How to Write a Film Treatment Using AI: Step-by-Step Guide
Have you ever jumped right into writing your screenplay? Only to find yourself confused about the structure later on.
This is where a film treatment can help you in the screenwriting process. Because when you start by outlining the key elements of your movie. You will save yourself a lot of time and effort. And create a shorter path for the work ahead.
In AI screenwriting, we try to use ai tools without compromising the creative vision. Instead, we try to let ai do the heavy lifting. The boring stuff. By letting ai generate, refine, and enhance your film idea. Before you start working on all the details.
So in this guide, we’ll explore how you can write a compelling film treatment using AI. To save you time while ensuring a polished, professional result. And a free film treatment template that you can fill in with your own project details.
But first of all..
What Is a Film Treatment?
A film treatment is a summary of a movie’s story, typically written in the present tense and in prose. Its used as a roadmap before writing the full screenplay.
A screenplay treatment can include different elements. Depending on what genre and film idea you are developing. It’s longer than a logline but shorter than a full screenplay. Typically ranging from a few pages to around 10-20 pages.
But generally, a good film treatment includes:
- Title – The name of the film.
- Logline – A short summary of the story. One or two sentences.
- Theme & Tone – The emotional and narrative style of the film.
- Main Characters – Brief descriptions of key characters.
- Story Summary – A breakdown of the plot, typically divided into three acts.
How AI Can Help Write a Film Treatment
When I develop my film ideas. I usually start with a “box of ideas”.
Which is a dropbox folder on my computer. Containing images, notes & screenshots (from films I´ve seen) and articles.
Then, I start writing broad outlines for different scenes I have in mind.
They can sound something like:
“In the first scene we see character x driving his car, music playing from the stereo. Then, the car crashes and the image goes dark. We hear a beeping sound from a device in the hospital.“
After a while, I have a lot of these descriptions written down.
Now the challenge is to find a structure for these scenes. And this is when AI comes to my rescue.
I simply paste all my scene sketches into my ai writing software. And ask for a treatment, based on all the writing Ive done so far.
Using the characters, scenes and other ideas text fragments in my “box of ideas”.
This helps me to:
- Create a structure for my story
- Speed up character and plot development
- Format and refine my writing
- Connect the scenes into a story
Best AI Tools for Writing a Film Treatment
Personally I use ChatGPT for almost all my AI writing.
- ChatGPT / Gemini / Claude – Great for brainstorming loglines and summaries.
- Sudowrite – Helps expand and refine ideas.
- Notion AI / Grammarly – Useful for editing and improving readability.
- Storyboard AI tools – Can generate visual concepts to accompany your treatment.
Template for Writing a Film Treatment Using AI
Start by collecting all the ideas you have into your “box of ideas”.
It can be notes, images, character descriptions, a plot summary or anything you have.
The important thing here is to not judge your ideas. You main concern is to get them out of your head as quickly as possible.
Step 1: Generate a Logline with AI based on your material
Regardless of what you currently have. Ask AI to generate a logline based on what you have written until now.
A logline is the heart of your story—a one-sentence pitch that grabs attention. AI can quickly generate logline variations based on a simple prompt.
Refine the output until you have something that resonates with you.
Example AI Prompt:
“Write a logline for a sci-fi thriller based on the scenes provided.”
Step 2: Develop the Theme and Tone
Ask AI for suggestions on themes and tone to ensure your story is compelling and cohesive.
Example AI Prompt:
“Suggest five possible themes based on the monologue I have written.”
Step 3: Create Detailed Character Profiles
Use AI to generate rich, multidimensional characters, ensuring they have distinct motivations and arcs.
Once again, go through the output. Make sure it resonates with what you have written.
Example AI Prompt:
“Create a character profile for a rogue detective in a cyberpunk world. Using the plot descriptions I provided. Include their background, personality, and flaws.”
Step 4: Outline the Story Structure
A typical film treatment follows a three-act structure. AI can help map out key story beats.
Example AI Prompt:
“Write a film treatment summary in three acts based on the ideas for my film that I provided. Use the scenes as a basis for the story structure.”
Step 5: Expand Key Scenes with AI Assistance
Once your structure is in place, use AI to elaborate on important scenes and transitions.
Example AI Prompt:
“Describe the opening scene of a mystery thriller set in 1930s New York.”
Step 6: Edit and Refine Your Film Treatment
After generating the script treatment, use AI to improve clarity, fix pacing issues, and refine descriptions.
Example AI Prompt:
“Rewrite this paragraph to make it more suspenseful and engaging.”
Finalizing Your Film Treatment
Once AI has helped generate your treatment, it’s important to review and refine it manually.
Ensure:
- The treatment aligns with your creative vision.
- The tone and style are consistent.
- The story flows logically and smoothly.
AI is a fantastic tool, but human creativity and intuition remain essential for crafting a truly compelling story.
Conclusion
Writing a film treatment can be a daunting task. But with AI, the process becomes faster, more efficient, and highly creative.
By leveraging AI tools to generate loglines, develop characters, and refine your story structure. You can craft a compelling film treatment with ease.
Are you ready to take your screenplay to the next level? Start experimenting with AI and see how it enhances your storytelling!
