Does anyone know where I can find a good template for sit-com treatments?
I want to start sending stuff out to production companies and am aware that if it's in the correct format that's one sixteenth of the battle won.
Are there websites about with examples on?
Moved to Writers' Discussion.
The BBC writersroom is a good place to start.
Thanks.
Couldn't find anything on the writers room. I'll have a look around and see what I can find.
If you find anything, can you post a link to it? Thanks.
Simplyscripts has some for films but not sitcoms I'm afraid.
This is from memory but I believe there is a detailed method layed out for writing a sitcom treatment in this book:
I say from memory because I can't properly remember and I'd hate you to buy the book to find out I'd got it wrong. Since I do have this book I'll try and remember to have a look tonight and confirm.
Def.
Quote: greensville @ February 23 2009, 7:03 PM GMTDoes anyone know where I can find a good template for sit-com treatments?
I want to start sending stuff out to production companies and am aware that if it's in the correct format that's one sixteenth of the battle won.
Are there websites about with examples on?
Can you clarify what you mean by treatment. It sounds to me that you might be talking about the script itsef?
James Henry posted one on his blog a while back.
http://www.james-henry.co.uk/jbarchives/Blogoutline.pdf
It's an outline rather than a treatment (is there a difference?). Here's the script that goes with it:
SAMPLE
ALL ABOUT EVE
This is a contemporary situation comedy, looking at life, love, and marriage in the third age. A mainstream, pre watershed, studio based sitcom.
Divorce is a messy thing at the best of times. But what does divorce mean to a couple in their sixties after forty years of happy marriage? At least Bob Baxter (Nicky Henson) thought they were happy, as far as he is concerned his life is perfect … but that's all about to change. Eve Baxter (Liza Goddard) has recently turned sixty, her fortieth wedding anniversary is upon her and she realises she has never really done anything she wanted to in life. Having been taken for granted for far too long she is blowing off the dust and spring-cleaning her life – love, home, career, marriage, everything.
Bob Baxter is a man of modest means but by no means modest. Retiring early from his chiropody practice, this obsessive man focuses his energy on local party politics. He sets about securing himself a nomination at the next elections, where he naturally expects his devoted and doting wife, Eve, to support him. The sexual revolution of the sixties and feminist revolution of the seventies passed serenely over his head but Bob is about to get a very rude wake up call.
Eve has had enough! When Bob considers dinner with his political grandees more important than their Ruby wedding anniversary she decides it's time to take charge of her life. She wants a divorce! After all, why stay with a man who pays his record collection more attention than he does to her? Bob can hardly believe his ears? Surely she can't be serious? But Eve is, deadly serious and Bob's comfortable and cosy world comes crashing down around his suburban ears.
So…Eve moves out of the marital home and into the granny flat adjoining the property whilst the house is put on the market to be sold. Determined to show her newly found independence she sets about seeking gainful employment. Unfortunately at her age with no work experience this proves more difficult than she thought. But Eve won't back down and ends up working in her best friend's antique shop, finding her people skills and personality a huge asset. She is single again at sixty and feeling good about herself and good about her future.
But for Bob, however, the future is bleak. These are supposed to be the golden years but instead he's faced with the prospect of a lonely life on his own. He tries to win Eve back but all to no avail. Finally he realises that if he is ever going to win her back then he has got to make her fall in love with him all over again. And that means becoming the kind of man he once was, and becoming that kind of man is going to be a whole new education for Bob…
OTHER CHARACTERS:
VIX: Victoria is Eve and Bob's thirty something daughter. Like an Alfa Romeo Spider, Vix is sexy, polished and driven. Outspoken and in control, her romantic life has always taken a backseat to her career. But Vix has now decided she wants a baby. Her boyfriend runs for the hills and as Eve moves out, Victoria runs for home. Maybe father and daughter can counsel, comfort and guide each other – or maybe not! But as Bob begins to reassess his own life he begins to hep his daughter and through helping her he begins to see himself as Eve sees him – and it's a rude awakening.
KITTY: (Frances Barber) is Eve's best friend and confidante. A few years younger, she is sexy, witty and irreverent. Always ready with either a cocktail or advice (usually both) she is the lighthouse by which Eve steers her uncertain way on the life raft of her independence.
ALAN Kitty's husband, is a charming, laid back and amiable man and a shoulder for Bob to lean on. However, when it comes to giving advice on the opposite sex Alan may not be as useful as Bob would like. To his further consternation Bob discovers that Alan is gay.
All About Eve is a third age courtship comedy in the style of As Time Goes By. My Wife Next Door meets Educating Rita. A comedy of very bad manners for the end of the noughties.
Quote: greensville @ February 23 2009, 7:03 PM GMTDoes anyone know where I can find a good template for sit-com treatments?
I want to start sending stuff out to production companies and am aware that if it's in the correct format that's one sixteenth of the battle won.
Are there websites about with examples on?
You don't need them for production companies. Networks, yes, but you'll probably get help then.
So what do Production Companies want then? Just a Pilot episode? Just a sample of a Pilot?
Quote: catskillz @ February 25 2009, 6:55 PM GMTSo what do Production Companies want then? Just a Pilot episode? Just a sample of a Pilot?
Just a script and a short letter has seen me in good stead.
Quote: Seefacts @ February 25 2009, 7:14 PM GMTJust a script and a short letter has seen me in good stead.
Some don't accept that though. In those cases a compelling treatment can be required.
But they do like the Pilot script to be completed?