The Filmmaker's Guide to Final Cut Pro Workflow

5 Finishing on Film

Film Editing Basics

Historically, films were edited on, you guessed it, film. The workflow went like this: The original negative was printed to a “work print.” Sound was transferred to magnetic sound film (or pre-1950, optical sound film). This is simply clear film with an oxide coating allowing magnetic sound to be recorded, also known as “full coat” or “mag stripe.” It is still available, although not used all that much. The sound film was cut, spliced, and matched to the clapper on the work print, putting the sound into sync with the picture. The work print reels were then projected interlocked to the sound reels at the “dailies” screening.

The work print and sound were then splice edited on a machine that looked like a ...