Frame captured from a digital editing workprint. The
timecode on the left begins with a userbit designating the lab roll and the code on the right is a
Keykode.
A workprint is a rough version of a motion picture, used by the film editor(s) during the editing process. Such copies generally contain original recorded sound that will later be re-dubbed, stock footage as placeholders for missing shots or special effects, and animation tests for in-production animated shots or sequences.[1][2][3]
For most of the first century of filmmaking, workprints were done using second-generation prints from the original camera negatives. After the editor and director approved of the final edit of the workprint, the same edits were made to the negative. With the conversion to digital editing, workprints are now generally created on a non-linear editing system using telecined footage from the original film or video sources (in contrast to a pirate "telecine", which is made with a much higher-generation film print). Occasionally, early digital workprints of films have been bootlegged and made available on the Internet.[4][5]
There are also director's cut versions of films that are only available on bootleg; for example, the workprint version of Richard Williams' The Thief and the Cobbler. Although movie studios generally do not make full-length workprints readily available to the public, there are exceptions; examples include the "Work-In-Progress" version of Beauty and the Beast, and the Denver/Dallas pre-release version of Blade Runner. Deleted scenes or bonus footage included on DVD releases are sometimes left in workprint format as well. For example the Scrubs DVD extras.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Christopher George. "What are the different types of Piracy?". http://projectspace.adc.rmit.edu.au/2006/comm2320/digifilm/Forms%20of%20Piracy.htm.
- ^ "VCDQuality: Terms". http://www.vcdq.com/index.php?page=faq#7. Lists recent video releases in the warez scene.
- ^ Craig, Paul; Ron, Mark (April 2005). "Chapter 8: The Piracy Scene". in Burnett, Mark. Software Piracy Exposed - Secrets from the Dark Side Revealed. Publisher: Andrew Williams, Page Layout and Art: Patricia Lupien, Acquisitions Editor: Jaime Quigley, Copy Editor: Judy Eby, Technical Editor: Mark Burnett, Indexer: Nara Wood, Cover Designer: Michael Kavish. United States of America: Syngress Publishing. pp. 164-165. doi:10.1016/B978-193226698-6/50033-7. ISBN 1-93226-698-4. Lay summary. "Workprints are unfinished, pre-production materials that often lack scenes and additional sounds. They are of higher quality than CAM movies, and usually contain a ticker somewhere in the picture. (PIRACY FACT... A ticker is a small clock that shows the current frame that is running. It is usually used for reference purposes by directors and animators.) Workprints are usually leaked from production houses. Most recently, a StarWars Eposide 3 workprint was released hours before the first official screening. The workprint was of relatively high quality because it originated from a DVD; however, it had two tickers at the top of every frame. (See Figure 8.1.) Workprints are rare, and only a highly anticipated film's workprints are released by pirates. The majority of watchers are only interested in watching the final product."
- ^ "New Wolverine film leaked online". BBC News Online. 2009-04-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7977265.stm. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ "VCD Guidelines". http://rules.nukenet.info/t.html?id=vcd.nfo. "Workprint: This catagory represents movies that were taken usually from VHS tape. If the source is as good as first generation VHS demo tape with GOOD encoding, it should be labeled Screener. All other home-made VCDs must be labeled Workprint. If you know your copy is not complete, use this label. (missing scenes, missing audio tracks, additional scenes, alternate ending etc.)" VCD standards set by the warez scene.
- ^ "Scrubs - Season 2 Extras". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU1j2AgN_fc. Video on YouTube.
