Writing your Treatment 

Your treatment is an opportunity for you to demonstrate and explain what 

cinematic conventions and techniques you wish to use in your film. For example, 
this may include considered discussion of narrative features, genre, 
characterisation, setting, mood, specific film conventions to be used, and 
technical elements such as lighting, sound, and SFX. 

Try to think of the conventions you wish to use as the ingredients to your 
ultimate recipe. Say you are making the ultimate cheeseburger (your film), it’d be 
crazy for you to use caramel sauce, however, it would make sense to use an aged 
cheddar cheese! You need to select design elements that fit with your film and 
consider how they may complement 
your other techniques (ingredients). 
Once you have selected your design 
elements you need to discuss why 
they will work in your film and 
how/why they will work 
harmoniously with other elements in 
your film to create a masterful and 
coherent whole i.e. the Ultimate 
Cheeseburger!  

You need to discuss 3-5 

conventions. Go here for an example.  

Film  Symbol/motif - String

convention/trope/motif
/symbol 

Define film convention  A symbol is used to portray a theme of the film, recurring throughout and serving
and comment on it’s  to represent something with a deeper meaning and/or connotation with other
typical use in film.  ideas, which is typically revealed more to both audiences and a character within
the film in every instance it is seen.
Provide a specific 
example(s) from a film 
(use gifs., clips and 
screenshots). 

How do you intend to  We will use string (specifically a string bracelet) as a recurring symbol to convey
use it in your film?  themes of fate and choice. This string will appear in different forms throughout
the film, and each time it appears will be at a major turning point for the main
character, or a choice that is presented to him.

Explain why will you  By using string as a symbol, every time the audience sees it they will recognise
use it. How will it  some kind of internal struggle for the main character, and will be reminded
contribute to the effect  specifically of the character of his younger sister, and how her disappearance has
of your film as a whole?   affected the decisions he makes throughout the film. Although symbols can often
rely on a contextual meaning, and knowledge outside of what the film states, the
symbol is likely simple enough that even younger viewers that may not make the
link will still recognise its importance within the film.
 

Film  Colour as a motif

convention/trope/motif
/symbol 

Define film convention  Colour is usually used to convey the mood of a scene- for example, cool colours
and comment on it’s  are associated with sadness, while warmer colours can show more positive
typical use in film.  emotions, affecting the audience as they watch and serving as an indicator for
emotion.

Provide a specific 
example(s) from a film 
(use gifs., clips and 
screenshots). 

How do you intend to  I intend to use colour to transition between the main character’s memories; using
use it in your film?  brighter, warmer colours as he remembers his sister, but cooler, darker shades as
he realises these memories are fabricated, and she begins to disappear from
 each.

Explain why will you  This convention will hopefully add significantly to the overall mood and tone of
use it. How will it  the film, working in combination with others to clearly communicate to the
contribute to the effect  audience ideas of our character and who he is, what he values and what he thinks
of your film as a whole?   and feels about certain events occurring throughout the film, specifically when
paired with other conventions such as framing, eg. empty space, and in
combination with a symbol an emotion can be designated to it. Since the film is
very centered on and around the feelings of this one character and told through
his eyes, colours will represent his own feelings toward events.

Film  Framing
convention/trope/motif
/symbol 

Define film convention  Framing is how aspects of a scene are placed within the frame of view of the
and comment on it’s  camera to convey meaning and to look a certain way. Framing can be used to
typical use in film.  show character’s emotions, or reveal more about characters in combination with
mise en scene.

Provide a specific 
example(s) from a film 
(use gifs., clips and 
screenshots). 

How do you intend to  I want to use framing in a couple of different ways; however all will be in an
use it in your film?  attempt to reveal or hint towards strong emotions the main character may be
feeling.

Explain why will you  I want to use empty space to convey loneliness, which can specifically be used
use it. How will it  when the main character is thinking about his sister. I would also like to use
contribute to the effect  internal framing to draw the audience’s eyes toward certain aspects of the camera
of your film as a whole?   shot, or allude to feelings of confinement or pressure, depending on how wide or
restricting the frame is around the character. This may also serve to create depth
within the frame; however when trying to create feelings of claustrophobia, it is
best to make the frame look flat by keeping all objects in the foreground of the
shot.