Producing for TV and New Media: Glossary - C-D

Creatives

Above-the-line personnel, writers, actors, directors, or other key union members

Credits

The complete list of all the cast and crew who worked on a project, from its beginning to end, and who are given “credit” for their work

Cross-boarding

Shooting scenes consecutively from two or three different episodes that all take place on the same set or location

Cross-cutting

See parallel editing

Crossfade

In an audio mix, one sound is faded out as another sound fades in; similar to a visual dissolve

Cue sheet

A list of any music used on a project that includes the titles of the music selections, the composers and performing rights society affiliation, etc.

Cutaway

A shot that is inserted between two other shots. It can prevent a jarring jump cut, enhancing and adding to the edited sequence

Cyc (cyclorama)

A backdrop, like a curtain, that acts as a background for action

Dailies

The footage shot by the end of each working day

DAT (digital audio tape)

A high-quality system for recording digital sound with no
distortion, used in professional audio recording and for storing computer data

DAT

Digital audio tape

DAW (digital audio workstation)

An electronic system that uses digital audio for mixing
sounds, dialogue, music, and effects

DAW

Digital audio workstation

Deal memo

An agreement between two parties, usually between the producer and the cast, crew, writer, director, or other people who are part of the production. It defines the time to be worked and the rates to be paid, and other details

Deferment payment

When, or if, a project makes money down the line, all who agreed to defer their payments are paid later, often with interest or bonuses on top of their original salary agreement

Demographics

A precise measurement of a specific population to determine their level of interest, as consumers or viewers

Demo reel

Similar to a portfolio of short clips from a producer’s projects that show a potential client examples of the producer’s work

Deregulation

Removing government restrictions on media-related industries

Detailed budget

This budget addresses every aspect of the project’s production. Each detail in a project translates into a cost that’s part of a key budget account

DGA

Directors Guild of America

Dialogue track

An audio track on which an individual actor’s dialogue is recorded and stored. There is no other interference of music or sound effect