Final cut privilege

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For Apple's video editing software, see Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express

Final cut privilege is a film industry term usually used when a director has contractual authority over how a film is ultimately released for public viewing. On nearly all occasions, only established and bankable directors are given such a privilege (such as Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, and Ridley Scott).

Before a film is released, studios will usually make changes for commercial purposes, or to remove any controversial content. Sometimes such practices can cause conflict between the director and studio releasing the film (see American History X and ''Brazil).

Other contractual agreements will still apply, though: A director commisioned for a film with a rating no higher than "R" (in the US) will still have to make sure to meet this agreement. This happened with Eyes Wide Shut, which included an orgy scene that was shown in Europe, but would have given the film a higher "NC-17" rating in the US. For its US release, director Stanley Kubrick, which had final cut privilege, therefore agreed to digitally add background actors to obscure some sex acts to reach the contractually obliged R rating

Alan Smithee
Artistic control, the same term when applied to musicians

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Final cut privilege

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