Author: John Lindsay

Video content is the most popular and fastest-growing form of media today since people can easily share it online and view it on their mobile devices. Captions are likewise becoming commonplace, both for the hearing impaired and so that people can watch videos on mute.

Scriptwriting software is a market that is growing by more than 15%, which is evidence of just how popular video content is today. If you’re working out some captions, it’s important that you understand the different types of captioning available so that you can use software to your benefit.

These tips will teach you more about CCSL and CDSL, the benefits, and how you can make changes.

What Is CCSL?

CCSL is an acronym for Combined Continuity Spotting List. It refers to a detailed transcript of dialogue that is created for a piece of video content. This transcript is created in post-production so that networks and other broadcasting channels can take advantage of it.

Closed captioning launched in earnest in the mainstream in 1980, when major broadcast networks began using it. CCSL videos make it easy for someone to follow the dialogue for a program, and there are several benefits to exploring these options.

It Satisfies Legal Requirements

For mass-produced media, exploring CCSL options is important. Having a CCSL script helps to satisfy compliance and legal needs since you can count on the script being accurate and thorough.

The script will include all of the major elements of what appears on screen, making sure to match the audio presentation with the text. This accuracy is guaranteed since it comes direct from the source.

CCSL Streamlines Your Processes

By creating a CCSL, you will manage your continuity with more accuracy. Everything will be documented correctly and you will have a breakdown of every detail that you have to monitor.

Having this done in the form of an accurate checklist lets you coordinate efforts between several different departments without missing a beat.

You Can Lower Your Risks With CCSL

The importance of accuracy can’t be overstated when it comes to CCSL. This accuracy lowers risks and helps you reduce your business liabilities.

CCSL is a comprehensive way of handling your continuity and carves out details for the entire operation.

Making Changes to CCSL

The first thing to do when creating and making changes to a CCSL is to get detailed and organized. Make a list of your shots, the 2D or 3D visuals, dialogue, music score, sound effects, and other assets.

Create notes for every single aspect so that you are as descriptive as possible. This will keep your captions accurate and reliable. Take thorough technical notes and include them your software platform so they can help you as you go through your revisions.

What Is CDSL?

The Combined Dialogue and Spotting List (CDSL) is another way that subtitles are handled. They combine spotting and dialogue lists but do not contain visual elements.

There are several reasons why a CDSL could be just what you need.

It’s Heavily Dialogue-Focused

When you are releasing a piece of media that is dialogue-heavy, CDSL is a great idea. These scripts focus primarily on dialogue, so you can count on these parts of the script to be accurate.

Speakers are listed with every line of dialogue when these scripts are created.

The Process Becomes Easier for Creators

Having access to CDSL makes it easier for directors, talent, sound, and everyone in post-production to stay on the same page. They will have access to all of the information needed on the same sheet.

With all of this information listed in the same place, it can ease the process and give you the best chance to streamline your whole process.

You Get Accurate Timestamps and Lyrics

Since you’re interested in subtitles, you’ll be better able to handle your audio elements when you use CDSL. These scripts come equipped with accurate timestamps for every bit of dialogue that you are adding captions for.

These scripts also come with accurate song lyrics for the musical elements that you use.

Making Changes to CDSL

The most important part of CDSL creation and editing is making sure that you get character names and timestamps correctly. Compile all of these elements and go line by line when creating the dialogue for your script.

Make sure that your timestamps are accurate down to the millisecond so that it plays at the correct time as your video broadcasts.

Explore Your Video Options

Whether you need CCSL or CDSL services, always make sure that you find the company that can help you out the most. Learn more about their process, software, and experience in the industry so that you feel comfortable having them handle this work for you.

Prioritize accuracy and efficiency above all, and ask for examples of previous work that they’ve done. Make sure that you also explore your pricing options and that you get a quote for your upcoming project. This lets you know how much you need to factor in for your project and will let you move forward to streamline it in the way that makes the most sense for your production company.

Subtitles Made Simple

These tips clear things up if you need high-quality CCSL or CDSL services. It’s an important investment to make and one that requires the helping hand of the best professionals that you can find.

Back to the Paper Post Production Scripts can assist you with whatever services you’re looking for. For samples and pricing, contact us on our site or call 301-500-2123.

Have you ever dreamed of making a movie? Are you wondering how producers and directors put everything together? 

Every year, more than 700 films get released in the United States. How do so many get made? 

Look no further than a CCSL (combined continuity and spotting list). This guide will break down what this is and why each aspect is important to a CCSL film. 

What Is a CCSL? (Combined Continuity and Spotting List)

Before we can dive into each aspect of this, you need to understand what a CCSL is. Essentially, this is the screenplay of the movie. Here, every aspect of a shot or scene gets broken down. 

You will know the sounds that you should hear, the physical actions that characters should be doing, the scenery around the characters, and the dialogue. From there, directors and producers could use all of this information to film the movie exactly how it is envisioned. 

Dialogue 

Let’s start with arguably the most important aspect of a CCSL. The dialogue is the lines that each character is going to say in every scene. 

Think of it as the script in the movie. Despite everything happening around the dialogue, this is still the heart and soul of the film that you are making. 

You need to make sure that the writing here sets the tone for what you want your movie to be. 

Are you trying to make a dark film? What about a light comedy? How about an action film? 

Whatever type of genre that you are going for, you need to make sure the dialogue reflects this and that it matches the rest of the setting that you are trying to create. 

Shots 

A detail of filmography that may be overlooked by some is shots. This is every frame that a director inserts into a movie. These generally last a few seconds at most. 

To explain this more clearly, think about when you watch a film dialogue and there is a conversation going on between two characters. Do you notice how the camera angle switches to a close-up of one character’s face to the other character? 

At that moment, you are witnessing a shot change. Shots help you get an idea of what each character in the room is feeling. 

You can see the facial reactions of each character in the conversation along with any supporting characters that are reacting to the conversation that the main characters are having. 

If a director organizes shots the right way, it can create a lot more empathy for characters because the shots allow us to see how each character is feeling in a scene. 

Scenes 

Another important aspect of a CCSL is organizing the scenes that you want to portray. For those of you not familiar, a scene is when you are focusing on one area and one moment. 

For example, let’s say you have footage of two characters meeting for a drink in the bar. They are talking about something important, such as one of them falling into gambling debt and starting to feel depressed about it. 

By definition, a scene would be the entire conversation that happens in the bar. Then, if the next shot is one of these people going home to their family, that would be the start of a new scene. 

Scenes can vary in time length based on what is happening on screen. Generally, though, these only last a few minutes and are a combination of several shots filmed from different camera angles. 

Action 

As described above, dialogue is not the only thing that characters have to do while they are being filmed. Physical action is just as important in these key scenes. 

It can give you a better idea of what a character is feeling emotionally as well as give you some subtle hints as to what is about to come. 

An example is having one character speak some dialogue and then a second character’s reaction shot to this. Here, the action would be their facial expression. This character may shake their head or raise an eyebrow if they think the first character is lying about what they are saying. 

Then, other scenes simply have very limited dialogue. Here, these scenes are led by the actions going on. 

One example of this could be filming a character walking down a suburb block that should be feeling sad. You may see their head down with their hands by their side. Then, they may find an empty can and decide to throw it out of frustration. 

The action here shows you what the character should be feeling without a single word of dialogue. Sometimes, directors may choose to show emotions in films physically rather than talking about them. 

Background Setting 

Something else that you need to consider is what type of setting you want the characters to have. Sometimes, a specific item in the background can even be incorporated into the scene. 

An example can be two guys hanging out at a bar. One of them may like a particular beer that the bar sells. An item you can have in the scene can showcase the beer that the characters are tasting. 

Then, you can go into what you want to be displayed in the background. For a bar setting, you can go several ways with this. 

Do you want a bar that looks like a cabin in the mountains with wooden walls? How about a bar that is supposed to be on the rooftop of a city? 

You can also go into more details about the specifics of the bar, such as adding a certain amount of barstools, possibly a dancefloor, a front door, and more. 

Lighting 

One thing you cannot forget about in a CCSL is what type of lighting you want a scene to have. This can do a few things for a scene. 

First off, it can help tell an audience what time of day it is. You can have a brighter scene for those that take place during the day and a darker scene for those that are supposed to happen during the night. 

As a director, you can even have fun with what is supposed to be shadows with the lighting. Some clever directors may change the lighting from bright to dark in the middle of a scene to portray what a character is thinking. This could represent them going from being a hero to a villain. 

Also, the right lighting can give you an idea of what type of environment the characters are supposed to be in. A brighter setting may be a more positive environment and a darker setting could let you know that something bad is about to happen. 

Wardrobe 

Yes, this CCSL could even describe what some of the characters are wearing. Sometimes, this plays into the scene if the character is wearing something that stands out in a good or bad way. 

A woman wearing a beautiful dress could get emphasized for how it makes her look in the scene. Or, something like Jerry Seinfeld wearing a puffy pirate shirt on his show could make everyone react to how much it stands out in a bad way. 

You can also use wardrobe to give the audience subtle messages about how to feel about a certain character. If you choose a certain color shirt or dress to put the character in, that could bring out certain emotions towards that character. 

Makeup 

Last but not least, this spotting list may describe what kind of makeup the characters should be in before a scene gets filmed. 

Do you want these characters to have obvious makeup that can get commented on in the scene? How about more subtle makeup to hide certain marks or features on a person’s body? 

The exact description is up to you, but the cosmetics of a character can be very important for how they are portrayed on film.

Get Help With Your CCSL Film 

These are some things that you need to know about a CCSL (combined continuity and spotting list). 

One of the most important parts of this is the dialogue. However, you have to consider how you want shots and scenes portrayed on film. Then, consider the wardrobe, makeup, action, background setting, and more to add additional features to this film. 

Do you need help with your CCSL script? Click here to see what we can offer you. 

Have you ever wondered where the average $100 million budget for Hollywood movies goes? Every film has a lot of working parts and involves a lot more talent than the actors who appear on-screen and the director sitting behind the camera. A Combined Continuity and Spotting List (CCSL) is one of the vital secrets of  TV and film production. Don’t worry if you’re new to CCSL terminology.

We’ve broken it down below, so keep reading.

What Is a Combined Continuity and Spotting List?

A CCSL is an accompanying tool to a film script, used to ensure consistency and accuracy in editing in the post-production process. It’s one of many post-production scripts like dialog lists and as-broadcast scripts.

It does so by combining two elements: continuity and spotting.

Importance of a CCSL in Film Distribution and Post-Production

The significance of a CCSL in film distribution and post-production can’t be overstated.

It’s a standardized document that enables smooth post-production processes by including every relevant detail for editing and translation purposes. That makes a CCSL particularly important for international distribution.

Language barriers aren’t the only hurdles for subtitling, dubbing, and translation. Cultural differences pose significant challenges, which can lead to the subtext of a line of dialogue or significance or a scene getting lost.

The main benefit of a CCSL is that it ensures consistency across all aspects of production. For example, all translators and voice actors will be working from the same script that details not only the dialog but also the meaning behind it.

A CCSL can also save time during the post-production process. With all relevant information at their fingertips, post-production editors can focus on their tasks without having to constantly review the original scenes.

Finally, an often overlooked benefit of a CCSL is its role in preserving the film for future generations. This comprehensive record of a film’s content helps future filmmakers access and study its contents easily.

Key Components of a CCSL Script Service

A CCSL script service creates the Combined Continuity and Spotting List for a film. To ensure the CCSL is accurate, the scrip service must include these things:

• Scene and shot descriptions
• Dialogue
• Visual and audio cues
• Timecodes

Keep reading for a breakdown of the CCSL terminology.

Common CCSL Terminology

Broadly speaking, CCSL terminology falls into three categories:

• Continuity refers to maintaining consistency in various aspects of the film
• Spotting involves identifying specific points in the film where new elements (sound effects, music, etc) are added
• The Combined Continuity and Spotting List contains both continuity and spotting information and serves as a reference for editors, sound designers, and post-production teams

Continuity

What’s there to know? Continuity refers to what’s going on on-screen, so we’ll address these terms:

• Shot
• Scene
• Action
• Dialogue
• Props
• Wardrobe
• Makeup
• Set dressing

A shot is a single, uninterrupted sequence of frames captured by the camera. Across the film industry, the Average Shot Length (ASL) varies by genre and date. ASLs have declined steadily since the 1930s from over 12 seconds to under 3.

A scene is a collection of shots that are meant to be taken together. Usually, a scene takes place in a specific location or time.

Action describes any physical movement or activity performed by actors within a shot or scene. This could be as simple as sitting down at a table or as complicated as fixing a set of broken electronics.

Dialogue is often the meat of the scene. It refers to the spoken lines between characters.

Objects and items used to enhance storytelling are props, while the clothing and costumes they wear are described by the wardrobe.

Makeup refers to the application of cosmetics and hairstyling to achieve a desired portrayal of a character.

Finally, the set dressing describes the arrangement and decoration of physical elements of a scene.

Spotting

If continuity refers to on-screen events, spotting is what happens out of frame. The most important terms are:

• Cue
• Sound effects (SFX)
• Foley
• Music
• Dialog spotting
• Sound mixing

A cue is a specific point in a film that requires a new audio element, such as music, a sound effect, or a line of dialogue. Sound effects are artificial or enhanced sounds that are usually recorded separately from the on-set sound.

They can be used to enhance a scene and often help to fix a viewer’s attention on a particular element. For example, the sudden ringing of a telephone can draw a viewer’s eye to a nondescript phone booth at the edge of a shot.

A foley is a reproduction of everyday sound effects. Footsteps, the rustling of clothes, and objects interacting all enhance the auditory experience. Similarly, music often complements the emotional tone of a scene, and composed and selected background scores are cued in post-production.

Dialog spotting identifies specific lines or moments where dialogue needs to be enhanced or adjusted for clarity or impact.

Finally, sound mixing refers to the process of balancing various audio elements to create an immersive experience.

CCSL

The CCSL is the combination of continuity and spotting into one convenient document, and can include additional terms and annotations:

• Shot and scene numbers
• Descriptions
• Timecodes
• Subtitle time code in/out
• Continuity notes
• Spotting notes
• Dialog annotation

The shot and scene numbers are unique IDs assigned to each shot or scene. This is almost always done in numerically ascending order, beginning with a shot or scene “1”.

Detailed descriptions of visual elements, actions, dialogue, and audio cues often accompany each shot. This is to let everybody know what is happening, the background behind it, and any relevant subtext or clarification that may be needed by annotation and translation teams.

Timecodes indicate the exact start, end, and duration of a particular element within a shot or scene. Subtitle in and out timecodes dictate when a line of dialog needs to be displayed on-screen.

Continuity and spotting notes are additional observations and remarks related to visual continuity and adding or adjusting audio elements. For instance, a continuity note might clarify actor positions and set dressing.

Finally, dialog annotations add clarity to lines of dialog. They’re particularly important for subtitling and translation teams. Annotations clarify idioms, ambiguous phrases, subtext, and background information to remove ambiguity for post-production teams.

Efficient and Fairly Priced CCSL

In a globalized film industry, the importance of CCSLs is as high as ever. It’s crucial for filmmakers to stay up-to-date with CCSL terminology to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the film industry and its post-production processes.

Back To The Paper offers a variety of CCSL and CDSL services, tailored to meet the needs of different budgets. From cost-effective and simple to comprehensive and fully annotated CCSL, our pricing options are flexible. You can click here to learn more.