There is no one way to write a proposal package and/or treatment for a media project. The overall standard is to write visually, so that the client can imagine what the final project will look and sound like on screen. Often, the client will inform the media producer how they want the proposal to be written.
Generally the proposal package will start with an Introduction/Overview introducing the subject/topic of the media project, who it’s for, and how the project will serve the client or company’s goals/needs. Then, the media treatment gets into more detail about the specific media, such as a visual description of the story, characters/subjects, visual & editing style, research, layout & design, interactive elements, etc. If it is a multi-media project, there can be several media treatments (for each type of media) within one proposal package.
Often a budget estimate and biographies of key creative personnel are included. A proposal can also include intended marketing and distribution and fundraising strategies, if the client is not providing these to the project.
Finally, the proposal is summed up in a Summary/Conclusion that should be written as the final “sales pitch” of the project and the media producer.
The following Sundance Institute’s guidelines for treatment writing is an example (but not the only way!). This includes additional resources for other examples.
http://www.sundance.org/pdf/press-releases/2009-06-08-docfund-checklist.pdf
– Carol Basuru
