What is a Dialogue List?

In order to understand the importance of a dialogue list, we first need to know what post-production scripts are. When a film or TV show is finished, it differs greatly from the original screenplay. Dialogue can be edited, locations can be changed, and budgetary and logistical constraints can limit the creative direction of the film. Even entire characters can be edited out! As a result, the end product is very different from the original screenplay. This is why post-production scripts are needed.

The four most popular post-production scripts are the dialogue list, the as-broadcast script, the combined dialogue and spotting list (CDSL) and the combined continuity and spotting list (CCSL).

Definition of a Dialogue List

A dialogue list is a transcription of the finished film or TV production and the foundation for creating subtitles, captions and dubbing. It is the most basic form of a post-production script.

The features included in the dialogue list are:

• Speaker identification: on-screen or off-screen
• Line numbers, with the time in, time out and duration of every line at accurate time code
• Transcription of speech, including interruptions and pauses
• Speaker-relevant sound effects
• On-screen text and graphics, such as lower thirds and titles
• Music and lyrics

What are dialogue lists used for?

Dialogue lists are often used as a base for all other post-production scripts, which distributors and TV networks require for various processes. These may include copyright filings, legal requirements, closed captioning and foreign subtitling.

One of the most common uses is to translate the dialogue from a film or television show into a foreign language. Demand for foreign subtitles from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV has risen sharply as they reach wider audiences. Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) are also fast becoming a standard part of digital distribution.

Dialogue lists are also essential for dubbing. Dubbing is used to translate foreign-language films or TV shows to increase viewership.

Many people still wonder, “Do I really need a dialogue list?”

Imagine this scenario. Your film is set to be shown at five different international film festivals, all held in countries with different native languages. With a dialogue list at hand, it can be sent for translation into foreign subtitles straight away, which saves time and money.

Why can’t I make my own dialogue list?

Accurate transcription is a process that requires skill, patience and experience.

Many prospective customers ask why they need to hire an expert when they can transcribe the film themselves. For one, there are technicalities you would need a crash course in to compile an accurate dialogue list. If errors are made in this first building block, everyone working after you builds on those errors.

Secondly, an untrained person will take more than double the time, with a real chance of errors that may fail the distributor’s or film festival’s requirements.

What are the dialogue list file formats?

The industry standard file format for a dialogue list is Microsoft Word (.docx). It is editable, so small revisions are easy to make, and it is the format we deliver, with Excel and PDF copies of the same list at no extra charge.

Why should you choose Caption Easy?

All of our work is done by people who know the delivery standards distributors and festivals expect. Our own custom-made software supports the work, and the transcription, sync and QC are done by our team. The result is an accurate script, in which every word is transcribed, every character is identified, and every sound is noted.

One of Caption Easy’s primary goals is to take the time to understand the needs of our clients and fashion our work accordingly. We care about our customers, and our work will always be oriented to your requirements.

Need one for your film? Our dialogue list service is priced by runtime, with an instant quote and a sample you can download first.

For a side-by-side comparison of the three post-production scripts, see CCSL vs CDSL vs dialogue list.