Hello there - just a quick question.

Q: Are treatments necessary? I'm getting mixed responses to this question. I'm meeting with an agent shortly and I don't know if I should have a treatment, as well as the finished product (the script is finished)Thank you

Dear Quick,

Is that electroshock treatment you're talking about?  In your case, it probably is necessary.  But if you really think I know anything worthwhile about mental illness and its treatment then I'll thank you to not talk to my mom anymore and -

Wait - you mean movie treatment.  Oh.  Well, yes and no.  How's that?  Thanks for coming,  Goodnight.

I've sold a lot of films and I've never once needed a treatment.  A synopsis, yes - treatment no.  Treatments are more for film execs, those bastions of mental midgetry, to see where a story is going before it's written - like after you've pitched a concept that they might want to buy.  Once the script is already written then they can read the synopsis to see the overall structure and concept and the script to get every thing else.

Can it hurt to have one ready?  Probably not.  But in my opinion it's really a waste of time.  A 1-2 page synopsis and the script should be all you'll need.

Hack

P.S.  When meeting with an agent remember to carry your garlic, a cross and a stake and don't look directly in their eyes or you'll turn to stone.