A music video treatment is a short document that sets out the idea, the look, the locations and the story beats before anyone films. One or two pages is enough to start a conversation with a production team.
You don’t need a finished treatment to book a shoot. At Aligned Vision, the creative team writes the full treatment in pre-production, and concept and creative planning is part of the £750 Signature package. If you arrive with your own notes, the first meeting can go straight to the detail.
What a treatment is for
A treatment gets everyone working from the same picture of the video. The director uses it to plan shots and the crew use it to plan kit and lighting. You can use it to check that the video still says what the song says.
What to put in your treatment
The song and who it is for
Write one or two lines on what the song is about and who you want to reach. For a gospel or worship track, that might be the scripture or the story behind it.
The idea
Say whether the video is a story, a performance or a mix of both. Then describe what happens, in order. Matching the beats to the song helps: what we see in the intro, the first verse, the chorus, the bridge and the outro.
Look and mood
Describe the colours, the lighting and the pace you picture. Add stills or links if you have them.
Aligned Vision’s help centre suggests sharing 3 to 5 reference videos you connect with. They help set the style, colour palette and mood quickly.
Locations
List the places you have in mind and why they fit the song. Note whether you already have permission or a contact there. Streets, parks and churches each have their own rules, which filming a music video in London explains.
Cast and wardrobe
Note who appears in the video. That could be just you, or a band, a choir, actors or extras. Add outfit changes and any colours you want to wear or avoid.
Must-have shots
List the few shots you would be disappointed to miss. Keep the list short so the director has room to suggest ideas of their own.
Special requests
If you want 4K, 120fps slow motion or drone aerials, mention them on the discovery call so the right kit can be confirmed. For aerial shots, Aligned Vision brings in a drone contractor. Drone shots come with their own rules, covered in drone shots in a UK music video.
Dates
Add your release date and any label or distributor deadlines, so the shoot and the edit can be planned back from them.
A simple layout you can copy
Use these headings as a template:
- Artist, song title and release date
- The idea in one sentence
- What the song is about and who it is for
- Story beats, section by section
- Look and mood, with 3 to 5 reference videos
- Locations
- Cast and wardrobe
- Must-have shots
- Special requests
Write in plain language. A treatment is a planning document, and the team will turn it into a shot list later.
If you’re starting from scratch
Both approaches work with Aligned Vision. If you have a clear vision, the team will carry it out and build on it. If you’re starting fresh, the creative team will pitch a full treatment based on your music, your aesthetic and your goals.
Either way, bring the song and your reference videos. That gives the team something to start from on the call.
How a treatment becomes a shoot
Aligned Vision’s process runs in four stages, set out in the help centre.
- Discovery. You agree the vision, genre, budget and timeline, and go through the reference videos you love.
- Pre-production. The team writes the full creative treatment, scouts locations, arranges cast and builds a shot list and a call sheet. Storyboards, location scouting and crew planning all happen before the first frame is shot.
- Shoot. The crew arrives fully equipped and works through the shot list, while staying open to creative moments on the day.
- Post-production. Editing, colour grading and any visual effects are completed before you get a private review link.
A shot list breaks the treatment down into individual shots. A call sheet tells everyone where to be and when on the shoot day.
When you review the video, you send your feedback through a revision form, with your notes gathered into one set for each round. Every music video package includes 2 rounds of revisions.
Before your first meeting
Bring these to the consultation:
- the song
- your treatment, or rough notes using the headings above
- 3 to 5 reference videos
- location ideas
- your release date
- any special requests, such as 4K, slow motion or drone aerials
If you want to understand the budget side first, how much does a music video cost in the UK? explains what the Signature package covers. You can see finished videos in the portfolio and the full package on the music videos page.
When you’re ready, get in touch to book a consultation.
