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What is a “spec script?”

A “spec script” is a movie written on “speculation,” which is to say it is written without a deal or sale already in place, and without being commissioned. Young writers portfolios usually contain two to three spec features, as well as a few television samples.

It is common to hear people refer to or ask about a writer’s “[television show] spec.” In this case, the term refers to a writer’s sample script for an on-air television show. Most writer’s portfolios contain at least one drama spec and one comedy spec for popular shows already on the air.

As recently as a year or two ago, spec scripts were a primary factor in hiring decisions for television writers rooms. In 2010/2011, it was more common for network executive and showrunners to ask for “spec pilots,” which — much like a spec feature — is a pilot written without a deal or sale in place and without being commissioned. The biggest difference between spec pilots and features is that spec pilots are for the most part exclusively written as writing samples, while it is not uncommon to hear of a writer selling a spec feature. (A notable exception is Mad Men, which Matt Weiner wrote as a spec pilot in 2000. As a writing sample, it helped him get hired on The Sopranos. Only after that show ended did Mad Men get made.)