In this module, you will expand and further develop your documentary idea by taking your Logline and Synopsis and then creating a Treatment. Watch the video below to learn what a Treatment is.
After watching the above tutorial, your assignment is to create a Treatment for your documentary idea, which should expand further on your idea proposed in your Logline/Synopsis.
You can use the example treatment below as a guide to assist you in this task.
TREATMENT
MORNING:
The loud ringing of a cell phone wakes Fabrice up. The cell phone clock says 5:30 am. and Fabrice rushes to answer the phone. Ryan on the other end yells at him “Your moto rent is due today, you owe me 3500 FRW!”
Fabrice says “ I will have it to you by tonight, sir, thank you.”
Fabrice puts up the phone, lays down on the bed and grabs his wallet. He quickly pulls out the bills that add up to 5000 FRW. Fabrice says “ This is going to be a long day”
Fabrice is in a crowded restaurant, filled with with other moto drivers and eating gatogo, a meat and banana mix. Outside the restaurant, there are dozens of colorful moto bike with bikes.
DAYTIME:
The wind is rushing by Fabrice’s helmet as him male passenger wind down a hilly road leaving Remera and heading into town. To the left of there are thousands of tiny make shift homes on a big hill in Gikondo and to the right there is a mix of large homes, makeshift homes and houses being built a large hill in Kimihurura. Black smoke puffs out of the exhaust from the large truck in front and Fabrice moves to the left lane to pass the truck. Fabrice passes the truck and is still in the left lane, the road curves, lights are flashing from a brown Rav- 4 heading towards Fabrice. The Rav-4 slows down, Fabrice honks his horn and glides the bike to the right lane. Fabrice’s passenger sits with his arms crossed.
EVENING:
Fabrice is parked outside of the Serena hotel. As the sun starts to set, Fabrice opens his wallet and counts 2500 FRW. A tall and elegant Mzungu, wearing short pants and a tee shirt approaches him and says “How much to Cercle Sportif?”
Logline:
The Rwandan moto driver is essential to everyday life in Kigali but being a moto driver is a challenging in the in the ever changing Rwanda.
Synopsis:
This mini documentary follows the day and the life of a young and struggling Rwandan moto driver, Fabrice as he tries to make make enough money to pay his weekly rent of his moto. Fabrice wakes up early in the morning hoping to make rent but faces the obstacles many motos face.
Fabrice starts his day by eating with the local moto-drivers before he picks up his his first customer, in the outskirts of Kigali. During the the course of the day, Fabrice faces random obstacles that challenge his pursuit to making enough money.
Due to hilly ground
Low repair cost
Low cost of fuel and quick turnaround of customers moto driving is a solid job for a 20-30 year old.
Moto culture from the perspectives of the bikers themselves.
Find 3 possible bikers.
Primary Audience is tourist and those who are unfamiliar to Rwanda. Secondary, Rwandans as a sense of pride.
Story:
A day and the life of a moto driver.
Problems/Questions:
With the changing economy of Rwanda, will motos stay with relevant? Are motos sustainable?
Are motos safe?
What makes Rwandan motos special?
What other countries have motos?