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What do the in development or in production status' mean?

In addition to films that are in production or have already been released, IMDbPro lists feature film projects that are still in development (at this time we don't accept short films or video games unless they are completed/released).

Projects must be in active development at a production company, which can be easily verified (i.e. it currently exists in the database, has an established filmography or is attached to an established writer, director, producer and/or actor). We will also accept titles from newly formed production companies established to produce the film, if the existence of the project can be independently verified.

For unaired TV Pilots, we will only accept announced projects produced by major studios, production companies, or networks.

For a submitted title to qualify for In-Development status it must be in one of the following stages of development:

  • Pitch: An idea for an upcoming project that has been presented and sold to a production company, which agrees to develop it.
  • Optioned Property: A piece of literary work (book, short story, play, news article, etc.) where the exclusive rights to purchase the property are currently held by a production entity for consideration to develop into a feature length film or television project for a defined period of time.
  • Treatment/Outline: An idea or abridged script; longer than a synopsis containing a rough outline such as a summary of each major scene and descriptions of the significant characters in the project. While a complete script is around 100 pages, a treatment is closer to 10.
  • Script: Completed, copy written manuscript, which has been picked up by a production entity for development. A script may take the form of a screenplay, shooting script, lined script, continuity script, or a spec script.
  • Turnaround: A project, which was previously picked up by a production entity, but has been dropped and is currently in a state of limbo allowing the producers to set up the project with another studio.
  • Development Unknown: The project is in some form of development stage that is completely unknown to you.

    • Titles that are no longer in development but have moved into pre-production or production are categorized as follows:

  • Pre-production: The project is financed, locations are being scouted, people are being hired and production is imminent with a fairly firm start date for filming.
  • Filming: Principal photography is in progress.
  • Post-production: Principal photography is complete, but there is not yet a finished print; editing, effects, scoring, etc. are in progress.
  • Completed: There is a final print, but it has not yet been screened. For most smaller titles, this is the first stage where we will accept them.


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