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QUESTION:
What is the difference between a synopsis, a treatment, and a step outline?
ANSWER:
SYNOPSIS: A brief summary of the through line of your story written in present tense using its high points as a sales tool. It's usually a page in length. TREATMENT: A prose version of the outline of your story, also written in present tense, that carries much more detail than a synopsis. Often, this is one of the steps in the development of a screenplay, especially if you are developing a script for a prodco. A treatment can be anywhere from 3 pages to as many as it takes to develop your ideas. I've seen treatments that are over 100 pages. This is not used for selling your script. STEP OUTLINE: this is a breakdown of your story, scene by scene, in which you give a brief description of each master scene.
QUESTION:
What does it mean when Variety posts that some producer has made a deal with a screenwriter for $100,000 against $300,000?
ANSWER:
Option money means that a producer gives a writer money for a period of time, usually 90 days to 1 year, to shop the script around town, and/or to raise the money to get it made. During that time s/he will try to package it with talent to make it easier to shop and attract investors. That is the first number that you see when someone mentions s/he got 100,000 against 300,000, the latter number being the sale price if the producer is successful.
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