Writing The Documentary Treatment

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 | 6:30 - 9:00pm

The documentary treatment is an essential part of the development process for a documentary. It visualizes your documentary in written form. It helps to get your ideas on the page, working through potential themes, characters and story angles.

This workshop focuses on writing a treatment, the narrative blueprint for your film. Exercises will bring out your approach and the story's direction and sharpen research for the story you're telling. We will also do exercises that explore your main characters and scene visualization. We conclude with a brief look at loglines that can help crystallize your story.

TEACHING ARTIST: David Taylor

As a freelance writer who crafts character-driven narratives that explore history, science and culture, David Taylor enjoys collaborating with other creative partners in storytelling. He typically works with agencies, nonprofits, filmmakers and science partners to find the story of a few people, and then delves in for the deepest impact. The methods usually combine oral history, original research and reporting. His writing about people, food, health and science has appeared in The Smithsonian, The Washington Post, The Village Voice, Outside, The Christian Science Monitor, Science, and Oxford American.

REFUND POLICY

If your circumstances change and you must withdraw from a class after registering, please be aware of our refund policy:

Withdrawal 30 or more calendar days before the first day of a program: 75% refund

Withdrawal 11-29 calendar days before the first day of a program: 50% refund

Withdrawal 10 or fewer calendar days before a program: No refund

In the event of the participants withdraw, the Eventbrite fees will be charged to the registrant.

Teaching Artist David Taylor

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