A movie treatment presents the idea of the film before writing the entire script. It highlights the most important information about the film that came from the book; it includes the title, logline, story summary (that may be presented as three-act movie plot summaries), and character description. Treatments also give authors the chance to condense their story concept so they can pitch it to studio heads or producers who might want to fund the movie.
“The Watcher: Bert Robinson: Becoming the Watcher in the Amazon” by Stephen Schwartz received the Book to Hollywood Movie Treatment after the successful movie script coverage that was previously written for the book. Considering the suggestions from the first level of writing a screenplay, the movie treatment shows the flow of the story that’ll be good on screen as it shows the thrill and suspense of how the characters deal with the conflict.
In “The Watcher,” Stephen presents the story of eighteen-year-old Bert, an orphan who leads a reclusive life in the mountains of Maine. His existence is dramatically altered when he is caught stealing food and sent to work on a whaling ship as punishment. During a fateful whaling expedition, Bert witnesses the horrific killing of a massive whale and feels a deep connection to its suffering. This moment leads to the appearance of Chang, a mysterious Watcher who condemns the crew’s brutality and offers Bert a choice: stay stranded at sea or embark on a new journey with him.
Bert is transported to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, where he learns that Watchers are immortal beings committed to safeguarding nature from human exploitation. Under Chang’s mentorship, he trains alongside a jaguar named Paco and begins to appreciate the jungle’s beauty and the wisdom of its indigenous inhabitants. However, his journey takes a darker turn when he explores the forbidden Black Mountain, where he witnesses humanity’s destructive actions and grapples with the significant responsibilities that come with the Watchers’ powers.
Bert faces his greatest challenge when he joins Chang at a mining camp, where men are ravaging the rainforest for gold. When they ignore Chang’s warnings and attack him, the crystal’s power is unleashed, erasing the camp and sending the most aggressive miners into a timeless void. As Chang prepares to pass his immortality to Bert, the young apprentice must confront the ethical dilemmas of his new role. Will he accept the weight of being a Watcher and commit his life to protecting the Earth, or will he choose a different path?
“The Watcher” serves as a powerful reminder of our moral responsibility to the planet and its inhabitants. It challenges readers to reflect on the consequences of their actions and the impact of human greed on the environment. The story emphasizes that every individual has the potential to be a guardian of nature, urging us to embrace our role in fostering a sustainable future.
Through Bert’s journey, Stephen aims for his readers to reflect that true strength lies not just in power, but in the choice made to protect and preserve the world around us. Ultimately, “The Watcher: Bert Robinson: Becoming the Watcher in the Amazon” inspires us to consider how we can contribute to the greater good and make choices that honor the delicate balance of life on Earth.