Rough & Fine Cut

A rough cut is technically the first edited cut of a film or video shoot. It is an early work in progress. Think of it as a filmmaker’s version of the first working draft of a written document. While it's not yet ready to be presented, it is an in-progress version of a product that still needs a good deal of refining.

Consider the rough cut as the first edited version of your content piece - this version will likely be longer, will have a few errors, and will be rougher overall than a later, further-edited version. It is often without music and the refinement of the finished version.

The difference between a rough cut and a fine cut:

• Rough cuts likely have noticeable flaws and even notable errors, but they are the first stage where the film starts to look like its final product. They focus mostly on the movie or film as a whole to give the director a rough picture of what the film will look like, including its timeline.

• Fine cuts, on the other hand, zero in on specific details with each and every edit, with an eye to strengthening and perfecting the film. Fine cuts should also build on the rough cut to refine the overall rhythm of the content piece.