Deliverables
The comprehensive package of materials—master files, documentation, legal clearances—required by distributors to release a film.
Definition
Deliverables are the complete set of physical and digital materials, documentation, and legal clearances required by distributors to release a film. This includes master files in various formats, sound mixes, music cue sheets, chain of title documentation, E&O insurance, and promotional materials.
Delivery requirements are specified in distribution agreements and can be extensive—especially for major platform releases requiring multiple audio mixes, subtitle tracks, and metadata.
Why It Matters
Incomplete or incorrect deliverables delay releases and strain distributor relationships. Many independent productions underbudget delivery costs, creating problems when sales conclude.
Understanding delivery requirements during production—especially music clearances and visual elements—prevents expensive post-production fixes or deal-breaking gaps.
Examples in Practice
A film's foreign sales are delayed six months because music clearances weren't secured for international territories during production—a delivery failure that cost the production significant revenue timing.
A savvy producer budgets delivery costs from pre-production, creating templates and tracking systems that ensure all deliverables are captured during production rather than scrambled post-completion.