First Cut is a technique in filmmaking editing.
Technical Details
The First Cut is now predominantly created in digital editing systems such as Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve. Working copies are usually in compressed formats – often ProRes 422 Proxy (145 Mbit/s) or DNxHD 36 (36 Mbit/s) at 1920x1080 pixels. Assistant editors first synchronize all dailies with the corresponding audio via timecode or automatic waveform recognition. The rough cut is made exclusively with A-camera material; B-camera shots and alternative takes are initially disregarded.
History & Development
In the analog era from the 1920s to the 1990s, first cuts were made by physically splicing 35mm film strips on a Steenbeck editing table. In 1979, Walter Murch revolutionized the workflow with "Apocalypse Now" by using a 6-plate Steenbeck configuration for more complex picture-sound combinations. The transition to digital systems began in 1989 with Avid/1, which increased editing speed by a factor of 3-4. Since 2020, modern AI-based tools like Adobe Sensei can create automatic rough cuts based on script markers.
Practical Application in Film
Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk" (2017) went through a 187-minute first cut before editor Lee Smith created the final 106-minute version. Typical workflows allocate 4-6 weeks for the first cut, with 8-10 hours of editing work per day. Marvel productions often create parallel first cuts of different storylines, which are later merged into a complete version. The first cut primarily serves to review the narrative structure – tempo, pacing, and emotional arcs are refined in subsequent editing phases.
Comparison & Alternatives
The first cut differs from the assembly cut in its narrative structure – while assembly cuts represent a pure collection of material. Director's cuts, on the other hand, are created after several revision cycles. Rough cuts refer to later developmental stages with transitions and temp music already incorporated. In low-budget productions, the first cut and fine cut often merge due to time constraints, which, however, usually results in a qualitative compromise.