WHAT IS PICTURE LOCK?
Editing proceeds in a number of steps. While the company is shooting, the Editor prepares an initial version of the show, taking into account the Director’s preferences. This version is usually ready for the Director to view one-two weeks after camera wrap. It’s known variously as an assembly, a rough cut, the first cut, or the Editor’s cut. The Director and Editor then collaborate for a period of weeks or months. When the Director is satisfied that she is ready to screen the show, she presents the Director’s Cut to the above-the-line production entities (Producers, etc.) The Producer’s then generate their notes for changes they’d like to see. This can be quite an extensive period of time as the Director and Producers change and re-change the picture. Finally a version that all can accept is arrived at, and no further changes are anticipated. The picture is now locked and time-coded cassettes are turned over to the Music and Sound departments. Obviously, if picture changes are made aft
