A script is the written text of a film. It includes dialogue, action, and stage directions. It is the document that guides the production. The script is written by the screenwriter, revised by the director, and interpreted by the actors. It is the common reference for everyone on the film. Without a script, the production would have no direction. The script is the film's instruction manual.

Scripts come in several formats. A spec script is written on speculation. A shooting script is the final version used during production, with scene numbers and revisions. A dialogue script contains only the dialogue, used for animation and voiceover. A treatment is a prose summary of the story, not a full script. Each format serves a different purpose. The shooting script is the most important during production. It is the document that the crew works from.

The script is not the film. It is a blueprint. The film is what happens when the script is interpreted, performed, and edited. A script can read beautifully and produce a mediocre film. A script can read poorly and produce a great film. The director, the actors, and the crew bring the script to life. The script is the beginning. The film is the end. The journey between them is the art of filmmaking.