Reasons for Writing a Script Treatment

There are reasons for writing a treatment or outline based on your brilliant original movie idea. Simply put a movie idea or concept cannot be copyrighted. Idea theft isn't widespread in the movie business, but there is always that remote possibility some intellectual property thief hears your movie idea, loves it, and develops their own script or movie based on your idea. Not many aspiring writers, directors, or producers have deep enough pockets to get into a costly court battle over an idea. Writing a treatment and submitting it to the U.S. Copyright Office protects your movie idea.

It is possible to sell a script treatment, but usually that's reserved for Hollywood insiders or established screenwriters with a proven track record. Not for newcomers on the scene. Hashing out solid a script treatment greatly increases the chances for a tight well written script to be born. This article is mainly for those aspiring screenwriters that have a movie idea they are going to eventually write themselves.

A treatment is a full narrative description of the story. This happens, this happens, and finally this happens. It can include bits of dialogue or not. Length can vary from 1-25 pages or more depending how involved you want to get. I'm usually able to get a real good handle on my script idea within 6 pages of a treatment.

I myself do not write out scenes on index cards to follow as a road map for my scripts. I heard it works for other screenwriters, but I can't share with you a technique I personally do not use. I also do not write detailed biographies on characters to get into their heads. If I created them I better know what motivates them and what makes them say or do the things they do in the script. I use a simple script treatment to flesh out my movie idea into a tight story. Writing a shorter treatment is my personal preference. People develop their own preferences when writing a treatment. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll find yours as you go through the process.

At this point, if you've done a little reading on screenwriting you'll be looking at your treatment to make sure it follows the Three Act Structure as advised in many books. The First Act (the beginning), the Second Act (the middle), and the Third Act (the end). I respect the principal, but do not apply it as a hard and fast rule to my scripts. All good stories will always have a beginning that hooks people, a middle that keeps people interested in how the whole thing will turn out, and the end where you give the viewer the big payoff.

When you write a script trying to force your idea to conform to the Three Act Structure your story can lose zip. It might be your story has four or five acts to get to the end. When I look at my treatment I ask myself one major question; would I watch this movie? Movies, in my opinion, are for entertainment. If you tell a good story that will keep people entertained and watching you'll do fine as a filmmaker. With a treatment done I always feel more confident going in to write a full script. Think of a treatment as your road map of where you want the story you script to lead. When you're done with your treatment you're one step closer to making your movie, not just talking about it. Good luck and good screenwriting!

Black Hollywood

Cool Water Report


Black Hollywood
Production Companies doing it Independent



It seems that being black in Hollywood is growing into a multibillion dollar business. Black production companies are bringing in big bucks to the box office. Actors and Actress like Queen Latifa, LL Cool J, and Ice Cube, Tyler Perry, Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson and a host of others are cashing in on Hollywood's love for Black actors and actresses. Hollywood seems to be giving black owned and operated production companies the green light. Many of today's production companies have taken the road less traveled with Hollywood due to some of Hollywood's inability to recognize the strength and buying power of the black community. For example, Tyler Perry's movie "Dairy of a Mad Black Women" and "House of Payne" was written off by critiques who stated that no one wanted to see a film or television show of this caliber. Well, we all know the end to this story Tyler Perry's "Dairy of a Mad Black Women" was number one at the box office for several weeks along with TNN picking up Tylers House of Payne for a full season.

Hollywood, has began to seek major players like Ice Cubes' Cube Vision and Will and Jada Smiths' production companies to bring in the big bucks at the box office. The movies "Are We There Yet" and "Are We Done Yet" starring Mr. Ice Cube himself along with Nia Long were a big payday for Revolution Studios and Cube Vision. Cube Vision has already grossed over five hundred millions. Ice Cube, also brought in big bucks at the box office with the sequel "Triple XXX" replacing Vin Diesel as the lead off actor. Will Smith cashed in big on the Movie "I Robot" and "The Pursuit of Happyness". While Jada made her presence felt in the "Matrix".

Many of today's actors and actress are beginning to make Hollywood come knocking at their door by writing, producing, and directing movies themselves. Do you think this could be the fall of MGM or the Warner Brother Dynasty? Director John Singleton has shown Hollywood there is some real importance in the black experience, and people will pay to see it. For example, his first movie "Boys in the Hood" gave a hard account of life in South Central Los Angles. People like Samuel L. Jackson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Will Smith, and Denzel Washington have made black actors in demand; along with their twenty million dollar asking price per movie. Denzel makes twenty million a film whether the movie goes into production or not.

Independence seems to be the way to go in Hollywood. More and more producers are creating movies every day which are opening an avenue for Hollywood to place the marketing dollars and distribution behind the project.

Black folks in movies seem to becoming a trend that is bringing in huge dollars at the box office. Just think all this moving and shaking in the movie business was lead by pioneer Spike Lee who brought you such movies as "Jungle Fever", "Do the Right Thing" and "Crooklyn" along with a host of other movies.

Black folks in movies seem to becoming a trend that is bringing in huge dollars at the box office. Just think all this moving and shaking in the movie business was lead by pioneer Spike Lee who brought you such movies as "Jungle Fever", "Do the Right Thing" and "Crooklyn" along with a host of other movies. Spike began the journey to bring black America to Hollywood and we ain't never left. So the next time you go to the movies just remember Blacks in Hollywood ain't a new thing its just we are now getting the long overdue respect that should be recognized and deserved.

Janky Promoters Ice Cube Mike Epps

Ice Cube is back at it again with his usual host of players in this new movie called Janky Promoters. The features Young Jeezy Mike Epps and a few other well known celebs who make the movie a really good watch. Ice Cube and Mike Epps are two shady promoters who bring Young Jeezy in town and, but try to skip out on paying him.

As result of there action they get into a whole lot of trouble and have all kind of people chasing them for the money. This movie looks like it is a really good watch can't wait until the movie comes out.

peace coolwater

ScreenWriter Ernest Johnson

Director and Screenwriter, Ernest Johnson, is at it again with yet another direct-to-video release of AUTO RECOVERY. Its available in Blockbuster, Target, Best Buy and online world-wide.

AUTO RECOVERY is a film about three young auto repo experts who specialize in exotic and expensive repossession who finally meet their match when they get an assignment to repos a Bishop and his daughters luxury cars.

The main rapier, SLIM (Aaron Frazier), past catches up with him when the FBI visits his job and forces him to become an informant to find information of the Bishop of the church who is suspected in misuse of church funds or go to jail for 10 years for past crimes. The ending will surprise you.