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RoccondilRinon

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Join date
11-Jun-2007
Last activity
1-Oct-2023
Posts
910
Web Site
http://roccondilrinon.wordpress.com

Post History

Post
#1295402
Topic
The Matrix: Édition Noir et Néon (WIP)
Time

So I’ve got a rough playlist of music to try out. I won’t just be replacing the featured pieces; I’m considering pieces where to replace the existing score in places too.

  • “On the Run”, by Pink Floyd, for the rooftop chase, as mentioned
  • “Mammagamma”, by the Alan Parsons Project, to replace “Dissolved Girl”
  • “The Dark Side”, by Muse, in the fetish club
  • “Zer0 Gravity”, by Code Elektro, for the car ride to meet Morpheus
  • “Afterlife”, by Wendy Carlos, for Neo’s awakening in the Real World
  • “Escape from Midwich Valley”, by Carpenter Brut, to replace “Clubbed to Death”
  • “Speedboat Night Sweat”, by Swimware, to replace “Prime Audio Soup”
  • “Torment (Interlude)”, by Alex feat. Tokyo Rose, for Morpheus’ interrogation
  • “Adrenaline Burst”, by Midnight Danger, to replace “Spybreak!”
  • “The Dark Side (Alternate Reality Version)”, for Neo’s resurrection as the One
  • “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me”, by the Mute Gods, for the last scene and end credits.

All of the above are on Spotify, so you can have a listen to this playlist and let me know what you think.

Some of them seem to work extraordinarily well. “The Dark Side” has repeated chords at the end that can blend very well into Neo’s alarm clock, similar to the original. “Adrenaline Burst” is in the same key as “Torment (Interlude)”, and based around a very similar riff, so follows it very organically. I haven’t tried them all out in terms of syncing to picture yet, but I have high hopes. None have key or tempo changes of the kind that would make cutting them up to fit a problem.

On the other hand, I probably won’t be using “Algorithm” in the movie itself. It’s a brilliant song and very fitting, but too much of a show-stopper. It already sounds like trailer music, so I just might use it as that.

As for actual edits, to the film, here’s what I have in mind so far:

  • Moving Morpheus’ line “Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself,” to later, after the first scene in the Construct, when he comes to apologise to Neo in his bunk. The idea could be either that it’s impossible to tell the truth inside the Matrix without the Agents finding you, or that the Matrix itself prevents the mind from accepting it. Either way, I prefer it to the idea that they only free kids, and it makes Morpheus’ initial dramatic vagueness more explicable.
  • Altering the first Construct scene to depict the Machines as using human brains for computing.
  • Deleting Cypher’s dinner date with Smith. He explains his motives adequately during his Bond-villain monologue, so we don’t need to flag it in advance.
  • Moving the scene where Cypher and Neo share a drink to earlier, before Neo’s training.
  • Removing most or all exterior shots of the Nebuchadnezzar and Sentinels. The effects haven’t aged too badly, and the grading I’m doing doesn’t hurt in that regard, but it ought to make the Real World segments feel more claustrophobic, especially at the end when the Sentinels find them.
  • Deleting Smith exploding. I know it’s kind of an odd choice, but it comes out of nowhere (unlike the rest of that scene, which is all heavily foreshadowed) and the effect has not aged well. I like the idea of the Agents all just running away at the end, and if I do end up doing a sequel edit, it avoids the problem that his second death is basically just his first multiplied by several hundred.
  • Trimming a few pieces of redundant or “prompting” dialogue here and there.

This isn’t an exhaustive list. I haven’t started the cutting process yet, and more edits will no doubt suggest themselves, but I thought I’d give you an update on where things are at, while we wait for Scott Pilgrim.

Post
#1291384
Topic
STAR WARS: EP VI -RETURN OF THE JEDI &quot;REVISITED EDITION&quot;<strong>ADYWAN</strong> - ** PRODUCTION HAS NOW RESTARTED **
Time

NeverarGreat’s headcanon is reasonable. I think the official explanation is that the Falcon (and most ships) had a backup hyperdrive, designed only to get you (slowly) to an inhabited system for repairs.

My preferred explanation is that it’s a fairly dense area of space, such that systems are closer together than in our region, and that it still probably took several months to get to Bespin. This, of course, aligns with Luke needing more than a few days’ training with Yoda.

Post
#1290333
Topic
The Matrix: Édition Noir et Néon (WIP)
Time

Imgur

I’ve started work on this edit while Scott Pilgrim is pending Academy approval, so as to have a proof-of-concept ready to début alongside that edit. It will involve far more advanced FX and colour-grading work than Scott Pilgrim did, although not perhaps as demanding as The Hobbit is going to end up requiring, because I’m going for a stylised look for this one. Although I’ll only be working in HD, I waited for the new 4K transfer of the film to be available to work from, and I’m glad I did, because the new transfer is beautiful (and omits the retconned later colour grading most versions have).

Editing-wise, it’s intended to be fairly conservative, bringing the parables of self-discovery and self-actualisation in the original to the fore, and backgrounding the man-versus-machine angle. I’m guided in part by Marcy Cook’s excellent analysis here.

I do plan to include a change, based on what was apparently the Wachowskis’ original intention, to depict the plugged-in humans as having their brains used for computing power rather than their body heat used for electrical power. To this end, the second half of the “Desert of the Real” sequence will need to be more or less replaced wholesale. Most of the trimming I’m going to do, though, will be from the “real-world” scenes around the middle of the film.

I would also like, if I possibly can, to hint that the Machines did not have their origin in a robot rebellion (although the characters still believe so), but that a cabal of humans built both the Matrix and the Machines, and may still be around and running the show for their own benefit. If I decide this idea is tenable, whether it ends up making the cut in this one or not, I have some further ideas for assembling a much more radical (single-film) sequel edit to explore it, in which, for example, the Merovingian isn’t a program but one of these rulers.

The main focus of the edit, though, as suggested by the name, is stylistic. The original film is heavily noir-influenced, of course, among many other things, and many scenes set inside the Matrix are virtually monochrome already; anything brightly coloured (the woman in red, the coloured pills) deliberately stands out. So I intend to render the scenes set inside the simulated world in high-contrast black and white, and regrade “real-world” scenes to contrast with this — removing the (thankfully already dialled-down in the new transfer) blue tint and emulating the classic Technicolor look. A handful of plot-important objects which exist specifically to alter the Matrix itself (the aforementioned pills, the red dress, the green phosphor of Neo’s computer monitor) will remain coloured.

However, it isn’t as simple as dropping the saturation and upping the contrast, or even dropping in a LUT and tweaking a few settings, as (inspired in part by the original Tron) many light sources within the simulated world — computer screens, neon signs, traffic lights — will be coloured, and will colour their otherwise black-and-white surrounds accordingly. I’ve also found, in doing the proof-of-concept, that outdoor and indoor scenes require a very different grading approach to look “right” in B&W.

The other element I’ll be having some stylistic fun with is the music. The Matrix is blessed with a mostly clean centre channel, and to go with the Tronesque aesthetic I’m planning to replace several music cues. Thus far, I have in mind a couple of tracks from Muse’s latest album, Simulation Theory, which explicitly deals with the same themes as the movie:

  • “Algorithm” (Alternate Reality Version), for the opening titles, if I can get hold of an instrumental version.
  • “The Dark Side” as a theme for Trinity, first playing in the fetish club and then (in its alternate reality version) replacing the score at a couple of points near the end of the movie.

A few other retro electronic/synthy pieces I’ve considered:

  • “On the Run”, Pink Floyd’s pioneering electronic piece, for the rooftop chase in the prologue (as heard in the proof-of-concept).
  • “Afterlife”, a microtonal piece by Wendy Carlos, for Neo’s awakening and rescue.
  • “Speedboat Night Sweat”, by the delightfully retro synthwave group Swimware, probably to replace “Prime Audio Soup”.

There are several other spots where I want to replace the music, but don’t have any particular piece in mind yet, and am open to suggestions. They’re all good pieces, and their use in the original movie was iconic, but for this alternative version I want to feature a different type of music — think more synthwave than industrial EDM. These are the pieces I’d primarily be looking to replace:

  • “Dissolved Girl” (playing on Neo’s headphones when we first see him)
  • “Clubbed to Death” (the Woman in Red scene)
  • “Prime Audio Soup” (going to see the Oracle)
  • “Spybreak!” (the lobby shootout)
  • “Rock is Dead” (end credits)

I feel that the use of Rage Against the Machine is too awesome to delete, although if I come across something that fits the end of the movie as well as “Wake Up” does, I’m not completely averse to replacing it. I’m undecided about keeping the BGM in the dojo sparring scene, but I’m probably similarly happy to keep it unless something even more appropriate shows up.

So that’ll be fun. I’ll be working on this and The Hobbit in tandem for the next little while, but at this rate, this one will probably come out first. Proof of concept is ready to go and will come out alongside Scott Pilgrim.

Post
#1289600
Topic
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor (Released)
Time

I’m keeping the theatrical ending. I feel that the alternative ending negates a lot of character development for all three characters involved. I’m open to including the alternative ending as an option on the Blu-Ray, but I’m not changing it in the edit proper.

The “serial killer” joke ending I’ve made is just a mid-credits gag; it’s not to be treated as canon, if you care about that sort of thing.

Post
#1288297
Topic
The Hobbit: Roadshow Edition ❖ FIRST TEASER NOW ONLINE ❖ (a WIP)
Time

It’s been on the back burner while I hone my skills on other projects, but it’s definitely still happening! My first fan edit, Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor, is complete and awaiting review from the Academy folks over at fanedit.org. I’m going to release it via fanedit.info as soon as they give it the OK, alongside a proof-of-concept of The Matrix: Édition Noir et Néon, which I’m going to be working on alongside The Hobbit. I’m aiming to have them both out at some point next year, although depending on how things go with The Matrix it may come out sooner.

Post
#1287068
Topic
The Matrix: Noir Edition (obsolete thread - see info for new project)
Time

Wow, I first (indeed, last) posted about this concept more than ten years ago?

So I’m, uh, actually making this now. A proof of concept (consisting of the opening Trinity vs. Agents action scene) is completed and will be posted alongside my first edit, Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor, which is pending Fanedit Academy approval.

I still intend to replace some of the music, but rather than going for a pure noir pastiche, I want to lean into the TRON angle and draw on some synthwave — Muse’s latest album in particular, Simulation Theory, seems almost tailor-made for this. To this end, I’ve settled on a slight rejig of the title: The Matrix: Édition Noir et Néon. Pun on our hero’s name entirely intended.

More details to come, probably in a fresh thread rather than this one.

Post
#1286666
Topic
OT.com animated logo - NOW AVAILABLE for use in fan edits and other projects
Time

I’ve rendered three variants of the logo and uploaded them to a folder on Mega.

You can download them here.

  • “Extended” is the full-quality version of the logo posted on YouTube.
  • “Standard” is the 15-second version: effectively the last part of the full version, but transitioning in from a plain star field rather than the Death Star.
  • “Variant” is identical to “Standard” except that it transitions in from black rather than stars, and I’ve omitted the low bass rumble from the soundtrack.
  • Use “Alpha” as a matte to key “Variant” in over a preceding shot — I have it transition from the FE•org logo this way.

I’ve also included a still PNG.

Post
#1284104
Topic
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor (Released)
Time

Well, the stinger script went out to my friend in April, I got the recording back last month, and the raw video for the stinger is now assembled — that is, the fake news broadcast to render onto the TV screen. To give you some idea of what’s gone into this, on top of the newly recorded video of my friend performing the skit, I’m using:

  • CBC News jingle, animation and logo bug
  • A “virtual newsroom” animation
  • A matching “backdrop” animation for still images
  • A still from the movie, one from a deleted scene and a publicity still to illustrate the beginning of the story
  • Stock footage of a Toronto Police operation from CBC (seen in the preview render above)
  • A few brief shots of the Matthew Patel fight from the film
  • A publicity still of Satya Bhabha
  • A publicity interview with Chris Evans
  • A shot of Brandon Routh from the “Black Sheep” music video
  • A publicity still of the Saito twins
  • Screen test footage of Mae Whitman
  • Screen test footage of Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in character looking awkward
  • Stock footage (stolen from YouTube) of Canadian coins

On top of green-screening the actress into the “virtual newsroom”, just about every other shot ended up having VFX applied: the shots of the Patel fight were treated with JPEG damage to look like dodgy cam footage; the shot of Scott and Ramona graded to suggest a mugshot and to change Ramona’s hair colour; the shots of the Evil Exes desaturated and slo-mo’d out of “respect for the dead”; the lower third graphic seen in the preview above created; and the whole thing treated with CRT scan lines and colours slightly out of phase.

All going well, I should have the movie ready for submission to the Fanedit Academy later this month, and I’ll report back as soon as I have a release date!

Post
#1283818
Topic
OT.com animated logo - NOW AVAILABLE for use in fan edits and other projects
Time

Been having a bit of a play around with the file, and came up with this. I’ve left it unlisted on YouTube for the moment, pending any comments, requests or suggestions you or the other mods might have, but subject to that, I’m more than happy to make it available to the general fan editing user base to use. (It’s quite long for a vanity plate, at 39 seconds, so I’ll render out a ~10-second variant with just the 8-bit Death Star and the text logo next, but I like the full version as a standalone thing.)

Let me know what you think!

Post
#1282835
Topic
OT.com animated logo - NOW AVAILABLE for use in fan edits and other projects
Time

Seems you read my mind. I actually made a 3D animation of the DS plans just for shits and giggles earlier this year; I was just thinking I should be able to turn it into something suitable. I just uploaded it to my design Instagram, if you’d like to have a look (along with a comic-book-shaded variant FE logo):

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx6nS9Rg1Zf/

Post
#1282828
Topic
OT.com animated logo - NOW AVAILABLE for use in fan edits and other projects
Time

That’s neat! Hmm. I’m not much (ie. any at all) of a coder, but I could certainly do something on the design side of things. Let me know what kind of data you want to display and I’ll take a stab at a proof of concept.

My 2D mock-up (from a while ago now) is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBriFmXXkWg (I had a thought, since then, that a version that involved the 8-bit Death Star would be cool; I might try two variants.)

You can see a few seconds of my FE logo (in amongst some other 3D animation by yours truly) in the trailer for my first fanedit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhB9bR4IEGI (ignore the release date — I decided to shoot a whole extra scene for it, but that’s now done and in the process of editing and adding FX to.)

Post
#1282823
Topic
OT.com animated logo - NOW AVAILABLE for use in fan edits and other projects
Time

I’ve created an animated intro logo for use in fan edits. You can watch it here.

There are three variants, all available at this link. Please use this version rather than ripping from YouTube, as YouTube’s compression is awful and the original file is far superior in quality.

  • “Extended” is the full-quality version of the logo posted on YouTube.
  • “Standard” is the 15-second version: effectively the last part of the full version, but transitioning in from a plain star field rather than the Death Star.
  • “Variant” is identical to “Standard” except that it transitions in from black rather than stars, and I’ve omitted the low bass rumble from the soundtrack.
  • Use “Alpha” as a matte to key “Variant” in over a preceding shot — I have it transition from the FE•org logo this way.

I’ve also included a still PNG.

You don’t have to credit me at all if you use it, but if you’d like to, please credit St. Kilda Design (my art and design brand) rather than Roccondil Rínon.

ORIGINAL POST BELOW

I’m nearing completion on my first fanedit, and I’ve been maintaining a forum thread both here and on FE•org. I know FE has a number of animated “vanity plate” logos that people have made and use for their edits, and while I won’t be using any of theirs I’ve made my own (I had a specific concept in mind, which can then be modified to fit the theme of each movie). However, I haven’t seen any fanedits which use an animated OT•com logo, and I was wondering whether that was because there was a policy against this. If there is, I’m perfectly content to abide by it; on the other hand, if not, I’m very happy to make my animated variant available for all to use on their edits if they wish. (I’ve done a 2D animated mock-up, but the final 3D version will be a bit different, if I get the go-ahead.)

Post
#1272896
Topic
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor (Released)
Time

Bit of news: the edit may be delayed, because it looks like I’ve found someone who’s keen and able to do the stinger gag after all. We’ll see how we go with recording and assembling it, but I (obviously) won’t rush things for the sake of meeting the Easter date.

A few other notes, just while I think of it:

  • I’m restoring the original music cues to the cartoon (they were replaced with tracks from the movie itself on the DVD release).
  • I’ll do a raw video release first, followed by a Blu Ray with extras. Said extras will include, at a minimum, subtitles, a trivia track, an alternative “clean” dialogue track, the Honest Trailer, and an updated teaser for The Hobbit. I’m considering including the original “all for nothing ending” as an alternative option, if anyone wants it. Depending on timing, the Blu Ray may also include a first look at my upcoming Matrix edit.
Post
#1270932
Topic
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor (Released)
Time

I’m not using the full version of “Black Sheep”, because there just isn’t enough footage. I’ve cut a few bits here and there from the original film (mainly to tighten a reaction shot or make room for the new material, although a couple of lines and shots are gone). Far as I can remember, not having it in front of me right now, all the other deleted scenes (including the alternative “afterlife”) have been used at least in part.

I have contacted another actor friend about doing the “serial killer” stinger after all, which may push the release date out a smidge, but hopefully not. He’s French-Californian rather than Canadian, but I’d be surprised if he can’t do the accent. Nothing confirmed at this stage, but fingers crossed.

Post
#1268191
Topic
Scott Pilgrim vs. the Editor (Released)
Time

Sorry for not posting any updates along the way with this! It’s 99% done. Most of the edits mentioned above have now been done, and the colour grading and matching is complete. Only the Lee’s Palace scene is still unfinished, and I think I’ll probably just have to restore something approaching the theatrical version; there just isn’t enough footage available anywhere I could find to include the whole song.

I still like the idea of the “serial killer” post-credits ending, but I’ve lost contact with the guy I had in mind for it. If anyone’s interested and can do a Canadian newsreader impression, I have a script ready to go, but I’m not going to hold up the edit any longer for the sake of a stinger gag. The “Summertime” music video will take its place.

I’ll be tinkering with Lee’s Palace over the next week or so, and after that it’ll just be a matter of putting together the titles and a Blu-Ray ISO.