Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I've been on here. Glad to be back. We are currently in post-production of our next feature and want to be proactive about getting "deliverables" together for a prospective Sales Agent. What do we need?
I know we need E&O Insurance and 100-200 digital stills. But what else? I have read that some sales agents will actually provide a Master Delivery Schedule - where they will tell us what they need. But, are there any general requirements? Like a check-list?
Any help is much appreciated.
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Glad to have you back in the community Robert. If you're asking about sales agent deliverables, then that means you're done with a film - congrats! Bradley & Blake touches on some theatrical deliverables here, but it's not entirely in depth: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/OK-You-Made-Your-Film-Now-What-2 and https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Under-a-Million-What-I-Learned-and-How-.... And, Zahida goes over VOD deliverables here: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Understanding-Indie-VOD-Distribution-an... Not sure if any of that helps, and if not maybe there's someone in my network who can help lend you some advice? Good luck with the process!
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Every company is different. Here are some of the more common things I've been asked for (this only applies to low budget, non-theatrical):
1) Video: A 24P Digital file in the best available format (HD, 2K, 4K). There should be a leader at the head with a sound spike at -2 seconds for synching audio and video files. The distributor may specify a certain format. Most requests I've experienced are for ProRes 422.
2) Audio: Three separate audio files: one full mix of English (or native) language track with Music and Effects. One Music Only. One Effects only. As with the video, you should have an audio spike at -2 seconds for synching.
3) A Timecode based Dialogue transcript (for foreign dubs and subs).
4) A synched Closed Caption file (.scc).
5) Music Cue Sheet and SAG-AFTRA, DGA and WGA (if applicable) contract material.
6) Errors and Omissions insurance.
7) Chain of Title (Copyright registration for script and finished film, contract with writer, any other releases).
8) Promotional material (Production stills, Cast photos, anything that can help promote the film)
9) Letter of access to original masters and "negatives." This is a holdover from when prints had to be made, but they usually still require it.
Most distributors have pdf's with their Delivery requirements. Sometimes these include old technology that doesn't apply anymore, but hasn't been removed (like Betamax).
Thanks David Trotti and Vitaly Kozlov!
Thanks all, you rock!!!!
Minimal delivery shall be:
1. a Mac-formatted Hard Drive (USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt preferred) with 1080p 23.98 HD or better version of feature in ProRes 422 (HQ or better) format with composite stereo composite sound mix, along with separate stereo music & effects (M&E) sound mix in AIFF or WAV format (16-bit, 48k or higher),
2. Preferred audio delivery also includes 5.1 surround composite plus 5.1 surround music & effects (M&E) in CAF format, or each surround channel in AIFF or WAV format. In lieu of 5.1 surround mix, stereo stem tracks (separate dialogue, ambience, effects and music pairs) should be provided, if available,
3. Trailer of said feature in same formats as listed above (may be waived by Distributor),
4. Closed Captions,
5. Minimum of thirty (30) production stills, not behind the scenes photography, (high-resolution 300 dpi or better TIFF or JPEG format),
6. Music cue sheet (Excel format preferred),
7. E&O Insurance certificate,
8. Dialogue list with time code (Word or Excel format preferred),
9. Complete chain of title documentation including copyright certificate (or proof of filing),
10. Existing layered key art in Photoshop PSD format, and
11. Meta-data sheet.
But negotiation always happens. M&Es can be postponed. E&O can be waved. Etc.
We've recently even started a subscription based program for distribution at summerhillfilms.com that will wave marketing expenses in their entirety. Ask me about it.
Can someone post an example of what a dialogue list with time code will look like as a word or excel file?