Writing the Proposal

When it comes to the development of movies, you’ll hear things like “pitch”, “synopsis”, proposals, etc. Which is which? Read below.

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Pitch is a verbal, short, exciting, pitch. The maximum is three minutes.

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Treatment is a pros description of the project. Its about a page in length.

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Synopsis is primarily for fiction. It’s a short condensation of a story. Heres the story, heres the characters…two paragraphs.

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Proposal

Title Page

big and beautiful. “First Impact, a documentary by Belal Khan” and at the bottom, you need your contact.

Overview of the introduction

This is similar to the “executive summary.” Concise, one-page or less summary of the project, meant to interest the reader with it’s subject matter, original approach and audience potential. Reader can then decide: “I want to know more” or “That’s not for me.” It should be something that makes them want to read on.

Content

- (a) - The fiction or non-ficion story told briefly from beginning through middle to end. This is where you tell about your characters and storyline.

- (b) - Any interesting background to the project and why it’s compelling. Tell about something significant.

• There are 1.3 homeless children in our country.
• This is the first time a book by Madalain L’Engle has been brought to the screen
• Lance Trueblood has never granted an interview from prison until now.
  

Something to really hook the person.

- (c) - Tell about the importance and/or commercial potential of the project. Who is the audience and how many of there are there?

- (d) - The visual power and approach of the production. Wha will they see on the screen? “see pictures in back”

• What is the visual approach to the project? — What will they see on the screen? “see pictures in back” – ie: We open on the rockies, we pan into the ranch, we gradually dissolve into colors and come to modern day.
• Availibility of archival footage

Format

What format will the film be in? — (it’s a technical aspect.) Will it be done on film, digital, HD?

Principal Staff and Talent

You need to mention if you have any people interested. Do you have access to a director, cinematographer, editor with credits. If you haven’t done anything, fine…list what you have under your belt. Put everything in.

• You can get a “qualified letter of commitment.” It says “I have read your screenplay, and would very much like to participate in it, subject to contractual negotiation and my schedule.” You can use this with a writer, cinematographer, exec-producer, etc. It’s fair on both sides.
• Just about every documentary has a narrator or a host. If you don’t have access with any names or people with credits, say that you are going after a director like “so-and-so”.

Market and Audience Potential

Who is the audience? “My big-fat-greek-wedding” was targeted toward the American-Greek community. You may have a unique subject that lends itself to attention and coverage. Does it have news value? Use statistics and demographics, “American’s spend more money on their pets than on their babies.” – get a interest letter from a channel such as PBS.

Production Schedule and Budget

All you need to do is say, “I estimate that the schedule from development to completion will be approx 1 year.” “I estimate this project will cost approx $150,000” If someone loves your budget and they want to see it, then you will have to produce one.

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