Whats the difference between a shooting draft and the final draft or third draft or writers draft, etc?
Shooting draft is the screenplay version that is used for and while shooting. After the final draft is written with all changes made final, it becomes a locked script. Scene numbers are then added/deleted to distinguished between changes. Any changes made after the script has been locked become partial scene numbers, 89A, B, OMIT SCENES 100-103, etc. Changes in dialogue/narration appear with an * on the line. Pages with changes are colored coded. All changes are documented. Shooting scripts contain camera angles and directing terms. After a script is bought and before it is locked, the writer may be asked to make many changes. These drafts become 1st, 2nd, 3rd drafts, etc., and sometimes contain major changes in narration and character. A writer’s draft is considered the draft that was sold prior to any changes by the buyer or other early drafts by the writer. A writer’s draft is not usually marked “writer’s draft” but just date stamped.
