But theres a major difference between a first cut and an assembly cut, and its night and day.
So what is an assembly cut exactly, and why does it matter?
Lets break it down.
To understand what an assembly cut is, you must first understand the traditional filmmaking process.
Many times, the first step of editing a movie is watching the assembly cut.
Like this:
An assembly cut is always much longer than the final cut.
Image via Alcon Entertainment / Warner Bros.
Then our first cut where it all kind of tracked was about three hours.
It played like a real movie with a beginning, middle and end over three hours.
I think we screened our first cut at two and a half hours.
Image via Universal Pictures
It was the best screening weve ever had at that fat length.
This doesnt mean theres an entire hours worth of deleted scenes that are usable, however.
And it was over three hours.
Image via Lucasfilm
But lets say the idea of the movie being in two parts didnt get out of the editing room.
[Laughs] No, the best incarnation of the movie is what is in the theater.
What was striking is that the four-hour cut was quite strong.
Image via Marvel Studios
But personally I prefer the one that is in the theater because its more elegant, I would say.
But there are some scenes that were like [makes boosh sound].
But again, knowing the difference between a first cut and an assembly cut is key.
