projects, I gained valuable insights into different storytelling approaches and thematic explorations that resonate with our studio’s core concerns.Elior’s project, “A Fistful of Fury,” caught my attention with its unique genre blend and cultural representation. By portraying characters as Asian, Elior effectively avoided the risk of them being perceived as “white” through transformation, adding depth and diversity to the narrative. The clever concept behind the story appeals to fans of martial arts films and those interested in modern tributes to grindhouse cinema. Elior’s focus on effective marketing strategies and developing a pitch deck inspired me to consider similar approaches for my project.On the other hand, Jess’s project, “D1,” explored themes of resilience and personal growth within the sports drama genre. The story, revolving around a young golfer coping with his father’s sudden death while navigating college life, showcased the importance of character development and emotional storytelling. Jess’s collaboration with classmates to refine the screenplay highlighted the value of community feedback in the creative process.Inspired by both projects, I see the significance of exploring various narrative techniques and marketing strategies for my own project, “Escape Down Under.” Elior’s project encouraged me to consider genre blending and cultural representation, while Jess’s project resonated with my thematic interests in resilience and personal growth.

“D1”

“After his father’s sudden death, a promising young golfer navigates the tumultuous waters of college life, contending with his new volatile and belligerent coach.”

Writing screenplays has been my number one hobby these past couple years. I loved delving into this Sports Drama genre and getting good insight from my classmates along the way. This class has given me all the tricks of the trade in plotting and telling stories, hopefully one day I can make it a profession.

Please enjoy! —> D1- Jesse Davie

Scientist Amy’s unfinished research stolen by her good friend Alice because of jealousy and greed. With the help of her boyfriend Tom, she successfully got her research back, completed it and finally realized her dream.

In ‘The battle of scientists’, Amy as a strong scientist, persevere and finally win after her research, which she has put all her efforts into is stolen. The process of writing this treatment is very interesting. I have never been exposed to anything like this before. This is a totally new experience for me. From thinking of a story at the beginning to perfecting the details of the story and finally completing it, I learn how to construct a story and write it into a treatment, which also help me to know a lot of new knowledge.

The battle of scientists

Nick O’Brien Treatment final

‘The Waiting Room’

In a post-apocalyptic Australia, survivor Evan battles ruthless enemies and his haunted past on a treacherous quest to reach a rumored sanctuary, risking everything for a final chance at freedom and redemption.

Creating my first feature-length film treatment was the most fun assignment I’ve ever had and was a big step to becoming a pro screenwriter. The whole process, from brainstorming ideas with my classmates and friends to finishing the final version, was incredibly enjoyable. Working with a supportive group helped us explore the story’s details and emotions. This hands-on studio experience has been both educational and inspiring. I’m proud of what we created together, and this project has only made me more excited to write more stories for the big screen.

TREATMENT (2)

“Adrift in life, a young, want-to-be actress steals the identity of a painter, entangling herself in blackmail and deceit, all in one last-ditch effort to achieve a dream.”

This treatment depicts the plot of the (would-be) film, A Pastiche. It follows a directionless, and equally reckless, young woman who, in an incident of mistaken identity, finds herself entangled in the confusing yet alluring landscape of the Australian art scene. Developing this treatment was extremely fulfilling. The process itself allowed me to explore the ins and outs of plotting, providing an outlet in which I could experiment with certain structures and techniques to discover what worked and what didn’t. The themes and storylines changed many times over as I attempted to avoid plot holes and develop meaning that felt true to the narrative and its characters.The final result is completely unrecognisable from what I thought I was making, but in the best way possible . The story at times felt as though it had a mind of its own and I found that sometimes it was best to just go with it. I’m glad I did as I am proud of the final result and loved the process of reaching it.

Teatment: Treatment – A Pastiche by Olivia Jones

“A girl obsessed with the 2000’s, is suddenly placed into the body of her older sister in the year 2006, where she vows to take over her school.”

‘Y to K’ is a love letter to the 2000’s chick flick genre. We experience the old school high school drama of yesterday through the eyes of a teenager today. It explores all the classic tropes like the group of sabotaging mean girls, cheerleading drama, and prom season rivalry. This was the first treatment I have ever written and now that I think about it, it is also the first story I’ve ever fully completed writing. I honestly didn’t struggle to create a story based on the genre I had chosen as it’s one that I love a lot. It was so fun to be able to think of callbacks to other films in the genre and having my classmates in the workshop give me even more ideas was so helpful. The only downfall is that I wasn’t able to go over the treatment fully since I had ran short of time before the submission was due. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the outcome of my treatment and It is 100% a movie I would love to watch myself. For all this I am super grateful for this studio and our tutor.

Here is the link to soak in all the chick flick glory in Y to K:

Y to K plot treatment Assignment 4 Seyyid

 Nothing Without Anything

Treatment by Lily Mao

‘Set in modern day society, an unamused teenage girl discovers a watch that allows her to see moments into her future. Thrilled at her new abilities, she thinks she can fix her life, but soon discovers the dangerous effects of changing events in her life.’

Nothing Without Anything is a story about growth as a young person, in a world where time appears to be limited and running out. The story focuses on the complications of young adulthood, honing in on feelings of self-doubt and not feeling worthy enough in a competitive world. Developing this plot was a great learning opportunity for myself as it showed me the complex ways in which you must take notice of a story for it to work, including acknowledging plot points, plot holes, and cheap plot tricks. Character development was a significant part of my story as I do not have a specific antagonistic character throughout most of my treatment. This means I needed to make sure that their story was strong enough without a ‘villain’, for the protagonist to change over the course of the story. Through feedback from peers and teachers, and analysing my work, I was able to craft a story that has a strong structure, while also being an entertaining, emotional journey through the experiences our protagonist endures.

Treatment:

Treatment nothing without anything-2