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InfoDroid

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25-Apr-2005
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24-Jul-2013
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860

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Post
#419532
Topic
The Empire Strikes Back "1980 Theatrical version" Reconstruction - Adywan (Released)
Time

Superb job as always, Adywan!  I just had the pleasure of seeing this yesterday.  It's so nice to finally be able to watch Empire Strikes Back (especially on the 30th anniversary) without getting pissed off at all the abortions they shoehorned into an otherwise perfect film.  The coloration is perfect too.  White snow!  Yay!

Thanks for spending the time to create and release this.  It's truly great. 

--InfoDroid 

Post
#417943
Topic
Star Wars: REBORN - The Complete Saga (* unfinished project *)
Time

Ripplin said:

InfoDroid said:

I've learned the trick is to wait until you've FINISHED an edit before you start the thread...  LOL! 

FINISHED FINISHED...or finished, but willing to implement post-"finished" suggestions? :p It's really fun for people to see the progress and offer things that might help. Sure, it's a shame if it doesn't actually get done (and we all mourn your situation with Crystal Skull, of course), but oh well.

I've been surpremely enjoying following the progress of "Doc Savage: Detarnished". People need to check that out.

Oh, I love the suggestions.  Definitely.  I just hate being the king of great but unfinished projects.  LOL!   

Post
#356104
Topic
Star Wars: Renascent *** NOW AVAILABLE!!! ***
Time

I appreciate the offer, Ripplin, but I don't really think that's necessary.  It doesn't need our approval.  We'll see it when the rest of you see it.  We've got nothing personally invested in this.  Asteroid-Man has gone and done his thing, and he deserves full credit for it.  We wish Asteroid-Man well on this endeavor and are looking forward to seeing it turn out as good as we all hope it will be.

--ID

Post
#355972
Topic
Star Wars: Renascent *** NOW AVAILABLE!!! ***
Time

Yeah...using real names in these types of projects?  Never a good idea.  If in doubt, you probably should've defaulted with the screen name.  I've already gotten one Lucasfilm C & D letter.  I don't really need another one.

Personally, I'd rather go uncredited, than have my real name attached to this.  I appreciate the sentiment, but it's your project, Asteroid-Man.  I haven't been involved in this hardly at all.  The credit should go to you.

I am concerned though by the fact you said you integrated some of the clips we posted.  I don't have a problem with that at all...but those clips aren't in full-rez.  Don't you think it would be better to just sort of make your own approximation and interpretation of those clips rather than integrate unfinished wmv clips with inferior picture and sound quality into your edit? 

I have to say, I'm baffled by the description of your process here (or lack thereof).  A couple weeks ago you were having trouble ripping the DVD's.  Now it's finished?  Forgive me, but as someone who knows how these types of things work, it just seems a little strange.

But, on the other hand, maybe you performed a miracle...time will tell.

--ID 

Post
#355514
Topic
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions
Time
HeKS said:   From what I can tell the color looks good. As for the arrangement ... just a thought ... I think the B&W Raiders bit is an interesting idea because of the warehouse tie in, but I wonder if putting the Orellana's Cradle scene next might disconnect the Raiders bit from the warehouse scene a little too much.

HeKs, I chose Orellana's Cradle as the first scene for three reasons:

1) It's very close to the tone and feel of the opening scene of both Raiders and my Temple of Doom edit.  The pace is perfect for the credit sequence.  It slowly draws you in to the movie.

2) It sets up the whole Crystal Skull plot and poses the question to the audience "What IS this thing"?

and 3) (and this is an important one) The stone spire in the graveyard is the ONLY triangular-shaped object in the entire movie that you could fade into from the Paramount logo, which is an essential thing to have....other than the "gopher mound" which I refuse to use.  That was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.

So, I appreciate your suggestions, HeKs.  They're good ones, and I understand what you're saying.  But, I think I'll be keeping this arrangement.  It works for me.  Keep in mind also, that film flow and music flow is also a big factor in making these decisions. 

As far as the titles for "a few days earlier" are concerned...I'm a big fan of Oliver Stone, so I've always enjoyed mixing up the timeline on movies.  Quentin Tarantino's strategy also is a big inspiration.  It's all about "rate of revelation" to the audience.  It's about building questions in their mind and then choosing when to let them in on the answer. 

George Lucas' strategy has always been to lead the audience from point A to point B.  First people talk about what they're going to do.  Then we watch them do it.  I try to limit that as much as possible, and for me, it makes it so much more interesting to watch.  And to avoid making Indy look dumb, the audience should never know more than the main character knows, except for a few Hitchcockian exceptions.  This film suffers from a lot of that.  So, personally, I'd rather jump around the timeline a bit and "suffer through" a couple title cards rather than be bored to tears by an A to B to C storyline which is dull to begin with.

 

Imperial Fighter said:

InfoDroid, this radical re-structuring edit you are working on sounds terrific.

 

Good luck with this project, as a heavily re-structured version will be VERY appealing.

 

Thanks!  And yeah, my edits are normally referred to as "radical" because, while I have respect for the material that has come previously in the series and I beleive in keeping it in the same spirit of what has come before (especially Raiders) I don't really feel the need to be restrained by the traditional Lucas template. 

The way I see it, there are two kinds of fan-edits, there are those that edit annoying bits and pieces out of otherwise good movies to make them less annoying and more enjoyable.  And then there are those that try to create a new experience out of the same material.  Mine usually end up falling into the second category, because I enjoy the challenge of trying to be creative with it.  I think, however, the world needs both kinds.  I'll be the first to admit, my versions are not for everyone.  People who know my edits, know to expect something different.  But, then again, some people like Indy 4 except for a few scenes or whatever and that's fine...Personally, I think it's deeply, deeply, flawed and a radically bad movie calls for a radical edit.  :D  But, that's just my opinion.

 

--ID

 

 

 

Post
#355332
Topic
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions
Time
jones1899 said:

I have a TON of questions for you regarding your thoughts on certain bits of dialogue and such. But first of all:

1. Which format is your edit going to be done in? 

2. Who's Gaith? Did he post ideas on Indy 4 that got you interested or something?

3. Can you post a pic of your color correction? I'd like to post a pick of mine as well but I don' t know how to take a screenshot. 

4. How long do you antcipate this edit being?

Thanks for the encouragement, Guys.  :) 

1.  Format is going to be NTSC DVD, 5.1 surround.

2.  Gaith is a forum-member on FE who contributed greatly to my Unholy Edition of Last Crusade.  He PM'd me some ideas and kind of re-lit the spark on this for me a couple weeks ago.

3.  Will post screenshots when I get home tonight.

4.  Edit will probably be around 90-100 minutes.  Depending on how the Jungle Chase works out.  LOL!

I also want to say that this is in no way meant to subvert Jones1899's efforts on his edit.  He's doing a great job and should be commended.  Our edits will be completely different anyway.  He's keeping the Nuke scene for instance, and in mine...it uh, "goes the way of the dodo."  :)  This is just my chance to complete a trilogy of edits I promised a long time ago.     

Oh, and good points raised on the Mutt scene.  I had remembered the "dropped out of school" bit but forgot he'd been tutored by Oxley.  So it should stay? 

Post
#355307
Topic
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions
Time

Thanks, m.s!  Yes, you're right about the structure.  It's similar to what I did with Temple.  And OMG it feels so much more like INDY again!  :)

Originally posted on FE.org:

Okay, guys...I'm back to actively editing this. Gaith got me charged up, reignited my interest in this movie. Should be completed within a month or so.

Here's what to expect: It's going to be a very unique arrangement of the scenes. Timeline has been rearranged to make it more interesting to watch. In addition to that, I've eliminated the weird candy coloring and desaturated and darkened up the picture to give it that washed-out, almost Saving Private Ryan look. This film, like AOTC, really benefits from this treatment.

-We start with the Lucasfilm logo and a black-and-white version of the very last scene of Raiders with Indy and Marion on the steps and the subsequent scene of the Ark being crated and hidden away in the warehouse. (Thanks to Gaith's suggestion. I thought it sounded crazy at first, LOL, then I tried it and really loved it. It's a nice little preamble which happens to be relevant to both the Indy/Marion relationship and the warehouse scene we see later.)

-Then, as the Paramount logo fades into the pointed stone spire at the graveyard in Orellana's Cradle. We go underground into an opening credits sequence I've cut as close as I could to echo the feeling of the very beginning of Raiders. Not a lot of dialogue at first. It's dark and mysterious. Title reads: PERU 1957. Indy, his face almost disappearing into the shadows of the cave he's navigating...his scared-stiff sidekick trailing along behind him...

-They find the crystal skull and are amazed..."What IS this thing?"

-Fade to a jet flying overhead...jeeps pulling up to a military base. Title reads: SEVERAL DAYS EARLIER. (Not sure if I should keep it like this, or specify the number of days.)  "I had no reason to beleive Mac was a spy". Cut inside to interrogation room, Indy sitting at table. "We did twenty...thirty missions together in the Pacific." The scene plays out up to: "What was in the steel box they took?" "You tell us..." comes the response, as we cut to trucks pulling up to a checkpoint in the desert. "You've seen it before." Title reads: NEVADA 1957. The Russians shoot the soldiers and drive further into the desert toward the base...American flag waving as they speed away.

-Cut to Indy looking defiantly at the interrogators. "It was the middle of the night, I was thrown into a bus with blacked-out windows...etc." up to "And we were threatened with treason if we ever talked about it. So you tell me...what was in the box?!?" Cut to trunk being opened. Mac is dragged out. So is Indy.

-Replaced "Not as easy as it used to be" with trailer version. Cut all banter between Mac and Indy and Dovchenko. Now, Dovchenko's jeep pulls up, Mac groans and Dovchneko balls up a fist to slug Indy. Spalko stops him. "Where was he found?" "They were digging in the dirt looking for this stuff." Stuff gets thrown on the ground and breaks, immediately followed by Spalko's FBI file getting thrown on the table in front of Indy in the interrogation room. "Yeah, that was her. Who is she?" "Irina Spalko, Stalin's fair-haired girl...etc..etc...if you call psychic research science."

-Cut to the giant Hangar 51 doors opening. General Ross continues his description through voiceover as they walk into the hangar. "She's leading teams from the Kremlin all over the world looking for...etc."

-Hangar scene continues with heavy editing for pacing, dialogue, creaky editing, etc. No compass jokes. No "I like Ike." No "You don't know him!" being screamed 40 times. And I kept the reveal of the alien body hidden, so we don't really know what's in the box until later. I like it better that way.

-All prairie dog shots were removed, some shots were re-arranged and most of the comedy schtick on the rocket sled is edited out. I left just enough in there to keep the classic Indy charm.

-Transition from Indy hiding from the Russians, fading to dawn. "So what exactly am I being accused of?" "Nothing yet....etc, etc." Scene plays out from there until we go to the college.

That's all I'll elaborate on for now. I'll get some more details up here soon.

I'd like to know the general consensus on the conversation Indy and Mutt have when they arrive at Peru. "Don Pancho Villa" and all that. I always found it strange that the uneducated Mutt even knew who Pancho Villa was. It was a strange, after-school special-like conversation intended to provide some more backstory for Mutt's character. In my opinion, it's not really needed and I'd like to cut it out. But I'd like to know how other people feel about that scene.

More later.

--ID

Post
#355079
Topic
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions
Time

That's awesome, HeKs!  You really have to look close to perceive any artificiality.  Actually, considering NOTHING but the people are real, that's pretty damn amazing, even looking closely at it.  Good job!  Are you going to school for that?

Good analysis, Jones.  I agree on every point.

And Dr. M, in regard to the beams shooting into Spalko's eyes.  I like that idea, but didn't Belloq do something similar in Raiders?  Ghostbusters ectoplasm shot out of his eyes and struck the Nazi soldiers.  But maybe that similarity would be a good thing.  :)

Post
#355036
Topic
STAR WARS: EP V &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - <strong>12GB 1080p MP4 VERSION AVAILABLE NOW</strong>
Time
vaderios said:

Tie fighters? How about Republic Cruisers? and Hellfire droids and an army of Stormies?And droid spiders? And Landed Star destroyers? lol J/k

I'd prefer buzz droids.  ;)

But, no.  I get what you're saying, Doubleofive.  I'm sure the "walking" animation would be much more difficult.  An AT-ST model in front of a blue-screen would be much easier to composit.  That'd still be tricky though, getting the lighting right and everything. 

 

 

Post
#355028
Topic
STAR WARS: EP V &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - <strong>12GB 1080p MP4 VERSION AVAILABLE NOW</strong>
Time
adywan said:

also the whole continuity problems will mean that unless i can get new shots of the ESB AT-ST to insert into this sequence, then it will have to go from the shot where luke looks up to see the AT-AT explode. One minute its there and the next its gone

 

Is there any way to create a new shot with 3-D models?  Similar to the way you added the TIE fighters in ANH?

Post
#355013
Topic
STAR WARS: EP V &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - <strong>12GB 1080p MP4 VERSION AVAILABLE NOW</strong>
Time

doubleofive said:

For those wondering, here is what Ady has to contend with when it comes to The Last Three Walkers:

Also notice the wildly varied backgrounds.

 

Wow...never noticed that, all these years.  And we think the Prequels are bad with continuity...How did that ever pass?

Post
#354987
Topic
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions
Time

So, either the "newsreel" footage, which won't necessarily be newsreel footage, but a mix of historical and disturbing footage...OR we've got the twelve skeletons circling her causing her to explode...OR just a simple (yet slighly less-satisfying) edit of the original version that is somewhat alien-free.  Those are our best options so far. 

Still waiting for this miracle bomb Imperial Fighter keeps threatening to drop...Better be good.  LOL!  ;-)

And we're still open to any and all random, crazy suggestions...preferably ones that don't rely on CGI.  I doubt any of us faneditors have Rob Coleman and his staff tied up in our basement.

Post
#354981
Topic
STAR WARS: EP V &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - <strong>12GB 1080p MP4 VERSION AVAILABLE NOW</strong>
Time

Yes, when you see the comparison shots, the color change alone is striking.  It's been a while since I've seen the walkers in their "authentic" gunmetal gray color on WHITE snow!  And Angel's background matte is beautiful.  More great work, Ady!

Post
#354976
Topic
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions
Time

Okay...what's some other Cate Blanchett footage we could use?  Let's see...they could transport her to Middle-Earth?  No.  They could blast her into the past and crown her as Queen Elizabeth?  No....  They could fulfill Spalko's lifelong fantasy of becoming Bob Dylan?  NO!  She could be stalked by a lesbian version of Dame Judi Dench...no, no, no, NO!  None of it works.