I think the 6 stages in Chris diagram are very helpful, With respect to “what is an ACES show” and being mindful that this is a necessary element to the ACES logo program, I think it is important to be clear about the purpose of the definition. We could agree that the most significant ingredient in many ways is stage 5 and that would be enough to make a show ACES.
However, imho the best reason to recognise ACES shows is to encourage wider, standardised adoption and for that reason I believe that ACES in and out of any of stages 1-6 should qualify as an ACES show. For example if stage 1 Look development has been completed in a strict ACES environment there is good reason for later stages to go ACES. My point is that the reasons for the Academy recognising ACES shows is not the same as those of a studio requesting ACES pipelines.
For transparency, my hope is that this would pave the way for on set or VFX service providers to qualify as ACES partners. If the emphasis is always on the final stages we could see a situation where only companies involved in finishing would be eligible, and potentially the situation where onset services are listed as working on an ACES show even though they did nothing in ACES, or they did not stick to the philosophy of ACES.
My suggestion is that there are at least two definitions of an ACES show:
A- a show that is finished in (full) ACES (stage5) and
B- a show in which one or more of stages 1-6 are completed in and out of ACES.