Descriptive Video Works

Netflix Portal
Writer Training Guide

Revision 12

Nov 2022

by Peter Gillespie
peter@descriptivevideoworks.com
Table of Contents

1 Introduction

2 The Netflix Portal Writing Process

o AD Writing Tips

3 Accessing the Portal and Familiarization

o Customized View Window
o Video Window Customization and Familiarization
o Edit Timeline Familiarization

4 Adding Descriptive Video

o Defining a Character
o Adding Events
o Manipulating Events
o Deleting Events

5 Important Notes Regarding Events

o General Items
o Overlapping Audio and Events
o Clipped Events

6 Annotation and Tag Editors

o Annotation Editor
o Tag Editor

7 Voice Editor
o Abbreviation
o Emphasis
o Phonetic
o Prosody
o Say As

6 Project Completion
o English
o Multi-Language

7 The QC Process

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8 Tips and Techniques
o Spellcheck
o What – No Synthesized Voice?
o Initiating a Project
o Project Volume
o The Playhead Bar
o Inserting a Pause into the Script
o Video Manipulation Controls
o Keyboard Shortcuts that don’t Save
o Re-opening a Project

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Revision Tracking

Revision 01 | Feb 18 22
• Inception of Guide.

Revision 02 | Mar 18 22
• Added navigation tips for the video window (page 8)

Revision 03 | Mar 28 22
• Added process for re-opening a project after the ‘Complete’ button has been selected under Tips and Techniques.
• Added reminder about deleting empty script boxes.

Revision 04 | Apr 06 22
• added section ‘for Reviewers ONLY’.
• revised ‘Completed Policy’ for English writers.
• updated QC Review process.

Revision 05 | Apr 26 22
• added note regarding leaving at least 1 second before writing AD, at the beginning of the program.
• added note regarding not overlapping program dialogue within a show.

Revision 06 | May 03 22
• added section on QC process for all Multilanguage projects.
• revised Annotations and Tag Editor Functions.
• added ‘Writing Tips’ after ‘Netflix Process’.
• added Foreign Language warning under AD Writing Tips.

Revision 07 | Jul 21 22
• added a section on spell check.

Revision 08 | Aug 31 22
• added a section at the end of the Guide on the QC process.
• revised the entire QC process.

Revision 09 | Sep 22 22
• revised contacts
• updated Netflix Portal links

Revision 10 | Sep 26 22
• revised QC procedure to mimic Administrator’s manual

Revision 11 | Sep 26 22
• changed function of Annotation and Tag editor fields.

Revision 12| Oct 17, 22

• reverted to Revision 10 as feature request was added to enlarge Annotations Editor field.
• removed QC functions for QC personnel and put in separate manual.
• added overlapping events in the timeline.
• added section ‘Customized View Window’ and referenced Auto Duration events.
• added searching for empty boxes
• added hack for changing Prosody rate on all new script events.

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Introduction

The Netflix portal is used in two different ways be DVW writers:

• by DVW English Writers to produce scripts that will be recorded and mixed in DVW studios, and
• by Multilanguage Writers to produce synthesized narration.

This Guide will give the user step-by-step instructions on how to effectively utilize the portal to write and
publish DVW scripts and synthesized voice programs. While the synthesized voice feature can be used to hear
AD narration in the portal for English writers, the goal is to produce studio scripts. For multi-language writers,
however, the main goal is to produce a finished Synthesized AD product within the portal.

It is important to note that Netflix continues to upgrade the features in the portal, so at any point in time, this
guide may be missing steps, or not discuss a feature which may have been added.

To begin, users need to be granted access to the Netflix portal. Please consult the Creative Services and/or
Production Manager to gain access to the portal.

If you have questions regarding the portal and its use, please contact (all @ names are
@descriptivevideoworks.com)

• Creative Questions Creative Services Manager Laura Davies laura@

International Operations Manager Chana Smith chana@
• Technical Questions Client Services Manager Melissa Hope melissa@
VP Operations Peter Gillespie peter@

Note that a User’s Guide has been produced by Netflix, which details the functions of every button, switch, and
option. It can be accessed here:

Netflix User’s Guide

Note – There are tips throughout the guide for multi-Language writers. They will be identified with
this logo!

While this guide outlines the QC functions for the writer, it is not a guide for QC personnel. QC
personnel should consult the separate guide titled ‘Netflix Portal QC Guide’.

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The Netflix Portal Writing Process

Writer
Writer
PM Signs into NF
Writer COMPLETES
Assigns Project to Portal with
STARTS project 3 project & notifies
Writer 1 supplied link or
PM 4
via Dashboard 2

PM
PM QC or Check Project
Assigns Project to Proofs Project & Writer and submits
QC 5 notifies PM 6 Updates Project COMPLETE 8
and notifies PM 7

The Netflix Portal Writing Process consists of the following:

1. The Project Manager assigns a project to the writer.
2. The Writer opens the project via their dashboard.
3. The Writer begins scripting the project by first pressing the START button.
4. The Writer completes the project by pressing the COMPLETE button and sends a note to the Project
Manager.
5. The Project manager assigns the project to QC proofing.
6. The QC proofer provides project comments in the Annotations field. When complete, the QC person DOES
NOT hit complete.
7. The PM informs the writer that the project has been QCed. The writer re-opens the project and completes
changes based on the QC notes. The writer removes QC notes as each event is corrected.
8. When all QC changes have been made, the writer submits the project to Netflix by selecting the
COMPLETE button.

AD Writing Tips

Writing AD in the Netflix portal takes some adaptation, as there are many constraints. Generally,
there will be only small timeframes to summarize your ideas within. Although correct grammar is
necessary, in many cases, phrases can be shortened to fit within a gap in dialogue by removing
unnecessary words. Sometimes this does not sound as polished or as eloquent as the writer would
like it to be. In all cases, however, it is not acceptable to go over program dialogue. In fact, at least a 4
frame ‘silent’ buffer needs to be left between the start and end of AD, and the program dialogue.

Foreign Dialogue Note

Occasionally there may be a program which has been dubbed to another language but
has scenes in a different language but does not have subtitles (note that the locked
proxy may have the subtitles, but they may not be present on the final proxy). So, if
you hear foreign dialogue, inform your Project Manager who will help you best
determine how to process the foreign dialogue.

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Accessing the Portal and Familiarization

Users access their dashboard through the following address:

Netflix Portal Link

Users are assigned projects by the Creative Services Manager. Only projects which have been assigned to you
will appear in the portal. Select the project that is to be edited and open it. To begin writing the project, click
the blue START button in the upper right-hand side of the screen.

To fully understand the directions in this manual, it will be useful to identify the various sections of the
authoring tool. The main areas of the Netflix authoring tool window are:

• The Video Window – where the user can view and manipulate the proxy video
• The Edit Window – where the user can view the audio waveform and Audio Description that has been
created
• The Script Window (or Events Panel) – where the script events are made, manipulated and shown.

Script Window

Video Window

Edit Timeline

• The Character Window – accessed by selecting the word ‘CHARACTER’ (beside the word ‘SCRIPT’).
New characters can be made in this window, and existing characters can be viewed or edited.

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• At the top left-hand side of the screen there will be important information about the program that is being
edited.

Utilized for Proxy comparison.

Program Name and Episode Title This can be ignored.

Task Tags
Audio Description Language Task

• The following information will be displayed on the upper right-hand side of the screen:

2. Reference materials, if 4. The script is

available. successfully auto saving.

1. Allows user to upload an 5. User Profile

existing script (.csv or .ttal) Information
3. Edit Keyboard shortcuts

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Customize View Window

The Customized View Window is accessed by selecting the GEAR icon at the upper right-hand side of the script
window.

Click on the Gear to access the

‘Customized View’ Menu

• First, ensure that the proper scripts are in view by clicking the drop-down menu under ‘Script View’ and
selecting the applicable selection. Note that ‘Dialogue’ (preferred) will open a single script window
whereas all other selections will open a double script window. Double script windows are utilized when it
is useful to see original scripts and/or comparison between scripts is valuable. Note that Audio Description
is listed simply as ‘Description’.

Single Window

Side by Side
Windows

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• Next, ensure that the options selected match the following:

Defaults for the options

should look like this.

To change an option, click on the button to

move it to ON or OFF, then select APPLY

You are welcome to experiment with these to see what effect they have on your workspace, but note that
some of them will not work as they don’t apply to AD. The second most important feature (after Script
View) is ‘AD Auto Duration’ as explained below. (Also see ‘Clipped Events’ under the ‘Important Notes
Regarding Events’ section.

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• Auto Duration

‘Auto Duration’ allows the graphic box on the timeline, (the AD event
on the timeline), to automatically adjust to the correct length based on
the amount of text inputted into the event. As such, the box itself
should not need to be lengthened or shortened after being typed,
because the box automatically fits to a correct AD event duration. As
such, it is recommended that the writer works with this ON when
composing events.

CAUTION – when this toggle is ON, an event can be moved in the

timeline, but it cannot be manually lengthened or shortened. If an
event must be lengthened or shortened, then this toggle must be
toggled to OFF first.

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Video Window Familiarization and Navigation
When a project is launched, the video proxy should be loaded into the video window. If it is not, consult your
project manager. Controls at the bottom of the video window will appear when you place the mouse cursor
near the bottom of the screen.

To begin, ensure the Edit window is open by clicking the arrow beside the word ‘Editor’.

Click the down error to

Open the Editor

Keyboard shortcuts are useful to assign to some of these functions for faster manipulation of events.
However, the most useful keyboard shortcut is the spacebar, which stops and starts the video! Please see the
Netflix user manual for assignment of keyboard shortcuts.

Useful keyboard shortcuts which are already programmed, include:

• Spacebar = Stop and Start
• Go to Start of File = click and hold the slider bar on the video window, then drag back to the
start of file, or type ‘00000000’ in the timecode box to the right of the eye in the video window and hit
enter (colons are not necessary).
• Setting Timecode IN = click down on desired point in the edit timeline and select CONTROL+I
• Setting Timecode OUT = click down on the desired point in the edit timeline and select CONTROL+O

Note that some of the functions J through N may send the application into an endless loop.
If this occurs, close the program and re-launch.

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Edit Timeline Familiarization
The first important task to perform in the edit window is to ensure the tracks that you need to work with are
available on the Edit Timeline.
• Select the drop-down menu beside the EYE, then check the tracks that are to be displayed on the Edit
Timeline. Note that the selection ‘Audio Description’ is not for the Audio Description that you will be
composing. Instead, it refers to previous Audio Description, if available (usually the original English AD).

The View drop down

menu, determines the
track information that is
displayed in the timeline

• To navigate quickly to a certain point in the script, CLICK + HOLD + DRAG the scrollbar at the bottom of
the timeline.
• To see more (reduce) or less (enlarge) of the timeline, CLICK + HOLD + DRAG the white outlined buttons
at either edge of the scroll bar.

To scroll to a point in the To enlarge or reduce the amount of

show, CLICK + HOLD = timeline visible, CLICK + HOLD +
DRAG in the centre of DRAG the white circle at either end
the scroll bar of the scroll bar

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 Note – Text will appear to be ‘squished’ or ‘jumbled’ when the timeline is in a reduced (see more)
mode. As such, users should scroll to the applicable part in the script, then enlarge the timeline to
view the event’s text clearly.

All events are displayed in a dialogue box. The color of the dialogue box corresponds to the color that has
been associated with each character. Notice the following behaviors regarding the edit timeline:
• An entire event can be moved by hovering the mouse over the center of the dialogue box in the timeline,
waiting until the cursor changes to a white hand, the CLICK + HOLD + DRAG the event to where it should
be placed.
• Selecting any event in the script window will automatically relocate the edit timeline to that place in the
video. Note that the opposite is true as well, clicking a dialogue box in the edit window will relocate the
script window to that event.
• An event can be lengthened or shortened by hovering the mouse over the beginning or end of an event,
ensuring the mouse cursor changes to a double black arrow, the CLICK + HOLD + DRAG.
• To hear synthetic audio, ensure the blue ‘M’ (mute) is deselected.

Selecting an event in the script window

will cause the edit window to jump to that
point in the program

The event can be lengthened or shortened by hovering the mouse

over the beginning or end of the event, ensure the mouse changes
Deselect the ‘M” to a black double arrow, then CLICK + HOLD + DRAG
to hear synthetic
audio

The entire event can be moved by hovering the mouse over the dialogue box,
ensure the mouse cursor turns to a hand, then CLICK + HOLD + DRAG

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Adding Descriptive Video

Multilanguage note – blank events may appear in your script where there was previously
English AD. These can be utilized to type text within (and subsequently adjust), used as
reference (then deleted), or deleted from the outset. To delete an event, see the ‘Deleting
Events’ section below.

DO NOT leave any blank script events (text boxes) in your script. Ensure you delete all of
them BEFORE completing your script.

Multilanguage – There
may be blank event
boxes in the project.
These were where there
was previously AD in
English

Defining a Character
To begin, add a character called ‘Narrator’.
• Select ‘Characters’ above the script window.
• Name the character ‘Narrator’ and choose an appropriate background color. The background color will be
displayed in the event bar in the edit timeline.
• Choose ‘Voice Settings’, then choose the applicable character name, gender, language, and default voice.
• Most languages have more than the ‘default’ synthetic voice to choose from so you may need to
experiment to find one that is suited to the project.
• CONFIRM the selection.

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 If different voices/accents etc. are required, each voice type should be assigned to a different
character. When writing the script, select the applicable character (thus the applicable voice) for
each event!

1. Select ‘Characters 4. Name the 5. Assign the

then ‘Add New’ character ‘Narrator’ character gender.

2. Name the character

‘Narrator’ and select a
color. The color will be 6. Choose the 7. Select the
the background color of applicable language applicable type of
the event bar in the edit voice.
timeline.

3. Select ‘Voice Settings’

To DELETE an existing character:

• highlight that character.
• select the three dot ellipses to the right of the gear.
• select DELETE EVENT, then CONFIRM.

NOTE that a character is deleted that is currently assigned to a script event, the script event will go
blank and register as ‘no character’.

Adding Events
To ADD an event:
• select ‘Add Event’ above the timeline or the ‘Add New’ above the script window or press the letter I on the
keyboard.
• type the event in the appropriate language box in the script pane.
• select a character (Narrator).
• IGNORE the drop-down field to the right of the character field (ON, ON/OFF etc). This is utilized for
character placement in dubbing events and does not apply to Audio Description.
• Note that if ‘Auto Duration’ is ON, the length of the box on the timeline will STRETCH to fit the size of the
event, so very little adjustment to the length of the box will be needed!

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 Ignore this field

• click off the event when you are done or press the X in the upper right-hand corner of the event. There is
no need to ‘save’ it as it will be automatically saved.

3. Select a character.

2. Type in the text of the

event in the appropriate
box.

1. Select ‘Add Event’

4. The event will appear

on the timeline.

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• note the following options near the top of the script event window:

Event Clear Merge

Number Italics Formatting Event

Toggle Bold Split Event Delete

Event

Toggle Event Plays the current event over and over in a loop.
Italics Produces italics in the script. Note that to enable italics, a portion of the script needs to
be highlighted before pressing this button.
Bold Produces BOLD in the script. Note that to enable bold a portion of the script needs to
be highlighted before pressing this button.
Clear Style Clear all styles utilized in the script box. Note that to enable Clear Style, the script in the
event box needs to be highlighted.
Split Event Split the event into two events, based on the cursor position in the event.
Merge Event Combines the current and following events, into one event.
Delete Deletes the script event.

For multilanguage users, if the ‘blank’ event is to be utilized, simply double click the event in the
script window and start typing!

Manipulating Events
If you are working in manual mode, without ‘Auto Duration’ ON, you will notice that when an event is placed
on the edit timeline, it may be squished and hard to read. If an event needs to be reduced in size, or
stretched;

• To reduce or lengthen the box the event is in, hover the mouse over the end of the event. When the
cursor changes to a double black arrow CLICK + HOLD + DRAG the box to the appropriate size.
• Place the event in the appropriate position by hovering the mouse over the center of the event. When the
mouse changes to a white hand. CLICK + HOLD + DRAG the event.

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 Move the event to an appropriate position by hovering
the mouse over the center of the event. When it
changes to a white hand, CLICK + HOLD + DRAG the
event to an appropriate position.

Lengthen the event to an appropriate read rate by

hovering the mouse at the end of the event. When it
changes to a double black arrow, CLICK + HOLD +
DRAG the event to lengthen.

Note that word spacing within an event cannot be changed. If an event is too long to fit within a
space, it must be edited to fit.

Deleting Events
There are many ways to delete an event:
• Highlight the event in the timeline and select ‘Backspace’. Then ‘Confirm’.
• Highlight an event in the script window. Select the three Ellipses in the upper right-hand corner, then
select ‘Delete’ from the bottom of the list, then ‘Confirm.
• To delete many events at once, in the Script Window note the event number of the first and last events,
then select the Ellipses in the upper right-hand corner, choose ‘Select Range’, type in the event number of
the first and the last event in the ‘From’ and ‘To’ boxes, choose ‘Select’, choose the Ellipses button in the
right-hand corner, select ‘Delete’ from the bottom of the list, select ‘Confirm’.

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Important Notes Regarding Events

Please note the following important items, regarding events:

General Items
• Do not overlap audio description with show dialogue. Instead, leave at least 4 frames (a pause) between
end of dialogue and beginning of the ad event, and 4 frames (a pause) between end of the ad event and
program dialogue.

Overlapping Audio and Events

• Do not place audio description within the first second of the program. The first Audio Description event
MUST start more than one second into the show.
• This is a difficult concept, but the audio playback of Synthesized Voice in the Portal, often does not match
the graphic representation of the event in the edit timeline (see the event just below the timeline). So, if
you are using audio alone to determine where an event should be placed, then sometimes you may get
overlapping events. The best practice is to ensure that the graphic representation of the event in the
timeline is complete, before inserting the following event (and of course that there is a pause between
events and/or a pause between the event’s start and end and program dialogue). This diagram may make
this concept a little clearer:

But the graphical representation of the event

It sounds like the audio stops here actually ends here

So the next event cannot start until here. 4 frames after If you rely only on audio to place the following event, it
the end of the graphical representation of the previous is possible the event will start too early. This will result
event. in an overlapping of events and cutting off the audio of
the preceding event.

Clipped Events
Another difficult concept, but it is possible to write events which sound fine on playback but are actually
‘clipped’ or cut off prematurely. Generally, this occurs when events are placed in the timeline, then shortened
too much. Events which are clipped can be heard on playback when playing back the timeline, starting at least
4 seconds before an event. In other words, start your review playback well before the graphic representation
of the event in the timeline. IF you start playback immediately at the beginning of the event, you may not
hear if an event has been ‘clipped’.

One way to ensure events are not clipped is to use ‘Auto Duration’. Refer to the ‘AD Auto Duration’ settings
under the Customized View’ section above.

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Annotations and Tag Editors

It is important to understand how DVW specifically utilizes the Annotations and Tag Editor fields. Both fields
can be accessed within a script event, at the bottom of the screen:

Annotations
Editor

Tag Editor

Selecting either of these buttons will open an extended window below the script event window.

Annotations Editor
The Annotations Editor field is to be utilized by DVW Writers and QC personnel as a ‘DVW only’ field, to note
important internal messages. The messages can include (but not limited to):
• writers alerting the QC person of specific issues with the event including xxx.
• QC personnel supplying notes to the writer as to how or what needs fixing in an event.

Note that all internal comments in the Annotation field should be deleted either:
• when they are acted on. For example:
o a QC person would delete a writer’s message when they are QCing the event.
o a Writer would delete a QC comment when making corrections after the show has been QCed.
• before the project is submitted to Netflix.

Tag Editor
The ‘Tag Editor’ field is to be utilized by DVW Writers to supply any comments which should permanently stay
with the show. Examples of comments that would be applicable to this field include:
• [Over Background] When the narration is meant to be over loud background noises.
• [Pronunciation] To leave a note if a phonetic pronunciation was not possible with the synthetic
voice utilized or why a phonetic spelling was utilized in a certain circumstance.
• [Alert] To reference something that was done on purpose, that may look like a mistake
to the proofer.
• [Explanation] To provide further explanation on an event, subtitle, foreign word, etc.
• [Anticipated]* To note that the audio description was put before the action on screen, on
purpose.
• [Delayed]* To note that the audio description was put after the action on screen, on
purpose.
* Note that these are only necessary in extreme cases.

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Voice Editor

Caution – this area has an extensive feature set, most of which you will not utilize when writing
English Audio Description. The tools will be more beneficial however, to multilanguage writers.

The tools in this section are here to help in situations where:

• abbreviations in the script need defining.
• emphasis needs to be added to a word or phrase.
• a different language needs to be utilized for a word or phrase.
• phonetic pronunciations need to be defined.
• volume, pitch, or read rate of a word, phrase, or the entire event needs to be adjusted. (See special note
under Tips and Techniques).
• a word definition is needed where the same spelling of a word may result in two or more different
meanings.

The Voice Editor is accessed by selecting this symbol, below the script event window:

Voice Editor

In all cases, when using the Voice Editor, the user must first select the word or phrase that is to be adjusted,
then select the functions that need to be applied to the word or phrase. After the selections have been made
and the event exited, the user will see the applicable words and/or phrases underlined in the script.

Combining functions can result in undesired behaviour. Try not to combine more than a few
functions per event.

Many of the following Voice Editor functions had limited use in our testing and in many cases,
did not work at all.

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Each area of the Voice Editor is explained below.

ABBREVIATION
- defines an abbreviation utilized in the script. The synthetic voice will replace the abbreviation in the script
with the word placed in the Alias box.
Example: The Dr. visited the patient. Dr would be read as ‘Doctor’.

When read, dr. would be

read as Doctor

EMPHASIS
To supply emphasis to word or phrase.
• Emphasis selections include STRONG, MODERATE, and REDUCED.

PHONETIC

To be utilized by Multilanguage writers Only!

Google phonemes and levels of stress document shows which phonemes are supported to indicate the right
pronunciation of a word. Select this link for a list of phonemes unique to each language.

https://cloud.google.com/text-to-speech/docs/phonemes

An example of phonetic use is the conjunction ‘que’ in Spanish. To ensure this is pronounced sounding as ‘K’
rather than ‘cue’ it would be highlighted, then defined as a ‘k’ Phenome in the ipa Alphabet.

This had limited success in our testing.

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PROSODY
Prosody controls allow the user to control the volume, pitch and rate of a word or phrase within a script event.
• Volume of a word or phrase can go from silent to extra loud. Note that this is NOT to be used for
adjusting the overall relative volume of AD to the program audio track (see ‘Project Volume’ under tips
and techniques).
• Pitch of a word or phrase can go from extra low to extra high.
• Read rate of word or phrase can go from extra slow to fast.

To apply a default Prosody rate to all new script events, create an AD script event with the
Prosody setup that is desired (for example, x-fast), then ‘copy’ that box. The next AD boxes
pasted in the timeline will keep the same prosody. Remember to check the synthetic voice in all
Prosody events, to ensure it is clear and understandable.

SAY AS
To define the meaning of a number as:
• Cardinal a number denoting quantity as one, two, three
• Ordinal a number defining a position in a series - first, second, third
• Digits each digit spoken in a series (example 100 as one-zero-zero)
• Fraction spoken as a fraction, rather than the numbers. (Example: one-quarter, rather than one over
four)
• Unit the number, letter, or combination thereof which designates a Unit.
• Time a number as a unit of time.

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Project Completion

When you complete your project, before submission to ensure all events are accurate, it is a good idea to
watch the entire program through from the beginning to end.

As well, before you submit your project, please check that there are no EMPTY boxes left on the edit
timeline. This can be done by:

• selecting the ‘Filter’ Icon below the script

• check the box ‘No Text’ in the options
• press ‘Select’
• all empty boxes will be displayed in the script window

Select the Filter Icon

Then check ‘No Text’ and

‘Select’

Please also note, that when a project is submitted, Netflix does an auto check to see if there are any
empty boxes. If there are, you will receive an error message similar to this, on submission:

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If this should occur, return to the project then find, and remove, any empty boxes.

The final Project completion steps differ for English vs multi-language writers.

English
English writers need to export a script from the portal and send it to the studio:
• IF the writer would like to keep a copy of the script for reference, export an Excel script by performing the
following:
o choose the Ellipses in the upper right-hand corner of the program
o choose ‘Export XLSX’
o either select the download at the bottom of the browser or find the file in the downloads folder and
click on it.
o note that ALL available fields will be exported.

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 1. Choose the Ellipses

2. Export an Excel Script

by selecting this option

• when the project has been completed, select the COMPLETE button.
• the Project Manager will facilitate exporting the script for the studio.
• email your project manager to inform them the project has been completed.

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Multi-Language
Multilanguage writers need to ‘complete’ the project:
• Select the ‘complete’ button in the upper right-hand corner when you have completed your project.
• IF the writer desires a reference script, before selecting COMPLETE, a script can be exported as such:
- choose the Ellipses in the upper right-hand corner of the program
- choose ‘Export XLSX’ (refer to the graphic above)
- either select the download at the bottom of the browser or find the file in the downloads folder and
click on it. Then SAVE the file!
• email your Project Manager to inform them the project has been completed.

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The QC Process

This section applies to the review/QC process ONLY, immediately after the show is complete and the
writer has selected the COMPLETE button.

• After the PM has been notified that the project is complete, the PM will assign a QC person. The
QC person will:
- proof the project for technical errors such as dialogue overlaps, clipping, etc., and correct if
they are easy to facilitate.
- proof the project for grammatical errors and overall AD appropriateness.
- the QCer will delete any comments the writer specifically left for QC (in the Annotations Editor
field) and add a comment to all the lines that the writer needs to fix in the same Annotations
field.
- ALL events for which the QCer either leaves a comment, or manipulates and event in any way,
will result in a green triangle beside the event.

- there may be events where a QCer makes timing changes to an event which will result in a
green triangle; however, these do not need to be re-adjusted by the writer.
- as such, all lines with a green triangle and no comments should be ignored by the writer.

• The Project is re-assigned back to the writer:

- after the project has been QCed, the writer will access the project via their dashboard.
- the writer makes corrections, as suggested in the Annotations Editor field. The writer should
delete these comments as each correction is made.
- when complete, DO NOT hit the COMPLETE button. Rather, email your Project Manager that
the corrections have been completed.

Review Process | Tips and Techniques

If during the review process, a file can no longer be accessed, try the following:
• log out and log back in
• do a hard reset:
Windows users: hold down Ctrl and then press F5 on your keyboard
Mac users: hold down Cmd and Shift and then press R on your keyboard

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Tips and Techniques

Spellcheck
• You may notice some squiggly red lines under words in your script as you type. This is a spell checker
which is built into the Chrome browser. If you would like to turn this off, then perform the following steps
in your browser:
→ Settings
→ Advanced
→ Languages
→ Spell Check slider (it should default to ON – slide to turn it off)

What, no Synthesized Voice?

• check that the mute button (the blue letter M) is ‘deselected’ on the audio track.
• the synthesized voice will actually trigger (play) if an event is played form a start point within the event,
however, at times it may not seem like it! This is because the event representation in the dialogue box is
not an accurate representation of how the event actually plays (to observe this, note that the dialogue you
hear actually ends before the graphic representation of it in the dialogue box). To avoid this confusion, it
is best if synthetic voice events are played from the beginning of the event in its entirety.

Initiating a Project
• don’t forget to select the START button to start editing a project. VIEW functions will be enabled without
selecting the START button but editing functions will not.

Project Volume
• note that in some projects the AD Synthesized voice may seem too quiet or too loud. DO NOT worry
about adjusting the volume so that it matches the show volume. All shows are re-mixed by Netflix, so the
relative volume will be corrected in post-production.

The Playhead Bar

• the Playhead Bar is found in the script window, between each script event.
• when a project is initiated, the playhead bar will be white. When the playhead bar is white, the script
events will not scroll in relation to the edit timeline. Conversely, when the playhead bar is BLUE, the script
events will scroll with the edit timeline.
• to change the playhead bar from white to blue and vice-versa, double click on the ball at the end of the
playhead bar.

Double click on the ball to change from unlocked to locked.

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Inserting a Pause in the Script
Note that a pause CANNOT be inserted in a script by either leaving more space between words, or inserting a
number of periods (. . . .). The only way to insert a pause in the script is to break the script into two events,
at the point where the pause is desired. Then simply leave a space for the desired length of time between
events.

The Video Manipulation Controls

• intermittently, the video window controls in the lower right-hand corner of the video window will
malfunction and the spinning ball of death will be invoked. If this should occur, quit the project and re-
launch it.

Keyboard Shortcuts that don’t Save!

There may be some keyboard shortcuts that have been set up by the user that don’t seem to save. The issue
is that when performing a task, shortcut keys without modifiers (ie – without a combination of keystrokes such
as SHIFT + CONTROL + T for example), will be interpreted as being used for the current task, rather than for
the keyboard shortcut that it was assigned to. The work-around therefore, is to define all personal keyboard
shortcuts WITH a combination of modifiers.

Re-Opening a Project
If a project has been closed (ie – the COMPLETE button has previously been selected), and needs to be re-
opened, follow these steps:

Click the “gear” button in the top right-hand corner of the application:

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Then change the HD Video toggle to off:

Then exit the project and re-launch the project and it should be re-set (ie – the blue button in the upper right-
hand corner should have changed from COMPLETE to START).

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