Let me emphasize this point by showing you the difference between a shooting script and a spec script. Here is a sequence from the shooting script of the film Magnolia:
39. INT. SMILING PEANUT BAR - NIGHT
CAMERA moves in on a young woman CLAUDIA (20s) sitting alone, bit drunk.
A vaugely creepy looking MIDDLE AGED GUY (40s) takes a seat next to her.
MIDDLE AGED GUY
Hey.
CLAUDIA
Hi.
CUT TO:
40. INT. CLAUDIA'S APARTMENT - LATER
A series of quick shots where the following happens: CLAUDIA and the
MIDDLE AGED GUY stumble into her apartment. CAMERA DOLLIES in quick as
she snorts a line of coke from her coffee table ... TILT up and PAN over
to him ...
MIDDLE AGED GUY
So?
CUT TO:
41. INT. CLAUDIA'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
CAMERA DOLLIES in quick as they're having sex. He's on top of her,
she's below, CAMERA lands in a CLOSE UP of her face as she gets through
the experience ... CAMERA moves up and past her, finds a reflection of
the TELEVISION in a picture frame on her wall ...
DISSOLVE TO:
They are many things wrong with this in terms of correct spec script format. Compare the difference below, where I've rewritten this in the format that is in correct use today for spec scripts:
INT. SMILING PEANUT BAR - NIGHT
A young woman, CLAUDIA (20s), is sitting alone, a bit drunk.
A vaguely creepy MIDDLE AGED GUY (40s) sits next to her.
MIDDLE AGED GUY
Hey.
CLAUDIA
Hi.
INT. CLAUDIA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Claudia and the middle aged guy stumble into her apartment. She heads
straight for the coffee table, where she snorts a line of coke.
MIDDLE AGED GUY
So?
INT. CLAUDIA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
They're having sex. The middle aged guy is on top.
Her expression reveals she's just getting through it.
A picture on the wall reflects the television screen.
Notice that in the spec script there are no camera angles or even references to a camera. Notice also that all of the images in the shooting script are still retained in the spec script but no specific information is given about how these images should be shot.
The spec script simply tells the story, letting the director figure out how to shoot it.