What is the Purpose of the Fine Cut?

Upon entering Fine Cut stage, the film’s structure should already be in place. Now it’s time to make it look and sound pretty….by polishing each scene with micro-edits, music, graphics, and special effects.

See my earlier blogs on the purpose of the 1) Assembly Cut and 2) Rough Cut.

When finalizing narration, soundbites, and text cards, it’s also time to fact check!

And if you have time, rescreen your rushes. Or at least reread your transcripts. Footage and sound bites that escaped your attention the first time around may jump out now that you know your film’s focus.

How long should the Fine Cut be? Within 3% of your film’s final running time.