I read the script posted on here a couple of days after watching the film and it seemed to be practically word for word. I've comes across this in a number of classic scripts too. These feel more like transcripts as opposed to shooting scripts.

Is there a difference? I know the latter is for during production but what about after the fact?

Yep, a fairly arbitrary question but I just find it hard to imagine the writer or writer/director bothering to go back and transcribe their work once the film is cut and printed.

I've never heard of a film transcript. A transcript in general would have to be word for word or at least as close to word for word as possible. Any errors would presumably be in service of trying to be verbatim. Then there's the slugs, action, title page, etc., none of which are spoken word and couldn't be transcribed at all. The question remains, who would even bother transcribing the film (probably not the writer/director) and to what end?

Ok, I've misused the term transcript. I just meant copying verbatim what happens in the film onto the page. Obviously I can't say its exactly word for word without, yep, transcribing it but its very very close.

Spoiler!!!

Having read/listened to some of McDonagh's interviews, as with most films, there was some ad libbing and deviations from his script on its way to the screen. One example in particular he mentioned was the scene where Willoughby coughs blood on Mildred and she says"I know, baby" with the "baby" part being improvised by Frances McDormand. This is in the script.

End of Spoiler!!!

I agree, who would bother, its presumably left to an intern or something. However, if its an awards contender, it is reasonable they would want the most faithful version of the script sent out to voters.

This got me wondering then how much of these drafts contain the original writer's work as prose is possibly altered too to capture exactly how it ended up being shot.

It's an interesting question. I wouldn't know the answer for a certainty. I'd assume that McDonaugh is very particular about his dialogue and would insist upon his actors sticking to what's on the page, and that the actors had the reverence for his dialogue that they would do just that without being asked. Taking that into account, it wouldn't surprise me that what's in the script more or less mirrors what's in the film. Neither scenario is unusual at this level.

Yeah, maybe I'm not giving McDonagh enough credit and that draft is all him bar a few amendments which he probably done himself after final cut. I remember reading the script for Network some time ago, one of my favourite films that I've watched many times and know well and it was word perfect but I'm not about to question Paddy Chayefsky. Had similar experiences with drafts for Pulp Fiction and American Beauty too.

Huh - never thought of that. Hard to believe that for high profile scripts (i.e., Oscar nominated) they wouldn't print the revision. But who knows?

Probably a bit late jumping in on this one but I watched an interview with Gleeson and Farrell recently and I think what they said nailed it. Both the McDonaghs stick to the script. All the actors sign on knowing this and as screenwriter that makes me smile. Martin McDonagh also made an interesting point. He spoke about directing and how he was still learning and maybe that's why they all stick to what is on the page. For me both McDonagh brothers are master screenwriters. Their films are the icing on the cake.  

Quoted from Damien Aulsberry Probably a bit late jumping in on this one but I watched an interview with Gleeson and Farrell recently and I think what they said nailed it. Both the McDonaghs stick to the script. All the actors sign on knowing this and as screenwriter that makes me smile. Martin McDonagh also made an interesting point. He spoke about directing and how he was still learning and maybe that's why they all stick to what is on the page. For me both McDonagh brothers are master screenwriters. Their films are the icing on the cake.

The McDonagh brothers have to be a rarity for not deviating from the script.
The Guard is still my all time favourite.

Yes The Guard is a fantastic script and the film is as good. Don Cheadle read it and it blew him away so much he asked to be an Executive Producer. I think what sets Martin and John Michael McDonagh apart is that once you have read the screenplay you have already seen the film.

I never read "the transcript" what I read was shooting script.
It stuck pretty close to the finished film, with only a few minor lines different here and there (not uncommon)


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