Can someone please explain the difference between a "spec" script and a "shooting" script and any other type of script that exists? Thanks in advance.

The primary difference between the two types invovles what the scripts is for.

A spec script is written for someone to read in the interest of being bought. It uses a combination of novel-writing rules and screenwriting rules in that there are no camera directions but also no thoughts or feelings. It is generally accepted that using camera directions will remind the reader that they are reading a script and take them out of the story.

A shooting script is the version used to actually make the movie. This version will often include detailed camera moves or directions because that's what the director wants to do. The extent to these things will depend on the director and some other things, but there are no rules for a shooting script since it exists to be shot, not read. Shooting scripts may or not have begun life as a spec script depending on who wrote it and why it was written (i.e. a producer commissioned the write).

New writers should focus on the spec script style since that is what Hollywood readers read, what all contests ask for, and it also makes for a very clean, easy read in general to show off how good you are as a writer. Also, a spec script is usually fairly accurate in regards to the one page per minute rule whereas a shooting script is usually inundated with camera directions and such and may not follow that rule.

Quoted from George Willson A spec script is written for someone to read in the interest of being bought. It uses a combination of novel-writing rules and screenwriting rules in that there are no camera directions but also no thoughts or feelings. It is generally accepted that using camera directions will remind the reader that they are reading a script and take them out of the story.

Keep in mind, also, that a spec script is intended to be an easy read.  Leave out whatever detail is not needed for the story to be told.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe Leave out whatever detail is not needed for the story to be told. Phil

Can you please give me an example of this? Thanks.

Here's an example I've been waiting to use:

INT.  BASEMENT -NIGHT

The basement is small and cramped.  The only light comes from an exposed lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.  

BILL and TOM stand by a table, pouring the contents of metal gasoline cans into 22-ounce beer bottles.

        BILL
   Think this'll be enough?

        TOM
   It better be.  We're out of bottles.



Two details in this scene are not needed:  The fact that the gas can is made of metal and that the bottles are twenty-two ounce bottles.

The size of the bottles, however, become significant when you add this:



Bill looks to Tom

        BILL
    These are twenty-two ounce bottles, right?

Tom looks at one as he puts his gas can down.

        TOM
    I guess.  Why?

        BILL
    You know what they use to call bottles
    this size...?  Bombers!

Tom CHUCKLES as he jams strips of cloth into the bottles.

Now, the only unneeded detail is the gas can being metal.



Phil

A spec script just tells the basic story. Very to the point and vague about the details. Only the essentials to tell the story should be in here. He does this, then says this and this happens.

A shooting script is what it would look like on screen and how it would be shot. These would be camera directions, may include specific songs and music, inserts, pans, specific measurements and objects, cuts and fades and all that. It's just more detailed point by point and shot by shot what the movie looks like. It could be as detailed as the director needs it to be. The spec is just the core story and is more vague about these things.

Quoted from dogglebe Here's an example I've been waiting to use: INT.  BASEMENT -NIGHT The basement is small and cramped.  The only light comes from an exposed lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.   BILL and TOM stand by a table, pouring the contents of metal gasoline cans into 22-ounce beer bottles.         BILL    Think this'll be enough?         TOM    It better be.  We're out of bottles. Two details in this scene are not needed:  The fact that the gas can is made of metal and that the bottles are twenty-two ounce bottles. The size of the bottles, however, become significant when you add this: Bill looks to Tom         BILL     These are twenty-two ounce bottles, right? Tom looks at one as he puts his gas can down.         TOM     I guess.  Why?         BILL     You know what they use to call bottles     this size...?  Bombers! Tom CHUCKLES as he jams strips of cloth into the bottles. Now, the only unneeded detail is the gas can being metal. Phil

Excellent example thankyou.

According to what some director said that I read somewhere (I think it was Tarantino, but for all I know I'm way off), regular scripts and shooting scripts have little in common.  In shooting scripts he needs to know what the different shots are, how a scene is filmed, etc.  This may differ from director to director (a shooting script is almost exclusively a director's tool), but I think that's probably accurate.  In filming, a dialogue between two characters is often filmed with a different camera towards each character (the shot switches back and forth), and in filming this is important.  In a regular script you just care about writing the scene.

Spec scripts specifically refer to scripts that are written without a contract and then try to sell it to the producers (I think), as opposed to when the producers start with a plot/novel/whatever and hire a writer to start writing the script.

Quoted from jerdol Spec scripts specifically refer to scripts that are written without a contract and then try to sell it to the producers (I think), as opposed to when the producers start with a plot/novel/whatever and hire a writer to start writing the script.

I'm willing to bet that writer/directors begin their projects by writing spec scripts.  They want to see how the story looks on paper, and they probably show it around to associates to get their opinion.  Spec scripts are an easy read and that's what you want at first.


Phil

Because of the way they're written, spec scripts also usually will give a better approximation of the actual run time of the final feature (that being the page per minute rule). Shooting scripts, on the other hand, can be so inundated with "how I want to shoot this" stuff, that the page-per-minute rule is right out the window.

I have a script I am converting from spec to shooting (for myself; no, not posted here), and while the spec is only 9 pages, the shooting will likely be at least twice that because I'm writing out every single shot (think "storyboard on paper").

Firstly, a Spec "speculative" script is just that, you are not writing a Shooting script here. In the end you are writing something producers will want to read in the easiest format possible which commonly is VERTICAL writing. Your spec script will be greatly different from the shooting script, no camera angles added, slugline differences... and so on...

There is no scene transitions in a spec script, the scene duration is the work of rewriters doing the final drafts and of course mostly the director, for it is him/her that decides when a scene ends and whatnot!!

Your wiriting in short but powerful detail in Spec format, no need for all the shooting script deatils... keep your direction short and snappy and to the point. Don't trail of in that field.

Darren S. Winters

Spec Script:

EXT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

BOB approaches the front entrance.  He slides a hand into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys.


Shooting Script:

(scene number) EXT. WAREHOUSE - DAY

TRACKING SHOT

On Bob as he approaches the front entrance of a warehouse.

ANGLE ON

His hand as it slides into his pocket and pulls out a set of keys.

INSERT

The keys in Bob's hand.


Generic as hell, but you get the point.  As George mentioned above, a spec script is  written on the speculation that it will either be purchased, or get you hired for other work, based on your ability to tell a story and write well.

The shooting script is what your script becomes after it's purchased, when the director and director of photography have gone through it beat by beat and planned in detail how they are going to actually film each scene, action, exchange of dialogue, etc.

Look up different examples of each (check out Simply Script's large library of produced screenplays) and the differences between the two will become quite obvious.

Good luck, keep writing.  

Hi, folks.  Could you help me with a formatting question for a translation of a script? It's what is called a director's script in Russian, and has scene numbers and seconds, as well as scene titles.  As far as I can tell, this type of script is in between a spec script and shooting script (no camera angles, etc.). I'm trying to make it accessible to English-speaking producers.  I follow the standard script format, but am stumped on how to do the scene titles.  I have

7/60 sec EXT. SPACE SHIP  -- DAY

But can't figure out where to put the shooting notes like "location and computer graphics" and the scene title "Space ship crashes".

Any suggestions? Many thanks

Go with:

EXT.  SPACE SHIP.

There is no day or night in space, so I would leave that out.  I don't know what the 7/60 sec refers to, so I'd leave that out, too.


Phil

The numbers at the beginning are scene numbers and length of the scene in seconds -- in this script (a revision) they've made cuts and give a total time count.  I think this is a European standard way of doing scripts, but can't find a good example on Internet.  

I don't think I can leave out the notes like "location/computer graphics," -- so where to put them?  I think I can leave out scene titles, if it would seem terribly odd to English speakers.  But... they might refer to the scenes that way.

Would it be strange like this:

8/60 sec     EXT. LAKE -- DAY (location) "The prisoner is taken to the camp"

If you want to do this to show around in the US, you'll have to take out the timing notes.  Spec scripts are very stripped down, without any production information in it.

Regarding your above-mentioned example, I would write it like this:

EXT.  LAKE -DAY.

The PRISONER is taken to the camp by two SOLDIERS.


I capitalized PRISONER and SOLDIERS as I am introducing them.  Their names are capitalized only the first time you refer to them.

My scripts, IMHO, are tightly written and properly formatted as spec scripts.  You can always refer to them.  There are three of them in my sig.




Phil