Sounds like a great idea; I’ll see how it does!
Even if we have to cut back to the X-wings descending and lose Poe’s 78th time saying, “Give [it] everything [you] got,” that’ll still be an organic transition.
Sounds like a great idea; I’ll see how it does!
Even if we have to cut back to the X-wings descending and lose Poe’s 78th time saying, “Give [it] everything [you] got,” that’ll still be an organic transition.
I do like that line 😉
ImperialFighter, your idea works very well and feels very natural. I’m cutting from Finn and Rey turning to start running from the exploding building to the dogfight in space. Cutting back from the shot of the distant oscillator explosion to Finn and Rey again works very well!
I think it’s still better to cut from the saber duel to the X-wings descending toward the trench; cutting back to them in space still talking about the oscillator doesn’t feel right to me.
Thanks for the input!
I’ve gone in and removed the shot of the red planet-destroying beam passing the Star Destroyer, and the music feels much less cut-up as a result. If you’re already familiar with the score, the current version shouldn’t feel like it has been tampered with, just that you don’t hear the whole thing.
The technical hurdles to finishing this are diminishing rapidly. We can discuss whether this project really works all that well, but I do want to finish it and put it out there. Just need a few FX shots (TIEs coming toward Maz’s castle, and demasking Ren), and I think we’re just about there.
Here’s an updated draft of the second Snoke scene.
https://vimeo.com/171303628
I feel like this version makes it seem like the superweapon was mostly just Hux’s passion, and the other two make use of it insofar as it serves their goals involving Luke.
EDIT: I know about the audio hiccup as Hux mentions the weapon.
I like that version very much. It also solves the problem of the unknown target I mentioned in my last post.
And I even think that this scene can be used without VFX work. It’s quite hard to notice that Kylo has his hood up in the few shots where it’s visible.
There’s really just one shot of the two of them standing there that needs his face pasted in there, but I agree that the others are all right.
ImperialFighter, your idea works very well and feels very natural. I’m cutting from Finn and Rey turning to start running from the exploding building to the dogfight in space. Cutting back from the shot of the distant oscillator explosion to Finn and Rey again works very well!
I think it’s still better to cut from the saber duel to the X-wings descending toward the trench; cutting back to them in space still talking about the oscillator doesn’t feel right to me.
Thanks for the input!
When I wrote my previous post, I meant to imply that I was INCLUDING the 2 pilot close-ups as they respond to Poe saying “Red Four, Red Six…cover us!”, as well as ALSO including Poe continuing to say “Everybody else, hit the target hard and give it everything you’ve got!” afterwards, before the X-wings then dive downwards - so in case there was any confusion for you and darthrush (or anyone else) about the way I wrote it, I’ve now amended my post.
Glad you liked the ‘distant oscillator explosion’ cut to ‘Finn & Rey’ again - even though I’m not 100% certain how good the music joins together until I try it out sometime.
In the version that you showed, there would be quite a time gap (due to the length of the initial ‘Finn vs Kylo/Rey vs Kylo’ scene which you shortened to keep your clip short) before we resume with the ‘dogfight’ footage in any way.
My reasoning for splitting the ‘dogfight’ footage at the ‘distant oscillator explosion’ shot, before eventually resuming with it again at Poe’s “Red Four, Red Six…cover us!” shot…was because I thought it might better allow for the time it takes for the initial ‘Finn vs Kylo/Rey vs Kylo’ scene to pass…as it might imply that Poe and the other X-wing pilots were STILL having to fight TIEs during that time, and didn’t get a chance to dive downwards immediately, if you see what I mean.
However, the way you’ve split the ‘dogfight’ footage has a nice bit of punch to it…and I may decide to compromise on the ‘time delay’ between your split from Poe’s orders to the X-wings diving down, and end up cutting the scene for myself exactly as you showed! I’ll choose which way I prefer when the time comes, as I’m content to use some ‘cinematic license’ with certain alterations if I think they work well enough.
I thought your clip of the ‘superweapon’ worked really well as it was, but it’s interesting to see that you think it works better without the ‘stardestroyer’ shot.
I’ll be interested to see how your final ‘Snoke’ scenes turn out eventually. Luckily for me, I don’t have to worry about any ‘on/off/on again’ issues concerning Kylo’s mask with trying to get the dialogue/and shots I like. With a little re-structuring, it’s been possible for me to keep enough of the main shots/and dialogue I wanted while keeping Kylo’s face a mystery throughout.
I think everything so far is very promising Hal! The one thing I don’t think I could ever get over is the music cuts. They’re too hard and noticeable. I suggest waiting for Smithers release of TFA with music removed. He said he would do that first before any other episodes so f that’s released then I feel this version would be seamless.
Great Work overall! Very exciting 😃
I suggest waiting for Smithers release of TFA with music removed. He said he would do that first before any other episodes so f that’s released then I feel this version would be seamless.
I’m waiting for the Lego game to come out so I or someone else can extract all the voices and sound effects easier.
Prequel Fan-Edit thread: http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Yet-another-series-of-prequel-edits/id/17329
Hmm… I don’t think a vocal-only track would solve anything that is holding the project up. If everything comes together before then, I see no reason to hold back for it.
Don’t get me wrong, it sounds like an interesting and valuable endeavor itself.
I feel like TFA is maybe the least in need for such a track.
Here’s a mockup for showing a closeup of Hux after SKB begins draining the Sun. I welcome critical feedback on this, because I am not 100% sure it’s an improvement over the way it was, just showing the star being drained and not cutting back to Hux. Note that the footage must be reversed in order for the beam to appear to be traveling down toward the planet, resulting in a slight pan back from Hux.
https://vimeo.com/171507687
That’s pretty cool actually.
Also it justifies why there’d be a rally for the sun draining.
It does put a button on it to cut back to Hux, and helps sell the change. This edit changes emphasis slightly so that SKB is more strongly implied to be more Hux’s passion than Ren or Snoke; they’re chiefly interested in Luke and aren’t overly proud of their technological terror.
And I think it’s more effective to see Ren plead with Snoke to avoid using the weapon by helping him get the map from Rey without it already having been used to essentially blow up Washington DC.
I’m finding several small things to appreciate about what is a very simple idea of moving Hosnian Prime blowing up to right after Han dies. Another is that while in Vader’s case a father’s risk of love helped save the galaxy, in Han’s the same helped doom it. It’s a dark mirror of ROTJ’s eucatastrophe. But the thing I like best about this restructure is that it keeps Luke as more of the primary macguffin throughout the whole movie.
Anyone up for a workprint viewing? I’m pretty happy with how this has shaped up, and the only things that we know are still necessary are:
FX shot to remove Hux walking away during fist shot of (new) first Snoke scene
Finished FX shots of TIEs coming in towards Maz’s castle
FX shot to insert Kylo Ren’s face over his mask as he and Hux talk with Snoke
I hope there are a few small things that workprint viewers can find to make this even better, but I’m pretty excited about where it stands now. With those three bits of FX material incorporated, I think we’ve got something pretty solid.
Me! Send me a PM I will happily watch a work print
I would like to see the WIP version as well please. Shoot me a PM! 😄
I’ll preview it!
Prequel Fan-Edit thread: http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Yet-another-series-of-prequel-edits/id/17329
Thanks, guys. Rendering now.
Really cool concepts here! My only concerns are:
-the destruction of Hosnian right after Han’s death leaves Kylo, Rey, Finn, Chewie, and a stormtrooper all just standing there in shock for a lot longer than they originally were. It feels weird for Chewie to take so long to do something.
-Chewie blowing up the room right after SKB destroys the system made me think “you couldn’t have pressed that button a couple minutes ago?”. He could’ve prevented the whole thing, even if he was distracted by the situation on the bridge.
-the dogfight happens relatively close to the laser cannon. Assuming it just fired really close to the ships, you’d think Poe and company would either get the hell out of there, or at least say something about the planet-destroying lasers they just saw right in front of them.
-minor, but in the spliced together Snoke scene, he’s sitting one moment, and then standing the next.
Really cool concepts here! My only concerns are:
Thanks! I share your concerns. Thanks for prompting me to talk about them.
-the destruction of Hosnian right after Han’s death leaves Kylo, Rey, Finn, Chewie, and a stormtrooper all just standing there in shock for a lot longer than they originally were. It feels weird for Chewie to take so long to do something.
It’s a little delayed as it is, with Kylo having a lingering moment to contemplate what he’s done (not to mention cutting away to Leia) before Chewie takes a shot at him. The transition to SKB firing feels emotionally right, but cutting back to Chewie’s reaction rips us back to the present moment. A good question would be, “How would this have struck audiences if it had been what was shown on opening day?”
-Chewie blowing up the room right after SKB destroys the system made me think “you couldn’t have pressed that button a couple minutes ago?”. He could’ve prevented the whole thing, even if he was distracted by the situation on the bridge.
Yes, this touches on a new irony induced by the restructure. Han and Chewie presumably would have been successful in taking out the oscillator had Han not taken the risk of confronting his son. This is a dark mirror of Vader taking a risk out of compassion for Luke, though in his case it ended up helping save the day.
-the dogfight happens relatively close to the laser cannon. Assuming it just fired really close to the ships, you’d think Poe and company would either get the hell out of there, or at least say something about the planet-destroying lasers they just saw right in front of them.
I attempted to wedge in a few shots (horrible pun, sadly, intended) of the X-wing fighters reacting to the red beam. All I had was a very quick shot of Poe turning his head (reversed), and the woman looking dismayed at a comrade being shot down. Both had to be given an obvious slow motion treatment to be plausible, and the whole thing struck me as kind of ugly. You are right, though; reaction shots of the fighters would help cement this change, but I don’t think there’s enough source material to do anything worthwhile.
-minor, but in the spliced together Snoke scene, he’s sitting one moment, and then standing the next.
Yes. This is a side effect of keeping the exposition about hitting the Republic by name, and tying it in with Luke. I guess one would have to assume he started to stand up during a cutaway, but yeah, it’s definitely an extant minor continuity problem.
Is anyone else bothered by the idea that Han and Chewie would just stand idly by and take time out of their day to question Maz about a lightsaber while they know that the First Order is about to occupy the castle?
I feel like a quick cutaway to Kylo ordering his agent to sabotage escaping ships and later a single explosion wouldn’t be that much more difficult. I bet the guys at Auralnauts could provide the voice for this line (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFicXlvJBdo) and I could do the VFX for the shots if nobody else is interested.
Here’s the previous rough mockup in case anyone missed it: https://vimeo.com/170422931 Password: Kylo
You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)
PMs have been sent for the workprint. I hope to give this thing a proper review period of gestation before sending it out into the world.
Is anyone else bothered by the idea that Han and Chewie would just stand idly by and take time out of their day to question Maz about a lightsaber while they know that the First Order is about to occupy the castle?
I feel like a quick cutaway to Kylo ordering his agent to sabotage escaping ships and later a single explosion wouldn’t be that much more difficult. I bet the guys at Auralnauts could provide the voice for this line (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFicXlvJBdo) and I could do the VFX for the shots if nobody else is interested.
Here’s the previous rough mockup in case anyone missed it: https://vimeo.com/170422931 Password: Kylo
I’m skeptical of this working out. It seems a little inelegant, but I see your concern about no one’s rush to evacuate. The implication, I guess, is there’d be no escape for them, and the Star Destroyer looming helps establish this. Ideally, the extras would start running while the heroes stay behind because of Rey.
Anyone up for a workprint viewing? I’m pretty happy with how this has shaped up, and the only things that we know are still necessary are:
FX shot to remove Hux walking away during fist shot of (new) first Snoke scene
Finished FX shots of TIEs coming in towards Maz’s castle
FX shot to insert Kylo Ren’s face over his mask as he and Hux talk with SnokeI hope there are a few small things that workprint viewers can find to make this even better, but I’m pretty excited about where it stands now. With those three bits of FX material incorporated, I think we’ve got something pretty solid.
i am getting ready to do the work on 1, and 3 actually! i am a little confused as to what you would like done about 2 though. what finishing would you like for me to do on it?
“You can’t polish a turd. But you can shape it to look like candy.”
Anyone up for a workprint viewing? I’m pretty happy with how this has shaped up, and the only things that we know are still necessary are:
FX shot to remove Hux walking away during fist shot of (new) first Snoke scene
Finished FX shots of TIEs coming in towards Maz’s castle
FX shot to insert Kylo Ren’s face over his mask as he and Hux talk with SnokeI hope there are a few small things that workprint viewers can find to make this even better, but I’m pretty excited about where it stands now. With those three bits of FX material incorporated, I think we’ve got something pretty solid.
i am getting ready to do the work on 1, and 3 actually! i am a little confused as to what you would like done about 2 though. what finishing would you like for me to do on it?
I’d guess he’s referring to the fact that you only ever showed screenshots of the latest version and nothing else.