Spec Script vs Shooting Script: What’s the Difference?

Last week I wrote about common formatting mistakes that new screenwriters make. The advice was given based on writing a spec script rather than a shooting script. There are major differences between the two. In an earlier blog I briefly described a spec script. In this blog I’ll explain differences between “spec” and “shooting.”

The first difference is that a spec script is written for a reader, not a director. It’s not like a novel, but it should flow more like prose, where as a shooting script is more of a production document. The action lines in a spec script should be as descriptive as possible, but as concise as possible. You can use flowery prose, but keep it short.

A shooting script is usually what you’ll find copies of on websites. You’ll be hard pressed to find a copy of a spec script. You can identify a shooting script by the use of camera direction. Camera direction should not be used in a spec script. It should flow and be easy to read, void of any technical jargon that slows down the reader.

Shooting scripts will often times include title shots and credits. A spec script should NOT include these. In a shooting script you’ll see scene numbers. Don’t put them in a spec script. These are all things that are added when converting a spec to a shooting script, usually by the director. Often times you’ll also find in a shooting script that certain objects have been put in all caps. This is done by the props department so that they can easily identify props they’ll need in each scene. A spec script shouldn’t have props in all caps.

These changes happen to help those involved in the actual production of the film. Many times the writing will also suffer as a result of these changes. So when you’re reading copies of scripts you find online, keep in mind, they are shooting scripts and you should NOT write your SPEC script the same way. All of the screenwriting information I provide in this blog is specifically geared towards writing spec scripts. If you have any pressing questions you’d like answered that I haven’t already addressed in a previous blog, shoot me an email and I’d be happy to answer it in full detail in a future blog. Until next week, happy writing.

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