The document that makes your film
speakable in any language.
A Dialogue Spotting List is a complete, frame-accurate transcript of every word spoken in a finished film — formatted specifically for use by dubbing studios, subtitle houses, and foreign language distributors. Unlike a standard script or production transcript, a dialogue spotting list is created from the locked picture and reflects exactly what was said, not what was written.
Every line of dialogue is assigned a precise timecode in and out point — the exact frame where the line begins and ends on screen. This allows dubbing actors to match their performance to the original lip movements, and subtitle translators to time their text to the exact rhythm of the original dialogue.
Without an accurate dialogue spotting list, international distributors cannot create dubbed or subtitled versions of your film. A dialogue spotting list is a component of a full CCSL. If your distributor requires a complete CCSL — which includes the music cue sheet, sound effects spotting, and on-screen text — you need our CCSL Creation Service instead.
View our full CCSL creation service →
Every word. Every frame.
Precisely documented.
A Gotham CCSL dialogue spotting list is prepared manually from your locked picture — not generated from a production script or automated transcription tool. Every entry is verified against the finished film, frame by frame.
Every word spoken in the film is transcribed exactly as delivered — including contractions, colloquialisms, incomplete sentences, and overlapping dialogue. No paraphrasing, no correction, no editorial judgment.
- Every word exactly as spoken
- Contractions and colloquialisms preserved
- Incomplete sentences flagged
- Overlapping dialogue noted
- Whispered and shouted lines noted
- Off-screen dialogue identified
Every line of dialogue is assigned a precise timecode in and out point — the exact frame where the line begins and the exact frame where it ends. This is the critical reference that dubbing actors and subtitle translators work from.
- Timecode in — first frame of dialogue
- Timecode out — last frame of dialogue
- SMPTE format — drop or non-drop
- Verified against locked picture
- Compatible with all NLE systems
- Your platform's timecode standard applied
Every line of dialogue is attributed to the correct speaking character — including unnamed characters, groups, crowds, and voice-over narrators. Essential for dubbing directors casting replacement voices for each role.
- Named characters identified
- Unnamed characters described
- V.O. narrators flagged separately
- Group dialogue noted
- On-screen vs off-screen noted
- Phone and radio dialogue flagged
All dialogue entries are referenced to scene numbers from the locked script, providing dubbing studios and subtitle houses with a clear structural map of the film alongside the timecode references.
- Scene numbers — locked script
- Interior / exterior noted
- Day / night noted
- Location references included
- Scene transitions flagged
- Montage sequences identified
The essential document for
international film distribution.
A dialogue spotting list sits at the center of the international localization pipeline. Every professional involved in taking your film to a foreign audience — from dubbing directors to subtitle translators — depends on it.
Dubbing studios use the dialogue spotting list as the primary reference document when creating foreign language versions of your film. The timecode in and out points tell dubbing actors exactly when to begin and end each line — ensuring their performance matches the lip movements of the original actors on screen. Without an accurate spotting list, dubbing directors cannot work efficiently and sync errors are inevitable.
Subtitle translators and subtitle houses use the dialogue spotting list as the source document for creating foreign language subtitles. The timecodes define exactly when each subtitle card must appear and disappear on screen. A precise spotting list means faster, more accurate subtitle production — and fewer correction cycles before delivery.
Foreign sales agents and international distributors require a dialogue spotting list as part of the technical delivery package when licensing your film to foreign territories. It is the document they pass directly to local dubbing and subtitle partners in each country — making it one of the most-traveled documents in your entire delivery package.
Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV+, and other streaming platforms require dialogue spotting lists as part of the localization package for content distributed in multiple languages. When your film goes live on a platform in 15 countries simultaneously, the dialogue spotting list is the document that made every one of those foreign language versions possible.
Simple per-minute pricing.
Fixed-price quotes.
Dialogue spotting list pricing is based on the runtime of your locked picture. Every quote is fixed-price — no hidden fees, no revision charges, no surprises.
A 90-minute feature film = $1,260 fixed price
- Verbatim dialogue — every word
- Frame-accurate timecode in/out
- Character identification per line
- Scene numbers — locked script
- V.O. and narration flagged
- Lip-sync timing references
- All formats — Excel, PDF, CSV
- Full QC review before delivery
- Revisions at no additional cost
If your distributor or streaming platform requires a full CCSL — which includes the dialogue continuity, music cue sheet, sound effects spotting list, and on-screen text — our CCSL Creation Service covers everything from $16–$18 per minute.
View CCSL Creation Services →All quotes are fixed-price — no surprises. The price you receive in your quote is the price you pay. Runtime is calculated from your locked picture. Contact us with your runtime and platform and we'll return a quote within one business day.
Delivered on time.
Every time.
Turnaround begins the business day after we receive your locked picture and dialogue transcript. Every project receives a confirmed delivery date in writing before work begins. We have never missed a confirmed delivery deadline.
Dialogue spotting lists for short-form content under 30 minutes runtime.
Television episodes, mid-length documentaries, and extended shorts.
Standard turnaround for feature films and feature-length documentaries.
Long-form documentaries, extended cuts, and films over two hours.
Contact us to discuss your deadline. Rush delivery available subject to current scheduling.
We regularly handle expedited dialogue spotting list requests for filmmakers facing acquisition deadlines, festival technical submissions, and last-minute distributor requirements. Contact us before submitting — we'll confirm availability and turnaround in writing before work begins.
Discuss your deadline →From locked picture to
dubbing-ready delivery.
Every Gotham CCSL dialogue spotting list project follows the same four-step process — designed to ensure frame-accurate results, on-time delivery, and a document your dubbing studio and subtitle house can work from immediately.
Send your locked picture and working transcript. We confirm your spec and return a fixed quote with a delivery date.
Our specialists watch your film frame by frame — transcribing every word and assigning precise timecode in and out points to every line.
Every entry is reviewed against the locked picture before delivery. Timecodes verified. Dialogue confirmed verbatim. No exceptions.
Your completed spotting list arrives in all required formats — ready for immediate use by your dubbing studio or subtitle house.
Send us your locked picture and a working dialogue transcript — it doesn't need to be perfect, we verify every line against the picture. We confirm your delivery format requirements, return a fixed-price quote, and set a confirmed delivery date. Response within one business day of receiving your materials.
Our specialists watch your locked picture from start to finish — transcribing every word verbatim, assigning frame-accurate timecode in and out points to every line, identifying every speaking character, and flagging voice-over, off-screen dialogue, and overlapping lines. All work is done manually. No automated transcription tools.
Before delivery, every entry in the spotting list is reviewed against your locked picture. We verify the timecode in and out for every line, confirm the dialogue is transcribed verbatim, check all character identifications, and ensure the document is formatted to your distributor's or dubbing studio's current requirements.
Your completed dialogue spotting list is delivered via secure file transfer in Excel, PDF, and CSV formats. If your dubbing studio or subtitle house requests any revisions after delivery, we handle them at no additional cost. We remain available to answer questions from your localization partners throughout the production process.
Built to the standard your
partners actually need.
Every dialogue spotting list we produce is formatted to the current technical requirements of your platform, distributor, or dubbing studio — so it can be used immediately without reformatting or correction.
Dialogue spotting done
by specialists.
We do not use AI transcription software or automated spotting tools. Every dialogue spotting list is prepared manually by our specialist team — watching your locked picture frame by frame, verifying every word, and assigning timecodes by hand. Automated tools produce errors that cause rejection and costly revision cycles.
Every timecode in and out point in our spotting lists is verified against your locked picture before delivery. Dubbing studios depend on frame-accurate timecodes to sync replacement dialogue. A single incorrect timecode can cause a sync error that requires a full re-record — we eliminate that risk at the source.
Our spotting lists are formatted to the exact requirements of your dubbing studio or subtitle house before delivery. We understand what localization partners need and we build to that standard — so your document can be used immediately without reformatting, correction, or back-and-forth.
Every dialogue spotting list is quoted at a fixed price before work begins. At $14 per minute of runtime, you know the exact cost before we start. No hourly billing, no scope creep, no revision charges. The price in your quote is the price you pay.
The whole team delivered us a perfect CCSL for our 2 hour feature documentary as part of our deliverables to Netflix. I would highly recommend them and will use them again.
Philip reviews every dialogue spotting list personally before delivery. 20+ years in post-production. NYC-based. Nationally served.
Ready to make your film
speakable in every language?
Tell us your runtime and delivery format. We'll confirm turnaround and fixed-price quote within one business day.