Final Cut
From ForcaWiki, the simple encyclopedia
| In one sentence | The finished, official edited version of a movie, with no more changes to be made. |
|---|---|
| Category | Film and Television |
| Related | Answer Print, Talent |
Imagine editing a home video over and over, trying different orders for the clips, until finally deciding, "this is it, this is the version everyone will see." That last, settled version is the final cut.
A final cut is exactly that for a movie: the final edited version, locked in with no more changes to be made. Reaching final cut is an important milestone, since it means every creative editing decision has been settled.
Fun facts
- Having the legal right to decide the final cut, called "final cut privilege," is a hugely valuable and hotly negotiated right, since whoever holds it gets the last word over how the movie actually turns out.
- Directors often fight hard to earn final cut privilege for themselves, rather than leaving that power with the studio.
- Once a movie has a true final cut, it is ready to move toward becoming an Answer Print and eventually reaching audiences.