What are 'Deliverables'?
Deliverables are the items and paperwork you deliver to your sales agent or distributor once you’ve signed a deal. Although each buyer will have their own list of required items the following are the most common...

• Masters - Copies of the film on various formats
  
  
• M & E versions - Stands for "Music & Effects". These are copies of the film without dialogue to allow foreign distributors to redub your film in their language.
  
  
• Audio masters - DAT and / or DA88. Normally with theatrical 5.1 mix and a stereo TV mix.
  
  
• Production stills – these are vital for promotion of a film. Buyers often as for a large number (over 100) of stills in a variety of set ups. These should be mostly of the action and drama within the film, not all ‘behind the scenes’.
  
  
• Chain of Title – a chain of documents showing you hold all the rights needed to licence the film.

For a sample complete list of deliverables please visit our Resources section.

What are some common mistakes filmmakers make when delivering?
Without the right preparation or advice creating your deliverables can become a nightmare. . .

• Not budgeting enough for deliverables. It possible that you may get a buyer to pay for these but don’t expect it on low budgets. And even if they do pay upfront it is only a loan to be paid out of receipts, with interest.
  
  
• Poor sound. Many low budget films are plagued by bad sound and this can cause serious problems when delivering on distribution agreements. When buyers receive your delivers they will send them to a laboratory to be checked. If they fail the QC (quality control) they will be returned to you to be fixed. This will be after you have spent your budget and have no money to pay for the corrections.
  
  
• No (or not “fully filled”) M&E masters. When creating your M&E versions is worth remembering that you will be removing all sounds were recorded with the original dialogue. If a character is washing up while talking when you remove their dialogue you will need to re-create all the washing up sounds in Foley.

How can I find out more about film distribution?
For expert distrubtion advice sign up for Film Specific at ww.filmspecific.com or contact us.