Are you trying to get a handle on runaway postproduction costs? Well, here’s the good news. We know a simple and obvious cost saving solution you may have overlooked. Our tip is to lower your expenses by ordering your closed captioning service together with your combined continuity and spotting list (CCSL).
How will that save you money?
This article will explain why bundling your orders makes economic sense. And we’ll even give you an idea of how much you may save. Plus, we’ll look at the additional benefits of ordering the two services together.
How Much Money Could You Save?
Let’s look at the cost of closed captioning. Back to the Paper charges a standard $6 per minute. So, a 90-minute video would cost you $450.
But if you ordered closed captioning when you order your CCSL for the same project, you would pay only $180 for the closed captioning. That’s right. You’d save $270. You would pay what amounts to only $2 per minute.
Let’s put that in perspective. Your savings of $270 would be enough to order a separate standalone closed captioning service at the regular price for a different 45-minute video.
Why is Closed Captioning Less Expensive When Bundled With CCSL?
Before we began offering postproduction scripts, such as a CCSL with film time codes or an as-broadcast script, we specialized in closed captioning. Over time, we developed a level of expertise using advanced software with a well-trained and highly skilled staff.
When it became time to expand into postproduction scripts, we realized that we could leverage our years of closed captioning experience to create a top-of-the-line CCSL. All we had to do was begin the process by making a nearly complete captioning file.
So, when we completed the CCSL, the closed captioning only needed tweaking to get it to the industry broadcast level. The process saved us time and money.
So, there was no way we were going to charge our customers the full price. Why shouldn’t they also benefit from what we were doing?
Additional Benefits of Combining Closed Captioning with CCSL
There are at least two additional benefits to combining closed captioning and CCSL. There’s a notable increase in speed when you bundle the services. And the accuracy of both documents increases.
Speed
If you were to order the services separately, there’s a duplication of effort. You’d have to fill out the same forms and answer the same questions. Plus, you’d have to make payment arrangements twice.
The situation is worse if you order the two services from two separate companies. In addition to the steps just mentioned, you’d also have to supply both companies with copies of the video. You’d also have to deal with separate company representatives and their assistants.
Accuracy
When the closed captioning and CCSL services are performed together, they should be in complete agreement. That’s why we recommend ordering the services from the same firm.
What could be more irritating than to learn that one company transcribed the dialogue differently than the other? Then when you check the source material, you learn that both transcription services were wrong. You can eliminate that problem by letting one firm, such as Back to the Paper, handle both assignments.
How Closely Related Are Closed Captioning and CCSL?
To understand the similarities and differences between closed captioning and CCSL, it’s necessary to remind ourselves of what they are and the purposes they serve.
Closed Captioning
Closed captioning was originally seen as a help to those with hearing loss. They could follow a television broadcast by reading helpful onscreen text.
However, besides the deaf and hard of hearing, it’s also used by those who are not yet comfortable understanding the spoken word in a new language.
You may have noticed that bars and restaurants often make use of subtitling services. Captions allow establishments to show a can’t-miss sporting event or news program without disturbing other customers who prefer a quiet atmosphere.
To serve its audience, closed captioning must be accurate. And it must appear on the screen at the right time. If it shows on the screen a bit too soon or a fraction too late, all the suspense or humor the scriptwriter and director put into the scene can be lost.
In addition to dialogue, closed captioning can present other helpful information. For example, it can indicate which off-camera character is speaking. Closed captioning can also note if music is playing or if there are sound effects.
CCSL
A CCSL is also a type of transcript, but it includes much more than closed captioning. It’s the marriage of two documents.
One captures the action while the other catalogs the audio. A CCSL will place the action entries on the left side of the page and the dialogue list on the right.
A CCSL is a comprehensive document that notates every cut of every scene in the video. Be aware that just one hour of a modern action movie can contain far more than 1000 cuts. The remake of “King Kong” clocked in at 187 minutes with 3,099 shots.
For each shot, the CCSL describes the angle from which the crew photographed the cut. It also includes mention of the characters, action, and scenery in the shot. And a CCSL also goes into more detail than closed captioning when describing the music and sound effects.
The CCSL is called a postproduction script because its use doesn’t come into play until the video is made. It’s not used on set. But its record of what the video contains comes in handy to help establish legal copyright ownership.
Where to Find Closed Captioning at a Reasonable Price
Can you see the financial wisdom in ordering closed captioning in conjunction with a CCSL? We hope so. We don’t want you to waste your money.
That’s why we invite you to contact Back to the Paper today. You’ve worked hard on your project. Now it’s our turn to put our closed captioning and CCSL experience to work for you.
Did you know that 61% of young people watch shows and movies with subtitles on? Over the last few years, quality video transcription became a must in the industry.
But how do you get quality subtitle writing? And how does dubbing differ from subtitles?
We will discuss these things and more in the article below! Keep reading for more on dubbing vs subtitles!
Dubbing vs Subtitles: Terms You Should Know
Think of time codes as the backbone of any video or film. They’re the way we keep track of where everything should be at any given moment in the video. It’s your video’s unique DNA or a map that pinpoints exactly where each scene or phrase goes.
Now, dubbing is when you’ve got a film or show in one language, and you replace the original dialogue with a new one in another language by using a human voice.
Subtitles, on the other hand, is the text that pop up at the bottom of your screen translating what’s being said. It’s like having a real-time translator at the bottom of your screen.
What Is CCSL?
Let’s dive into the world of CCSL, which stands for Combined Continuity and Spotting List. Imagine it as a super-detailed script for a movie or TV show that includes everything you could need to know.
It’s not just about the dialogue, but also:
The time codes
The camera movements
The music cues
And it’s not just a dialogue list of what happens, but when it happens too. This “when” is crucial when it comes to translating a video into different languages, which is where the subtitles and dubbing come in.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The time codes in a CCSL are like little breadcrumbs that show you exactly where to find the beginning and end of the following:
Each line of dialogue
Each sound effect
Each piece of music
They make sure everything fits together perfectly, like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. Without time codes, trying to match subtitles or dubbing with what’s happening on the screen would be nearly impossible.
CCSL, with its precise time codes, ensures that whether you’re reading subtitles or listening to dubbed dialogue, the experience is:
Smooth
Synchronized
Makes sense
It’s the behind-the-scenes magic that makes enjoying videos in different languages a breeze.
Time Codes In a Subtitled Video
Have you ever thought about how those lines appear at the exact right moment to match what’s being said? Well, that’s where time codes come in.
They act like precise cues in a play, telling the subtitles exactly when to enter and exit the scene. Each subtitle has its own unique time code, telling it when to appear and when to disappear, making sure it lines up perfectly with the dialogue.
Now, why is this so crucial? For starters, synchronization. Without time codes, the subtitles might pop up too early or too late, which would be confusing.
Imagine trying to follow along when the text doesn’t match the speech–it’d be like trying to dance to a song with the music playing out of sync! Plus, it’s not just about understanding the dialogue; it’s also about the experience.
A well-timed subtitle can help you:
Feel the emotion
Catch the jokes
Understand the plot twists
Of course, it’s not always a walk in the park to get the time codes just right for subtitles. It requires:
A keen ear
A sharp eye
A lot of precision
Timing is everything. If a line of dialogue is split between two shots, for example, the subtitle timing has to be adjusted so it doesn’t disappear too soon or hang around too long.
And with fast-paced dialogue or overlapping speech, things can get even trickier.
Time Codes In Dubbed Videos
Now let’s switch gears and talk about dubbing. Here, time codes are the secret sauce that makes sure everything runs smoothly. They serve as guides, telling the dubbing artists exactly when to start and stop speaking.
Now, why is this so important? Imagine watching a video where the characters’ lips move, but the words don’t match up.
It can be pretty jarring and spoils the viewing experience. Time codes help prevent that.
They ensure the dubbed dialogue is perfectly synchronized with the video, creating a seamless viewing experience. This allows viewers to follow the story more easily and focus on the:
Visuals
Emotions
Plot
However, dubbing with the help of time codes isn’t always a piece of cake. You have to make sure the dubbed speech matches the length of the original dialogue, and sometimes this can be a tricky balancing act.
Plus, the dubbing artist needs to deliver the line in a way that conveys the right emotion and matches the character’s mouth movements.
Subtitles vs. Dubbing In a Time-Coded Video
Now, when it comes to subtitles and dubbing, time codes play a similar role in both.
It’s telling a subtitle when to pop up on the screen. It can also guide a dubbing artist on when to start and stop speaking.
Time codes are all about precision and synchronization.
But while they play a similar role, the way time codes are used in subtitling and dubbing does have some differences.
For subtitles, it’s all about timing the appearance and disappearance of text to match the original dialogue. The text needs to pop up right when the line is being spoken, but it can stay on the screen for 2-3 seconds longer if there is silence after the dialogue.
The idea here is to make it easier to read. Often it’s a challenge for the viewer to watch the action on the screen and also read the subtitles. But there isn’t much that can be done about it.
Unless it can. Which means give the subtitles more time on the screen before they disappear. How is that done? By letting the subtitle hang in there if the next one has a pause before it pops up. So if a dialogue is followed by some silence, no matter how brief, we can let the subtitle remain there to give the viewer more time to read it.
Subtitles can also have two dialogues between two people appear on the screen at the same time even when the dialogue isn’t overlapping — when the characters on the screen are not speaking over each other. For example, if two people are speaking within a small time frame, both sentences can appear on the screen. This can’t happen with dubbing.
In dubbing, time codes guide when the translated speech starts and ends, and the challenge here is syncing the dubbed dialogue with the character’s lip movements.
While there is some flexibility room for subtitles, dubbing needs to be verbatim. Every word, stutter, and even a false start needs to sync up perfectly.
Are You Looking for Dubbing and Subtitling Services?
Time codes might not be the most glamorous part of watching a movie or a TV show, but they sure do play a vital role in bringing stories to life across different languages.
While the differences between dubbing vs subtitles are subtle, they can make a huge difference when creating a quality film. Most CCSL production companies do not even care about it, but we at Back To The Paper do! Our attention to detail eventually can save you a lot of money.
Are you looking for video transcription, subtitles, and dubbing? Check out our CCSL services today!
In 2020, the film industry generated about $25.9 billion. That’s a lot of money, but making the larger chunk of this change is more than about raw filmmaking talent. It’s about preparing your film for distribution, a process involving a dialogue list.
What is a Dialogue List?
A dialogue list is a time-coded post-production script that is created after the film is completely ready to be delivered. Frame precise time codes are marked at the beginning and end of when sound or dialogue occurs in a movie. It would be submitted to television or cable networks or film distributors as part of the distribution package for the film. Dialogue lists are commonly used in translation to assist translators in creating a spotting list (subtitle file) for foreign languages.
What It Looks Like
There isn’t one perfect dialogue list format. But generally, the dialogue lists will ask for the following information: timecode in and out, duration, character name, and dialogue text. Some templates incorporate other features to specify dialogue in greater detail. But generally, these are the essential pieces of information included in nearly every dialogue list template. Dialogue lists also include lyrics, music descriptions, on-screen signs, vocal sounds, and more. Dialogue lists are typically formatted and downloaded in Microsoft Word .docx format. However, many dialogue lists are also generated as PDF and XLS files.
Other List Types
Post-production scripts differ from original screenplays in function, content, and script format. Other popular post-production scripts sent to production and network companies include As-Broadcast Scripts (ABS), Combined Dialogue and Spotting List (CDSL), and Combined Continuity and Spotting List (CCSL).
The Benefits
So, why should you bother with making a dialogue list? And how can a template get you ready for distribution? For starters, there are many ways to improve the accessibility of the film-viewing experience. Creating dialogue lists for your movies is just one of them, but it’s a significant step. Subtitlers use these dialogue lists to create closed captioning on screen. Another benefit? It saves time. Doing dialogue lists yourself strikes a happy medium between efficacy and peace of mind for those in charge of film production. Other benefits of creating and using a dialogue list are that it can typically cut down on translation costs, it can improve overall quality control of the production, and offer globalization/streaming opportunities!
Creating Great Lists
Creating an excellent dialogue list doesn’t have to be a daunting task. But for those who aren’t sure how to get started, we’ve got a few tips on writing an effective dialogue list.
Verbatim or not: First, decide if the dialogue list needs to be verbatim or not. By verbatim we mean should every sound be transcribed? Including false starts, mumbles, and stutters. While having a verbatim dialogue list can be very helpful, in fact, it is critical, for dubbing purposes, it can actually be detrimental for subtitles.
Duration of the dialogue: This will be tricky for you if you are creating a dialogue list yourself. We manually capture the in and out time codes using our captioning software and the duration is just simply calculated by the software. Having accurate duration is also critical for dubbing.
Accurate description of sound effects: Another tip? Make sure you specify the details for all the sound effects. The descriptions must be specific enough to properly immerse viewers who aren’t listening to the movie but just seeing it in their minds by only reading the dialogue exchange between characters. Remember: it’s not about making your prose look pretty. It’s about correctly communicating the aesthetic events of your movie to your film’s audience.
And finally, we encourage you to not just double or even triple-check for errors. but to quadruple-check. This will save you a ton of time and free you from frustration when everything reaches distribution.
At Back to the Paper, we understand the importance of a film reaching a broad audience. That’s why we offer plenty of professional, sleek dialogue list templates! Check them out today. And if you enjoyed the video, then be sure to like, comment, and subscribe!
When you are ready to move ahead, this is what we’ll need from you:
– A low resolution downloadable proxy video with window burn (BITC). Anything around 2GB is fine (but the smaller the better as long as the audio is clear and visuals are sharp).
If you send us a Vimeo or a Dropbox link, please make them downloadable.
