Write, write, write

The questions regarding the various stepping stones on the way to a finished script keep coming up - and understandably so because there's really no single correct answer - but that, in fact, is a positive in the collaboration game.

Deliver exactly what they want.

I've been at this for twenty years and have dealt with both US and European markets. Over time, I've come to realize that you should never simply go with what you've done the previous time. Always ask the network, the producer, whomever, what exactly it is that they expect. I've had times when they asked for a treatment when in fact they wanted an expose - then of course there are different types of treatments, too!

The way I've handled it these past years is this > logline > synopsis > exposé > treatment > script.

• A logline is a single sentence that describes your story. More about this here > 25 words to change your life
• A synopsis, in my experience, has always been a one-pager that gives the whole story.
• An exposé is the entire story in short - in my book that means anywhere between 3 and 10 pages
• A treatment can be anywhere from 10 to 40 pages. More about this here > The treatment and why you need it
• A script, especially from an unknown writer, should be somewhere between 100 and 110 pages long. Anything longer will diminish your chances of your script even getting read. More about this here > Your script's perfect length

All of the above are essentially supposed to shine because of the story to tell. So, ideally, don't try and hype anything - just tell the story, highlight the characters, their wants and needs, punch up the great twists and turns. The shorter forms, logline, synopsis and exposé are promises. Your promise to the reader that they'll get to read a very cool script.

In the end, remember that it's always a collaboration, and always a business. You want to avoid a) unnecessary work for yourself and b) an annoyed producer. So when they ask for something, confirm back to ensure you'll be sending them exactly what they expect. That way, assuming your story rocks, everybody's happy.