The Fine Cut

Learn techniques for perfecting every single frame of your movie before locking the picture edit, how you will know when the movie is done, the implications of locking the picture, and the process of prepping the film for audio.

The Fine Cut

Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkills
ABOUT THIS LESSON
Polish, polish, then polish more until its perfect – that is the mantra behind the fine cut.
 
In this module you will learn techniques for perfecting every single frame of your movie before locking the picture edit, how you will know when the movie is done, the implications of locking the picture, and the process of prepping the film for audio.
 
Making a mistake at this stage can cost thousands of dollars and valuable time later when the film is in the audio post-production phase, so learn how to approach the fine cut process right the first time and walk always confident in your picture lock.
  • 14:44 video that walks you through the fine cut process
  • Complete companion guide
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
  • What is the fine cut process?
  • What does the editor do during the fine cut?
  • How are transitions, continuity, and graphics handled during the fine cut process
  • Knowing when to stop
  • How the picture is locked
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
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Jason Tomaric

Jason Tomaric

Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, California
Jason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform. 
 
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
 
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
 
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft.  It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address." 
 
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
 
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system.  Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
 
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS LESSON
Barry Zetlin

Barry Zetlin

Emmy-winning television and film editor, "The Bachelor", "Project Runway", "The Mole", "Basketball Wives" and "Starting Over"
Barry Zetlin is an Emmy-winning television and film editor with numerous credits including dozens of movies such as Friday the 13th and Children of the Corn II as well as dozens of television shows including The Bachelor, Project Runway, The Mole, Bionic Woman, Basketball Wives and Starting Over.
Brad Schwartz

Brad Schwartz

Editor, Emmy-winning "Top Chef"
Brad Schwartz is a TV & Film Editor whose credits include Top Chef (season 3): winner of the 2008 Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Editing. He is also noted for his work on the the acclaimed documentary Rebirth of a Nation, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Commissioned by STARZ Entertainment, Brad was priveleged to be the first editor to ever recut D.W. Griffiths’s Birth of A Nation – often considered the most seminal film in American history. Brad holds a B.A. in Film Studies from Weslyan University and an M.F.A from the American Film Institute (AFI Conservatory), where he
was recipient of a Sloan Scholarship.
Jason J. Tomaric

Jason J. Tomaric

Emmy-winning director/Cinematographer
Jason J.Tomaric is a multiple Emmy, Telly and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer. With four feature films, sixty commercials, music videos and an educational DVD series on the market, Jason's approach to filmmaking has made for a successful, fulfilling career. Jason has worked in over 20 countries as a director and has taught at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA and the New York Film Academy. Jason's book, "Filmmaking"(Focal Press) is available in bookstores worldwide.
 
Jason is also the creator of FilmSkills.
John Coldiron

John Coldiron

Two time Emmy-winning Editor and Colorist, "Project Runway", "Models of the Runway", and "The Prom"
John Coldiron is a two time Emmy-winning editor and colorist whose credits include: Project Runway, Models of the Runway, The Prom, The Cast's Guide to Dating, Discovering China and Monkey King and the Eight Immortals.
Lori Jane Coleman, ACE

Lori Jane Coleman, ACE

Emmy-nominated Editor, "Fun with Dick and Jane", "Which Way Is Up?", and "Up in Smoke"
Lori Jane Coleman, A.C.E. began her career assisting Danford Greene, A.C.E. and Lou Lombardo, A.C.E. on films such as Fun with Dick and Jane, Which Way Is Up? and Up in Smoke. She has won two Eddie Awards from A.C.E. for The Deliberate Stranger (directed by Marvin Chomsky) and Chicago Hope - the Pilot (directed by Michael Pressman and written by David E. Kelley) and has one Emmy nomination. She has worked as an editor on a range of feature films and shows including Dawson's Creek, The Practice, and The Shield. Lori Jane got her 'break' while assisting Bud Isaacs, A.C.E., on Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (directed by Delbert Mann (Academy award for Marty 1955)) and moved up to editor at the age of 24. She worked as Assistant Editor at American International Pictures (A.I.P) in 1973 and joined the Film Editors Guild in 1974 with the help of Salvatore Billiterri (Head of Post Production) and James Honore (Assistant head of Post). After four films, Ebony, Ivory and Jade, Sheba Baby (Pam Grier), Cooley High (Michael Schultz' directorial debut), and Return to Macon County Line, Lori took an apprentice job at Columbia Studios for Danford B. Greene, A.C.E., on Fun With Dick and Jane (George Segal, Jane Fonda), followed by assisting Greene on Outlaw Blues (Susan St. James and Peter Fonda), and Which Way Is Up? (Richard Pryor, directed by Michael Schultz). She is the co-author of Make the Cut: A Guide to Becoming a Successful Assistant Editor in Film and TV.