Film & Television vocabulary · Editing and Post-Production
Final cut
Meaning in film & television, with examples
/ˌfaɪnl ˈkʌt/nounCommon term
In film & television, final cut means: The finished, approved version of an edited film. Final cut is also the contractual right to decide what that version will be.
In Turkish: son kurgu, final kurgu
How it is used
Directors and producers talk about having final cut or final cut privilege. Most directors do not have it; the studio or producers do. Final Cut Pro is also the name of Apple's editing software.
Example sentences
She agreed to direct the film only if she had final cut.
The final cut is ten minutes shorter than the festival version.
Common collocations
have final cut
final cut privilege
approve the final cut
final cut rights
Related terms
rough cutAn early edited version of a film with the scenes in order but without final timing, effects, music or sound work.
cutAn instant change from one shot to the next in editing. It also means a version of an edited film, such as the director's cut.
directorThe person who leads the creative side of a film or TV episode, guiding the actors and the crew and deciding how each scene should look and feel.
producerThe person who makes a film or TV project happen: finding the money, hiring key people, managing the budget and schedule and seeing the project through to release.
editingThe work of choosing, ordering and joining shots so that they tell the story with the right rhythm, emotion and meaning.
