Workprint


A workprint is a rough version of a motion picture or television program, used by the film editors 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.

History

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. Occasionally, early digital workprints of films have been bootlegged and made available on the Internet. They sometimes appear months in advance of an official release.
There are also director's cut versions of films that are only available on bootleg, such as 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, e.g. the Scrubs DVD extras. A workprint as source for a leaked television show is rather unusual, but it happened with the third season's first episode of Homeland a month before it aired.

One-light

A one-light is a timed workprint made using a single setting of the three lights used to make a color film print. Since a fully timed print requires the presence of a skilled person called a color timer or film grader, a one-light print is more economical for printing dailies from rushes. Cinematographers often require one-light workprints to better judge their film exposures.

Notable examples

  • Rocky V – A low quality workprint of the film encoded through DivX Video was released on the internet in 2002.
  • Hulk – Appeared on the internet two weeks before the film opening.
  • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – Appeared on the web within hours of the release.
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Available on the internet before the premiere.
  • Apocalypse Now – A 289-minute-long workprint circulates amongst collectors on the internet.
  • This Is Spinal Tap – A 270-minute-long workprint exists on the internet.
  • Vampires Suck – Appeared on the internet around a month prior to the film's theatrical release.
  • Homeland – "Tin Man Is Down", the first episode of the third season leaked a month before airing. It being an unfinished version is rather unusual for a TV show.
  • Doctor Who – Workprints of the first five episodes of series 8 were leaked online months in advance of their premieres. These versions were in black and white, were watermarked, and lacked the computer-generated effects seen in the final releases. Producer Steven Moffat publicly condemned the leaks, and urged fans to avoid watching the leaked episodes until they properly aired on TV.
  • American Pie - a workprint containing more raunchy content leaked before the film's official release, giving way to an unrated edition for home release; this would become commonplace among films similar to American Pie, including its sequels.
  • A Minecraft Movie - a workprint containing unfinished, unrendered CGI leaked shortly before the film's official release.
  • Overwatch 2 – a workprint of “Kiriko” animated short containing unfinished, unrendered CGI leaked a month before the official premiere.
  • The Swan Princess - Storyboard 90-minutes-long
  • The King and I - Storyboard 89-minutes-long
  • The Prince of Egypt - Storyboard 99-minutes-long
  • The Day the Clown Cried - An unfinished and unreleased film; in 2025 it was revealed that had stolen and made a copy of a workprint of the Swedish segment of this film while working at Europafilm in 1980.