The Program Proposal is a key document in the production process. While its style varies, it usually contains:

• Title -
• Objective - Should clearly state what the show will accomplish. Non-fiction programs usually have very specific objectives. If you are producing a documentary or informational project, avoid fuzzy statements, like "viewers will learn about....." Be specific!
  • Example: After watching "Feeding the Needy," viewers will understand three things they can do to help feed needy chidren and feel motivated to take action in their community.
• Target audience - Who specifically are you trying to reach?
• Show description - What is your show about? (Do you have a log line? You can lead off this section with it.)
• Format - How long is it? Is is a documentary, talk show, etc.? Is it shot in a studio, on location, part of a series, funny or serious, or animated or told with sock puppets?
• Venue - Where will this be shown? (Broadcast on TV, in a theater, at a trade show, during training sessions, at a conference, on the web, etc.)
• Production method/plan - Specify the production strategy, personnel, facility use, number of cameras, special audio needs, use of historic or pre-existing footage, etc.
• Tentative budget - While students typically don't have large budgets for their class projects, time and money are key and limiting factors in any production.
• Treatment - A treatment is an abbrieviated narrative description of the story. It doesn't contain detailed production information, but should concisely describe the story, the act structure, and the scenes within the acts. Treatments can show precisely how the story flows by describing the dialog and action of every scene. (If the scene does not advance the character or the story, cut it out!) Treatments for shorter programs can be included in a proposal. Treatments for long-form programs and movies (which can be 50 pages or more) are stand-alone documents.

Back to Jim Krause's Home Page