The document provides guidance on writing an effective treatment for a music video. It explains that a treatment is used in the industry to convey directorial ideas in more detail than a pitch. The treatment must take the reader through the story of the video, bringing across characters and events without providing more information than what will be seen. It should be 1-2 pages and grip the reader from the first line, making them want to keep reading until the end. Students must submit an individual treatment and can produce a group storyboard, with the deadline for both being Thursday, October 13. The provided template outlines elements that should be included in the treatment, such as artist, song, genre, concept overview, characters, locations, and visual elements

1. HOW TO WRITE YOUR MUSIC VIDEO TREATMENT
A treatment is a guideline used in the industry for Directors to express their ideas in a
more detailed form than a pitch.
It is a process whereby every lyric, rhythm, or message can be broken down into
visual segments and discussed in terms of reasons for using them.
YOUR TREATMENT MUST:
• Take the reader through the story of the video. It must bring across
the characters and events, as they will appear in the video.
• It must not give more information than the audience of the music
video will have.
• It should be about 1-2 pages.
• A treatment sells the video to both creative and financial minds,
therefore it must:
 Grip the reader from the first line of the first page.
 Make the reader want to keep reading until the end.
 Move the action forward and not linger on descriptions.
 Attached is your treatment template.
 Discuss all of these elements in your groups and make sure you all
have a copy.
 Write up your treatment in essay form.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT:
 Your storyboard can be produced as a group.
 Your treatment must be written and submitted individually.
 IF THESE ARE NOT SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE YOU WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED TO BEGIN PLANNING & FILMING.
Treatment & Storyboard
Deadline and Presentation
Thursday 13th
October

2. TREATMENT TEMPLATE
Fill out a template treatment as a group before writing your treatment so that you
are all clear on your ideas:
TREATMENT OUTLINE
In this first section, outline the basic elements of your music video (points below) as well
as any other information that you may feel is relevant.
 Artist name
 Song title
 Record Label
 Genre
 Target audience
 Your style of Music Video (performance, conceptual or narrative – can also be
a mixture)
 Have you gained copyright approval to use the song? If not, how do you plan
on doing this?
OVERVIEW/CONCEPT
This needs to be an in depth overview of everything that the audience will see in your
music video. It will be a step-by-step breakdown of each shot and scene.
Reference any key lyrics.
Talk about camera angles and editing techniques you will use.
CHARACTERS
Briefly describe the main characters in the video and their character profiles and
purpose.
LOCATIONS
Outline every location you intend to use and detail how they will be effective in your
video.
Why have you chosen them?
Do they fit with the genre and how?
VISUAL ELEMENTS/MISE EN SCENE /STYLE CHOICES
Discuss your choices for colour, lighting, costume and props as well as the general style
of the video.
Why have you chosen these?
How will they link to the genre and appeal to your target audience?
EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES YOU WILL NEED

3. Describe all equipment you will need to achieve your creative choices and how you will
access it.
Do you have any gaps in your skills that you need to address?
Editing/Shooting/Sound/After Effects.
Will you be using your own equipment? What camera will you be using?
POSSIBLE STRUGGLES AND HOW YOU’LL OVERCOME IT
Think ahead and discuss any difficulties that may occur during the making of your
video.
How will you as a group overcome these?
SUMMARY
Summarise your ideas and conclude.