1) How deliverables work (simple model)
A buyer needs masters (picture + audio), accessibility files (captions/subtitles),
marketing assets (artwork + metadata), and legal proof (chain-of-title).
Your deliverables list depends on: distribution type + territory + platform + technical specs.
Best practice: request the buyer’s deliverables list early (during post), not after you “finish.”
2) Picture deliverables (what gets delivered)
Final Picture Master: approved final version (exact required format varies).
Textless Master: version with no on-screen titles (for international).
Trailer(s): if required (some buyers require multiple durations).
Closed caption burn-in reference: sometimes requested for QC review.
“Textless” is a common surprise requirement. Plan it before you lock picture.
3) Audio deliverables (where many projects fail)
Final Mix: approved final audio mix (format depends on buyer).
M&E (Music & Effects) Mix: critical for dubbing foreign languages.
Dialogue, Music, Effects stems: often required for flexibility.
Audio layout documentation: channel layout notes if required.
If you don’t have an M&E, you may be blocked from international distribution.
4) Captions, subtitles, accessibility
Closed Captions (CC): English captions (format varies).
Subtitles: English subtitles (sometimes separate from captions).
Forced Narrative (Forced Subs): for on-screen foreign language dialogue.
Audio description: sometimes required for accessibility compliance.
Captions are not optional for most serious distribution paths.
5) Legal deliverables (chain-of-title reality)
Legal paperwork proves you own (or licensed) every element used in the project.
This is where a “finished film” can become legally undeliverable.
Chain of Title: proof of rights from original source to you.
Talent releases: cast agreements, minors releases if applicable.
Crew releases: work-for-hire agreements where needed.
Location releases: permits and signed releases.
Music licenses: sync + master use for every track (or original composer agreements).
Artwork and footage licenses: photos, stock, archives, news clips.
E&O insurance: often required for distribution.
“We found it on the internet” is not a license.
If you can’t prove rights, you can’t deliver.
6) Artwork, metadata, marketing assets
Key art / poster: multiple sizes and aspect ratios.
Stills: approved production stills for press/platform.
Synopsis: short / medium / long versions.
Credits list: accurate and final.
Metadata sheet: title, runtime, language, cast, crew, etc.
Trailer(s): sometimes multiple lengths (15/30/60/90 sec).
Marketing assets are deliverables — not optional extras.
7) QC (Quality Control): the invisible gatekeeper
QC is the technical review that flags audio pops, illegal levels,
missing frames, incorrect captions, or formatting issues. Failing QC can delay release.
Picture QC: frames, color consistency, glitches, dead pixels, titles safe.
Audio QC: levels, distortion, sync, missing channels.
Text QC: caption timing, spelling, forced subs accuracy.
Metadata QC: runtime mismatch, wrong credits, wrong language tags.
The fastest way to blow a launch date is “we’ll fix it later” during delivery.
8) Starter deliverables pack (minimum survival set)
If you need a “minimum pack” to work toward while specs are unknown, aim for:
Final picture master + textless picture master
Final mix + M&E + stems
Closed captions + forced narrative subtitles
Key art + stills + synopsis set
Chain-of-title package + releases + music licenses
If you build this pack, you can adapt quickly to most buyer specs later.