A film treatment (or simply treatment) is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards (index cards) and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television program, or radio play. It is generally longer and more detailed than an outline (or one-page synopsis), and it may include details of directorial style that an outline omits. Treatments read like a short story, but are told in the present tense and describe events as they happen.

 

A treatment is generally given to those working on the film, photoshoot or other in the first meetings. The information in the treatment informs the work that will be created. The treatment is important to the make-up artist as it contains information that will inform the make-up designs and ideas. The treatment should be studied carefully in order to fully understand key information that will be helpful at a later date when the work takes action. Treatments can often contain photographs of initial ideas of the director which can be used as reference for the make-up artist.