Screenwriting : A Beat Sheet or a Treatment by Rafael Pinero

Generally I write an outline. It's a beefier, more detailed version of a beat sheet that allows for notes and character development as I go. I tend to think a beat sheet is too restrictive at the start. When I've finished the outline, broken down into sequences and act breaks, I type out a beat sheet from that for easy reference. If I have an outline that's well developed, I might go right to a draft. If there is still more to explore, I'll write a treatment. I'm all in favor of outlines and treatments for developing character and story. A beat sheet is great for plotting.

Outline for me, not treatment.

I prefer an outline as well, or extended beat sheet. From there, I begin the first draft.

I do the outline first, letting the germ of the idea play in my head for few days. Usually do the beat sheet and treatment parallel -- or at times directly move to Fade In. It all depends on how realized and drawn is the Story. If the Story is done completely with character sketches and nuances - it becomes easier to jump to Fade In. At times, I prefer writing by hand before giving into the distraction of working on the pc. Each person usually develops their own working style depending on the mood of the story I guess.

Outline, beat sheet, first draft.

So the outline actually has all the scenes in outline format, but so does the treatment has them with more description of action. Wouldn't it be better to do a beat sheet and then the outline where you write All your scenes, but you follow your beat sheet so you know where you want to get to through your scenes?

Sometimes I just write when I have an idea in my head. But I'm a rebel.

I have never done a beat sheet. Never even enters my mind. I write notes, outline, think, ruminate, notes, treatment, script. Revise. I tend to write stories with lot of action and stuff going on so i don't think i need to worry about where the beats go.

I use John Truby's methodology. I fine it is a natural way to flesh out a concept and populate it with characters, conflict, story world and narrative. Then it's log-line, and beat-sheet then writing the script. it made my process faster and better. The man's a genius I tells ya!

I think that if you have a beat sheet first, then you do an outline and write the scenes necessary to hit each beat stated, then you can jump to FADE IN, or why do a treatment?

A treatment is usually for a buyer / potential producing partner to read. It's like marketing material. If you query the buyer/producer/agent with a logline and they ask to hear more you can send them a 2-pager, or a longer document (like a treatment) which provides more story in prose form. All of these docs are mostly marketing. Highly designed. IF they ask to read the script after that, then you send a script.