so I got roped into this video project to make a quick 15 second clip for pre-movie ads in the local theater. I am reading the required specs and it says that the audio needs to use a -20dBFS reference level. Does that just mean that I need to try to keep things around -20db or what. I know this may seem like a stupid question but I haven't done anything like this before. Thanks for the help.

I generate pink noise at -20dbFS RMS to register 85dBC SPL on my sound level meter.

see this thread

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=106701