Two halves of the list
A delivery schedule usually splits into technical and documentation items. The technical half is what most people picture. The documentation half is what trips up first time producers.
| Technical items | Documentation items |
|---|---|
| Graded picture master in the specified format | Chain of title documents |
| Stereo and 5.1 mixes, printmaster | E&O insurance certificate |
| M&E tracks (music and effects without dialogue) | Music licenses and cue sheets |
| Dialogue, music, and effects stems | Credit block and billing requirements |
| Textless backgrounds for titled shots | Cast and crew contracts, union residual info |
| Subtitle and caption files | Lab access letter |
| Theatrical DCP if required | Copyright registration |
| Trailer, key art, stills | Final cost statement if requested |
Starting from the contract
The post-production supervisor should have a sample delivery schedule before the post budget is locked. Many indie films get one only when a sales agent or distributor signs on, which can be after the mix is done. That is how productions end up paying to reopen a mix to make stems they never saved, or rebuilding titles because no textless version exists.
If there is no buyer yet, ask a sales agent for their standard list and build toward it. Saving stems, keeping textless versions of every titled shot, and archiving the project files cost little during post and a lot afterward.
Where it goes wrong
Technical deliverables go through a QC report, and failures come back with timecodes: a dropped frame at 01:22:14:03, audio peaks above spec, a caption file out of sync. Each fix means facility time and resubmission.
Documentation fails more quietly. A missing signed release for a background actor who is recognizable, a song cleared for festivals but not for worldwide distribution, or a location agreement with a limited term will stop delivery until it is resolved. Pull these from the production files during prep and keep them organized as the shoot goes. The location release and talent release collected on set end up on this list.
Link to getting paid
Many distribution deals pay part of the minimum guarantee on delivery and acceptance. Until the distributor accepts every item, that money stays with them. Build the deliverables list into the schedule after picture lock as its own phase, with time for QC fixes, instead of treating it as a last errand.