Director's Treatment: The Ultimate Guide to A Winning Pitch

[@bingbang9643]

Yeah, this is a topic I frequently discuss with friends in the industry; it's something that isn't really emphasized in film school. It’s a skill that you develop over the years. In my case, some of the content on the slides, such as 'who we are' and our approach to post-production, remains fairly consistent. The first two slides usually go to, understanding the goal of the video and articulating "how" you plan to achieve it, are crucial. It’s important to reiterate these, even if it means rephrasing what the client has said. You never know who else might be reviewing the pitch, and it's vital that they understand the objectives clearly. Your visuals are impressive, definitely a notch above anything I generally use in my pitches. I've recently started incorporating AI-generated images, though the level of detail depends on what the client is looking for. Often times, due to the fast-paced nature of the industry in my country, clients expect a response within 2 to 6 hours. When pitching for a feature film, the document becomes a work in progress. I make it a point to refine it every time it is sent to a new film funding organization or investor. Of course, it’s also essential to tailor the presentation to the recipient. While I might send similar proposals to different clients, I always customize the initial slides to make it feel as though it was specifically designed for them.

[@nurniazfilms]

2 to 6 hours sounds crazy omg. P.S. pinning your comment as a valuable add-on.

[@robertdouble559]

@@nurniazfilms Yep. That's nuts. To me that would be a key indictor for couple of things that would make me walk away from the project. 1. The client have extremely poor organizational skills, meaning the whole job will most likely be a nightmare of mismanagement. 2. They've added you in at the last minute because they need 3 competitive quotes and you're the last company to be contacted.

I'm a director at hungry man, and I've been writing treatments for roughly 15 years. (There's even a frame of mine in your video hahaha). This is the first time I see someone explaining what a treatment is. I wish I could have seen this video when I was starting my career.

[@patrickcasella]

love how high quality all of your videos are. I feel like I'm watching a movie and it's so much easier to stay focused with such stunning visuals. Great work!

[@AmanSharma-sn8js]

As a fellow commercial director - I can just say a HUGE THANKS for this vid Nur! I always have friends or colleagues asking me how they can effectively communicate or pitch their plan / ideas - not just to companies but even to their own crew. And everytime I have to intensively walk them through this process with a few added turns here and there. Next time, I'll just forward them this video. You've done a fabulous job at really highlighting the intricacies - I simply love it! --- And again, to anyone reading this - yes this is really a good skeleton but know that there is NO right way or perfect way of doing this. Just have faith and reflect who you are on your pitch. The words, the font, the color theme - everything should be what appeals to you! Have fun :)

[@nurniazfilms]

This is the type of comment that keeps me going haha :D thank you!

[@limenmultimedia]

This video is a goldmine of insights for aspiring directors! Writing a winning director's treatment is a crucial skill, and I appreciate you sharing the key lessons you've learned throughout your 5+ years of directing commercials.

[@pierremichelestival]

In case it helps (I am a Director shooting commercials with celebrities and huge brands for the past 15 years): Write your own text (except if you don't have time) to ensure it has your voice. Make it clear, concise, and impactful. Make sure to find at least one or two very strong ideas so that the client/agency has no choice but to go with you (you can always say that you are just "offering the idea"). If they have written the script, change at least 20-30% to show you are the Director and have a vision. Have someone else find the images for you so you can focus on the text and to have many great options to choose from (and it will inspire you for the story and your vision). And either do the layout if you love it or have someone else do it for you. If you have questions, shoot it over -- happy to help :-) Cheers

[@nurniazfilms]

Thanks man! This is value!

[@yogeshlohan3508]

Hey Man! checked your website.. Impressive work. Just wanted to know how to get started. I have already directed some Digital ads for small companies but how do I approach agencies or producer. By the way, I am working in India.

[@24Golden]

love it love from west africa was helpfull ohhh

[@cruz.c]

not only was this super informative, but the style of this tutorial really pulled me into your points, and your work examples had me so inspired. its rare for a youtube videos visuals to ignite the same emotions sometimes a film would.

[@brownliketheearth]

I've been on the look out for video just like this for some time!! So glad I found your channel! :)

[@RobbScholarTube]

You killed this, thank you for putting me on to Frame Set, finding quality images is one of the hardest parts of making a treatment for me. Thank You. Subscribed!

[@consumelessmandrax]

This has been so helpful. Writing treatments is an arduous, labour-intensive task, and I’ll admit, I don’t enjoy the work most of the time. But your insights, advice and beautiful examples have me all inspired and challenged. Thanks Nur. 🙏🏾

[@jacques_crafford]

THIS IS SUPER VALUABLE! Thanks for sharing your experience Nur! I've used FrameSet before but I still struggle with the actual treatment, THIS WILL HELP ME!

[@bandwagonbull]

This is so so useful, thanks so much for sharing! I find it difficult to articulate ideas in my treatments so even sometimes go as far as editing a mood film together to get the pace/vibe across. Not sure if it’s too far, but has worked for me in the past!

[@studiosoul]

This was super helpful and I just love the way to design your treatment. Its super striking and clear what you're presenting.

[@timokay100]

Thank you for your artistry Nur. "The process is the reward" - a reminder I needed to hear. Fantastic content and beautifully built.

[@nurniazfilms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@loozee]

This will change how I do my job as a creative director. All the love from Slovenia, thank you Nur!

[@nurniazfilms]

Best of luck!

[@timmishakov]

спасибо большое за полезное видео на такую редкую тему. отличный английский!)

[@birkenwald1337]

just discovered this as i was procastinating from writing my first ever directors treatment for a big company. didn't even know it was called that way, I always called it just moodboard before. subbed

[@Cristy1mmortal]

Hey This was very insightfull. I have always been very fasinated with the treatment note making process. you have captured the process beautifully. Bravo!

[@TaylorHeath-v2k]

I am writing my first treatment today and the process feels very daunting. I am very thankful for this tutorial and excited for the e-book!

[@nurniazfilms]

It gets easier with practice. I promise!

[@tomroach6275]

Thank you Noranyas! I have a treatment due Yesterday so finding your video may have saved me a job!! Great work. God Bless, Tom

[@Travis-rm1pu]

I got a job from a well-known brand after watched your video and read the Director's Treatment 101 E-book!! Thank you Nur!! You are amazing!!

[@nurniazfilms]

That’s so great! Makes me motivated to be making more content 🙌

[@cultivision]

Awesome video man, been writing a treatment all morning then found this haha. Love it

[@lifeofapotato4595]

Great video man. I used Frameset and Shotdeck a lot too. The skill to create and design a winning treatment is a skill that no one really can teach us about this besides from our experience itself. As an inspiring director myself, for me making a treatment is somewhat "easy" but to use my 100% creativity and all of my brain juice to be standout and to "match" client's initial expectations is super hard. In my country, where the industry doesn't really have fixed ethics about submission contest and sometimes agency will reject us without any respond and then ripoff our treatments lol. Also, there is this problem when the contestant has inside person/aquaintance in the agency and the contest was basically .

[@nurniazfilms]

I can relate. It's such pain...

[@dorianodefeudis]

This was a very valueable video, really like your calm tone and way of giving information as well. Liked & subscribed!

[@landeros.edward]

Thank you for the knowledge ✌🏼 Your treatments are so appealing and gives me a new perspective on directing and writing for film.

[@lena___]

finally someone who doesn’t gate keep! we appreciate you

[@andresasindp]

Subscribed! Thank you so much for putting this valuable information out there. Greetings from Spain

[@nurniazfilms]

Thanks and welcome

[@mythwest]

Insanely helpful and informative, wishing you all the best in KZbin!

[@nurniazfilms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@matvte]

Sir, you deserve a cookie.

[@OfTwoLands]

Great content and presentation mate!

[@ahoodchemist]

as a filmmaker it makes sense that you would want to be in control of the look and feel of your treatments… but for me as a designer who is multidisciplinary, i am now definitely going to be looking for directors that need that service. seems like a pretty cool task that really naturally falls into what graphic designers do. you could, have a far more visually complex and nuanced treatment when working with a dedicated designer and this is something that i think can be of value to the directors trying to win these gigs. especially rapidly.

[@nurniazfilms]

Love the spirit! There’s definitely a market for such services. Best of luck with it 🙌

[@eugerthum-workcomms6405]

Niaz, where do I begin?! I’m just a 3 week old director in an agency. I done tons of small commercial and short formed social media videos, but as a producer. It doesn’t call for a director’s treatment. So when I had to do one up, you will know how flustered I was. I’m so thankful my senior send me your video here - cause it has answers. Answers to my sleepless searching, answers to the slide I’m stuck on, answers to what to write and what to expand on. I’ll check back in months later and update you how your video has benefitted me! Getting the ebook too

[@XanderLeoShiller]

As a beginner rookie (actor trying to break into film ) can you please look at my shorts ? I'd love to hear your opinion because while I'm uploading footage I'm also uploading my progress as a filmmaker etc many thanks in advance

[@steve_arcenio]

This is beautiful! Thank you as a DP/Cinematographer this is a gem.

[@nurniazfilms]

Super glad!

[@MayurMahapatraFilms]

very informative.. thank you.

[@kromcreative]

love this.. I definitely learned a lot. nice clean design style as well

[@gabrielbrito1008]

thank you broo 👏👏👏

[@akashchandrashekhar706]

WOW!!! Thank you for the video brother, this is real helpful, have been making treatments for a while now, there's always something to learn.

[@owenjenkinsofficial]

I love the variety of aspect ratios that you have in your footage, and each one feels at home visually. I can see your experience in the work you've just shown here! Will watch more of your channel for sure!

[@nurniazfilms]

I appreciate that!

[@Azhar.Khadir]

Such a in depth guide. Thank you for sharing.

[@nurniazfilms]

My pleasure!

[@harounsaifi9371]

great tips and I love your filming style ! Great titles design, editing, and color grading. Great work Nur !

[@joiapauletta]

Great video! Using your approach and template on my next treatment

[@oh...hi.]

Loving the aspect ratio and color grading on your videos it has such a subtly distinct style. You’ll go far on KZbin

[@okaplan]

Great video Nur! Super insightful and your treatments looks incredible. I am hoping I never have to pitch against you.

[@sumitrawatfilms]

Thanks for this amazing video Nur Niaz. It would be very amazing if you can share a treatment note of an ad that have already been done. Very intrigued to see it.

[@nurniazfilms]

I see it’s a popular request. I’ll make some of them available soon :)

[@haronaillon3913]

Thanks a ton, man!! Excellent insights, very much appreciated!!!

[@tltegoluv]

I’d like to personally thank you for this video I’m an indi artist writing treatments for my music videos and I use Keynote as well

[@bhapampa]

Always dropping insightful and visually appealing videos. Cheers mate

[@MikeVanRose]

This was very high value information. Thank you so much for the insight, all the best.

[@owenjenkinsofficial]

Dude, Nur, Just found your channel and love every bit of it. The detail and concepts you talk about help someone understand where they might go next, to improve on building good treatments. Thanks my man.✊

[@martinekwall4671]

Very valuable! You got a sub.

[@nikhileshadiyala]

Been a producer and sucker for good treatment notes, great video!

[@dreamancyfilms]

Thank you! I started this journey 6 years ago, I only landed one job since then, and I had been finalist a lot of times. The worst part is that the only job I landed, the post-production was supposed to be made by another agency which involved pretty heavy motion graphics and vfxs. Without giving a reason, the client decided to cancel the whole thing, so, the final version doesn't exist.

[@AbrarAsif-k7n]

Thanks man. Watching your video first time from Bangladesh

[@jonnyclay]

frame set is sooo good - it's way more useful than shot deck, which doesnt do commercials or music videos.

[@timkuhn5256]

Thank u so much for this high quality video! Just bought your e-book to say thank you for your work and to learn more how to structure and design pitches like those. Keep going!

[@patrickszot4271]

You're the coolest for putting this together. thanks

[@GriffinConway]

Wow this was an amazing video. Thank you for sharing. Just subbed and looking forward to watching all of your other videos.

[@samarkinavarvara2029]

очень круто! Спасибо, что поделился!

[@wearetrackclub]

This video is filled with gems! Love how you edited this as well 💎

[@kanewilsonfilm]

Thanks Nur, this was really helpful. Time to start writing my treatment..

[@nurniazfilms]

Best of luck Kane 🙌

[@UMAR-xu7qi]

Thanks bro, I've been looking for something like this ❤

[@evankaufmann]

Nice breakdown. One thing I see a lot of when looking at music video treatments (especially from younger directors) is overly detailed descriptions of what or how they're going to shoot certain things. This is, of course, important but I would suggest being as clear and concise about this approach rather than filling a page with minute details. The examples you have on this video and your pitches look like perfect length for artist/client to understand the vision. Nice work!

[@nurniazfilms]

Good point! Thank you!

[@carlakhaddaj6775]

Thank you Nur, this was really very helpful

[@nurniazfilms]

You’re welcome 😊

[@Oyetunjititobiloba]

Thank you, this is really helpful and insightful

[@nurniazfilms]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertsalazar6290]

Incredibly useful! Also very random, but I was editing a video today and pulled the same combo of tracks from artlist as this video. Hahaha

[@lauritee]

thank you for this epic explanation. I agree, there is not much info out there about treatments and how they are really done or what to look for in one.

[@wazlght5884]

Thanks for this video

[@nurniazfilms]

Most welcome

[@charlyduque8521]

Graaaciaaasss por compartir esto! 🤗

[@nurniazfilms]

🙏🙏🙏

[@zaarism]

I direct commercial just like you...I'm glad someone did a video on it...this one sums it up well. Great stuff my friend , keep the good work going. Cheers

[@nurniazfilms]

Thanks, will do!

[@lang.story.company]

This was so helpful thank you!

[@marcellomantero7317]

Thanks man, very useful indeed !

[@sgrnapalm]

Thank you for sharing this, It's very informative.

[@nurniazfilms]

My pleasure!

[@mojacreative]

Great video. I will definitely be buying the e-book.

[@nurniazfilms]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@SHOEMAKERFILMS]

Great video man, this is definitely an area I need help in. Thanks!

[@heypetu]

so much helpful bro, thq appreciate it

[@abdulazizasatullaev3857]

Amazing man 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Tamergahed]

very helpful man you are a star thank you for the info AND I purchased your kit already and following on instagram

[@nurniazfilms]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy your purchase 🙏

[@ekopolenk]

amazing...thanks for the knowledge and experiences

[@maynard.sabellano]

Such a useful piece, thank you for sharing this 🔥

[@raees9321]

Amazing video! 😁I’m wondering what that software was that u used for pre-vis. The family picnic one with the orange juice, they way u could change the time of day, location etc was very cool😁🙏

[@nurniazfilms]

Thanks! It’s called “CineTracer”

[@thebarberscut1659]

Top notch video! Thanks for this Nur, your content is ace!

[@TheAlgomist]

Greatness, thank you!

[@gabrielmatteoorlando]

Really cool video! Learned a lot! Wondering about the storyboard visuals you used? what software was that?

[@nurniazfilms]

Thanks! CineTracer

[@RyanCalavano]

THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!

[@oleggold]

I have nothing to do with this directly, but this video is very interesting. thanks! This looks a bit like a mock-up in my field. But it is obviously nothing like what you are showing. This is very inspirational. Great job!

[@nurniazfilms]

Interesting!

[@MouktikJoshi]

Thank you so much for making this video!

[@haiderjr]

Thank you that is very helpful ❤

[@nurniazfilms]

You’re welcome 😊

[@Yengwaa]

SUBSCRIBED!!!

[@iamakkkshay]

Thanks, Subscribed!!

[@likoktonum]

Awesome, helpful video. Can you tell us what kind of fonts you use? These look great.

[@BogdanPredko]

thank you brother for this

[@AhadJibon]

Thank you for this!

[@emmanuelboateng7186]

I like your video thanks so much, i believe its going to help me in my next production. 🙏

[@nurniazfilms]

Great to hear!

[@ktyy777]

I’m an art director (recent grad) and I want to focus more on time-based media. I’m curious where the art director’s role comes in when it comes to visuals, since I’m taught that visual ideas are pitched to the Creative Director pre-production. I’m curious what your experience is working with Ad Creative Directors as well! Overall a helpful video since my program didn’t emphasize the production process as much. 👍🏼

[@friendlyfilmz]

Super helpful! Thank you.

[@Doughnutmanmanman]

You are the very best!!!

[@wildpatagoniafilms16]

Excellent post! super important topic! This Can make or break a project! Question: Your template packages.. how far can one go modifying them? or they are just "one way take it or leave it" shape? ;). Thanks!

[@nurniazfilms]

Thank you! They are essentially Keynote presentations so you can modify them as much as you want. Nothing is locked.

[@wildpatagoniafilms16]

@@nurniazfilms thanks!

[@elisonbartolomeuu]

AMAZING BRO! how do you add gifs to keynote presentations and make them playable for clients.

[@nurniazfilms]

If you absolutely need to use GIFs w Keynote then you'll have to send the treatment as a keynote file. No PDF. Otherwise I found when I really need to use GIFs I prefer Google Slides as it's got this "publish" button which is a simple link to an online view through a browser. This way you don't have to worry about GIFs not showing up on the client's end. HOWEVER if there is no need for GIFs I prefer to avoid them altogether. They're such butt pain.

[@elisonbartolomeuu]

@@nurniazfilms haha, that's smart. it is becoming a bit trendy I guess. find it more useful when it comes to camera movement details. big love for that brother and keep up with the good work!

[@FrancescoBattistella]

Really cool video! As graphic designer i love your visual style. Have u ever think about a video about your past works and how did u start this career? Keep it on!

[@nurniazfilms]

Thanks for the idea!