A director’s cut is a version of a film that the filmmaker believes is the most faithful representation of the film he or she intended to make. For various reasons, the director’s control over the original cutting or editing of the film for its theatrical release may have been taken away. After the original cinema version has been shown, the director’s cut is released, and it is usually only available in recorded versions rather than being shown in theaters. Although some directors cuts are shorter than the original versions of the same films, the majority of them are longer.
It’s All About Control
Many studios hand over control of a film’s final cut to the director. This implies that the director has the final say over what is shown in theaters. Even if the director believes he or she has complete control over the final cut, a studio may decide to shorten the film, edit or add scenes. This could happen for a variety of reasons.
Ratings are a significant factor.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), for example, is a powerful organization because it determines the audiences that films will attract. A film’s original release could be edited to increase viewership earning a rating appropriate for children or teenagers. A director’s cut, on the other hand, may include additional material that is only appropriate for adults.
Opinions of the audience
Many studios hold a test screening for an audience after a film is completed. The audience is given rating cards with numbers on them that they can use to grade the movie. If the test screening receives a poor grade, the studio may decide to make changes to the film in order to improve the ratings.
A lot of directors despise test screenings. They argue that a proper film grade cannot be determined based on a single screening for a small group of people. Studios, on the other hand, usually take these screenings very seriously. Low grades translate to lower theater attendance, which translates to lost revenue. Depending on the producer’s opinion of the film, scenes may be re-shot, added, or cut.
It’s possible to have a different ending.
Deleted scenes are common in the director’s cut, and the film may have a different ending. Studios frequently prefer happy endings to films, which can be at odds with the director’s cuts. Director’s cuts are frequently released studios in order to increase revenue from the films. It’s possible that the cuts that were shown in theaters weren’t the director’s intended version.
Scenes that were cut
When studios release director’s cuts, they may include deleted scenes solely to increase profits. Placing deleted scenes back into movies can sometimes detract from the overall quality of the film. Those scenes may detract from the films’ pace and storyline. Nonetheless, studios will typically market films as director’s cuts if they can make more money doing so.
It is up to the viewer to decide which version of a film is superior. Ridley Scott’s film Bladerunner has a well-known director’s cut. Scott cut the film in half, changed some scenes, and completely removed Harrison Ford’s voiceover narration. Many critics believe the director’s cut is superior, but audiences were split at the time.