Turnaround
ELI5
A way for a project to leave one company and be set up elsewhere under negotiated conditions.
Used in conversation
“The agreement should state turnaround clearly.”
Definition
A mechanism allowing a project to leave one company and be set up elsewhere under negotiated conditions.
Here “Turnaround” means: A mechanism allowing a project to leave one company and be set up elsewhere under negotiated conditions. Other meanings are stored as separate sense entries and must be chosen explicitly.
Pitch context
You may encounter this in a series pitch, pilot process, writers' room or commissioning conversation.
Why it matters: Explains who controls, pays for, approves, exploits or bears risk around a project.
Caution
Meaning and consequences may change by contract, collective agreement, territory or law. This entry is orientation, not legal advice.
Connected terms
- Turnaround timeThe search label “Turnaround” can route to both entries.
- ReversalThe search label “Turnaround” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 14
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- Directors Guild of America — DGA Creative Rights HandbookDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Film Independent — Episodic Lab Application and Project MaterialsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Producers Guild of America — Producers Guild Code of CreditsDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Screen Australia — Story Documents: DramaDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Scriptnotes / John August — Pitching Television, or Being a Passionate WidgetDirect source · practitioner · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — No Writing Left BehindDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — WGAW Project PageDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- World Intellectual Property Organization — Rights Clearance: A Guide for Independent FilmmakersSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- World Intellectual Property Organization — Rights, Camera, Action! IP Rights and the Film-Making ProcessSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Writers Guild of America West — Fight Back Against Free WorkSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14
- Producers Guild of America — Producing Credits for Episodic Television (Scripted)Supporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Producers Guild of America — Producing Credits for Non-Fiction TelevisionSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- Format Recognition and Protection Association — FRAPA Format ResourcesSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-14
- U.S. Copyright Office — Copyright BasicsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-14