A document a director puts together to pitch their creative vision for a music video. It outlines the concept, visual style, references, and approach.

The treatment is usually the first thing a label or artist sees from a director. It needs to sell the idea visually, and most treatments include mood boards, reference images, and descriptive language to paint a picture of what the finished video could look like.

Treatment in the real world

When Spike Jonze pitched his treatment for Fatboy Slim’s Weapon of Choice (2001), his concept was deceptively simple: Christopher Walken alone in a Marriott hotel, dancing. The treatment reportedly described the idea as coming from the mundane, numbing quality of business travel. The label took a chance on it. The resulting video won the Grammy for Best Music Video in 2002.

Related terms

Brief, Mood board, Storyboard, Director, Commissioner, Pitch process