What is the principal goal of the rough cut in video editing?

The principal goal of the rough cut in video editing is to provide a full assembly of the scene or video, focusing on story structure. This early stage of editing is crucial because it allows the editor to see how the various pieces of footage fit together to tell the overall narrative. The rough cut emphasizes the flow of the story rather than the finer details such as audio quality, visual effects, or color grading, which are typically addressed in later stages of editing. By concentrating on the story structure, the editor can evaluate pacing, transitions between scenes, and the overall coherence of the narrative, which are foundational for any subsequent refinements or enhancements made to the project.