logo Sign In

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Fan Edit Ideas thread... — Page 11

Author
Time

darthrush said:

Good idea overall!

Things I like about your idea:

-first scene is reveal of Death Star. THAT is quite the way to start the movie and I dig it.
-Making the first act shorter and more straightforward is easily the main positive of this editing strategy.

Possible problems with the idea:

-It would be pretty hard to effectively transition from the crawl and the starry background to the Death Star reveal without it feeling jarring. I suspect that some vfx work would need to be done.
-The feeling of hopping planets might still remain and it could be even more confusing since there would be no location subtitles (or would there?)

Overall, Id love to discuss and figure out a way to make this idea happen 😃

The Tie cuts across the screen to reveal the DS. Perhaps pan down to blank starfield, pause and then have it roar across.

To avoid the confusion, perhaps rewrite crawl to point out that Saw is stationed on Jedha.

One big tool fan editors are going to need are clean planet shots without titles. You could reuse Yavin from ANH and mask out the Falcon but it might stand out.

The Jedi are all but extinct.......
Author
Time

Hardcore Legend said:

darthrush said:

Good idea overall!

Things I like about your idea:

-first scene is reveal of Death Star. THAT is quite the way to start the movie and I dig it.
-Making the first act shorter and more straightforward is easily the main positive of this editing strategy.

Possible problems with the idea:

-It would be pretty hard to effectively transition from the crawl and the starry background to the Death Star reveal without it feeling jarring. I suspect that some vfx work would need to be done.
-The feeling of hopping planets might still remain and it could be even more confusing since there would be no location subtitles (or would there?)

Overall, Id love to discuss and figure out a way to make this idea happen 😃

The Tie cuts across the screen to reveal the DS. Perhaps pan down to blank starfield, pause and then have it roar across.

To avoid the confusion, perhaps rewrite crawl to point out that Saw is stationed on Jedha.

One big tool fan editors are going to need are clean planet shots without titles. You could reuse Yavin from ANH and mask out the Falcon but it might stand out.

Or just crop the frame without noticable change of quality if that works. When you wipe to these new planets, would you wipe to establishing shots first? For example, when we cut to Saw, would it be good to use a wide shot of the Jedha landscape to establish where we are?

By the way, I re watched the Tarkin/Krennic scene on the death star and I most definitely think it would fit nicely as an opening scene.

Return of the Jedi: Remastered

Lord of the Rings: The Darth Rush Definitives

Author
Time

Just something small - after Jyn is read the list of her crimes she should say that line from the trailer: “This is a rebellion, isn’t it? I rebel”

Author
Time

Send me the files with the planet names, I will see what I can do.

Author
Time

I feel like the movie I saw is not the same movie you guys saw. It was the best looking Star Wars film I’ve seen in years. It was shot masterfully, and was acted fairly well. But it was devoid of any substance. The prequels had more of a soul than this film. There was little to no character development. I can’t even tell you the names of the people I saw in the film. I’ve watched it twice now. Don’t get me started on Tarkin…I’m going to be having nightmares of that for years. I also think Darth Vader didn’t belong in a single frame of the film. It’s completely out of his character to swing his light-saber through the halls like a madman, only to be calm and collective in the first shots of A New Hope. Those are 2 completely different characters. Why also doesn’t he mention their escape? He just mentions that the plans were transmitted by spies. There’s none of the anger or urgency you see in the final frames of Rogue One. I don’t even think the stormtroopers would’ve fired a shot if the rebels weren’t waiting with their blasters ready.

For a film that was supposed to be the dark and gritty Star Wars film, it played things too safe, and didn’t allow the audience to become invested in the characters. Yeah, the Death Star is a big threat that needs to be stopped, but we know it’s going to be stopped in a much more interesting film, by characters we care about. The way to make the film have it’s own drama and it’s own voice is to make you care about the characters.

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

<span> </span>

Author
Time

EyeShotFirst said:

I feel like the movie I saw is not the same movie you guys saw. It was the best looking Star Wars film I’ve seen in years. It was shot masterfully, and was acted fairly well. But it was devoid of any substance. The prequels had more of a soul than this film. There was little to no character development. I can’t even tell you the names of the people I saw in the film. I’ve watched it twice now. Don’t get me started on Tarkin…I’m going to be having nightmares of that for years. I also think Darth Vader didn’t belong in a single frame of the film. It’s completely out of his character to swing his light-saber through the halls like a madman, only to be calm and collective in the first shots of A New Hope. Those are 2 completely different characters. Why also doesn’t he mention their escape? He just mentions that the plans were transmitted by spies. There’s none of the anger or urgency you see in the final frames of Rogue One. I don’t even think the stormtroopers would’ve fired a shot if the rebels weren’t waiting with their blasters ready.

For a film that was supposed to be the dark and gritty Star Wars film, it played things too safe, and didn’t allow the audience to become invested in the characters. Yeah, the Death Star is a big threat that needs to be stopped, but we know it’s going to be stopped in a much more interesting film, by characters we care about. The way to make the film have it’s own drama and it’s own voice is to make you care about the characters.

Perhaps this would have fit better in the review thread.

Return of the Jedi: Remastered

Lord of the Rings: The Darth Rush Definitives

Author
Time

^Everyone else gave their 2 cents…I thought this was uhmerica?

"The other versions will disappear. Even the 35 million tapes of Star Wars out there won’t last more than 30 or 40 years. A hundred years from now, the only version of the movie that anyone will remember will be the DVD version [of the Special Edition], and you’ll be able to project it on a 20’ by 40’ screen with perfect quality. I think it’s the director’s prerogative, not the studio’s to go back and reinvent a movie." - George Lucas

<span> </span>

Author
Time

After watching this movie on Netflix and giving my novel-length thoughts on it in the review thread, I got to thinking about how this film could be radically improved. It would require some substantive editing. In short, switch the first and second acts.

Begin with a crawl. Here’s something akin to what I’m thinking:

Rogue One
It is a time of oppression. The evil Galactic Empire is secretly building a superweapon which will allow it to crush any rebellion once and for all.

Desperate to halt this construction, the fledgling Rebel Alliance has sent a small team to capture the mastermind behind this terror weapon and destroy his facility.

Unbeknownst to the Rebellion, the daughter of this scientist is hidden in their ranks, and her love for her father may decide the fate of the galaxy…

Pan down to Eadu. The ship (whose only identifiable occupants are Jyn, Cassian, and K2SO) crashes on the planet and the two cloaked figures head out in the rain towards the facility. We see these cloaked figures ascend the ridge and survey the assembled scientists, but when Krennic’s ship flies overhead, one figure (Jyn) disappears. After a while, we see Jyn climbing to the platform. The scene plays out as it does in the movie, sans Bodhi and Baze and Chirrut, and with the dream on Coruscant perhaps interspersed with Jyn’s reunion. They escape on the stolen ship and head back to Yavin 4.

Cue first scene of the Death Star.

Back on Yavin, Alliance brass has learned of Jyn’s real name. They question her, realizing that they now have a potential in with Saw’s Rebels. The quest for Jedha remains largely unchanged. We now see her backstory where the dream was before, and her later imprisonment and rescue in bits and pieces. It is not clear that the Rebellion was the party that rescued her from prison. The hologram gains an added weight now that we know that Galen has just died. There is real tragedy this time.

After escaping the destruction of Jedha, the crew is ambivalent about what to do while Jyn wants to plead her case to the Alliance to head to Scarif. Chirrut mentions that Cassian has the air of a killer about him, which brings back the recriminations about Cassian’s true role in the botched ‘capture’. The scene ends with the same acrimony between Cassian and Jyn.

Tarkin and Krennic spar on the Death Star, but the scene ends without Krennic’s determination to go to Eadu. Instead, he departs to Vader to curry favor with the Emperor.

Meanwhile, on Yavin 4, the conference is the same as in the original. After the team departs for Scarif (sans the R2 and 3PO reference), Krennic meets with Vader.

The final act proceeds roughly the same as the original. It is not necessary to change anything from here on out, but I would shift sections of the battle so that it makes sense from a logistical perspective. For example, the fighting on the beach, up to and including Bodhi’s death, all happens before Jyn decides to transmit the plans using the dish. This way, there can be no rescue in the transport. Similarly, Bodhi’s successful transmission to the fleet is what compels them to ‘begin probing that shield’. The bombing runs on the shield gate and the Star Destroyer decapitation maneuver are both the result of this communication. Krennic is told of the data breach the moment after Cassian fails to use the right hand of the officer, and the waves of Stormtroopers are a result of Krennic’s direct orders.

The film cuts to black after the final shot of Vader staring at the departing Blockade Runner. In this version, with the removal of the R2 and 3PO shot earlier, there is ambiguity as to whether this is the Tantive IV or whether it later beams the plans to another Blockade Runner.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time

I love this - it’d be interesting to assemble a rough cut to see if it works.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

Here’s a bit more detailed outline:

Rogue One
It is a time of oppression. The Galactic Empire is secretly building a weapon which will crush any rebellion once and for all.

Desperate to halt its construction, the fledgling Rebel Alliance has sent an elite group of spies to capture the mastermind of this terror weapon, Galen Erso.

Little does the Rebellion know that the daughter of this Imperial scientist is hidden in their ranks…

Pan down to Eadu. The ship (whose only identifiable occupants are Jyn, Cassian, and K2SO) crashes on the planet and the two cloaked figures head out in the rain towards the facility. On Yavin 4, ships are scrambled to attack the base. We see the cloaked figures ascend the ridge and survey the assembled scientists, but when Krennic’s ship flies overhead, one figure (Jyn) disappears. Krennic informs Galen that he has an announcement, and to gather the scientists. Nothing is said of the Death Star’s completion. He tells the scientists that there is a traitor among them. We see Jyn climbing to the platform, and Cassian tries to call off the attack (not calling Jyn by her name), but it’s too late. The moment Krennic shouts ‘Fire!’, the entire platform explodes under fire from rebel ships. Jyn’s reunion with her father is brief, and he can only call her ‘Stardust’ and say that he has much to tell her before he dies. There is still no confirmation that Galen is not an Imperial agent, hence Jyn’s continued emotional distance later in the film. They escape on the stolen ship and head back to Yavin 4. The recriminations between Jyn and Cassian never take place in this cut (the costumes, wet hair, and tone are probably too different to incorporate into another scene). In fact, the entire Cassian ‘shades of grey’ subplot is cut, since not only does it have no logical space in this edit, it simply confuses the methods of the Rebellion as opposed to the extremism of Saw’s rebels.

Bodhi Meets Saw’s Rebels, and is taken to their base.

Back on Yavin, Alliance brass has learned of Jyn’s real name. They question her, realizing that they now have a potential in with Saw’s Rebels. Some continuity-breaking lines are gone. Jyn is formally introduced to K2SO, and her ‘I remember you’ line continues to make sense here.

We are introduced to Saw.

Krennic meets Tarkin in front of the Death Star, and they discuss the situation on Jedha.

The quest for Jedha remains largely unchanged. Her brief dream of Coruscant remains, but is lengthened to show the farm, the death of Lira from Jyn’s perspective, and Jyn’s escape into the hideout where she is found by Saw. She doesn’t recollect the conversation between Galen and Krennic. Galen’s hologram gains an added weight now that we know that Galen has just died. There is real tragedy this time, as Jyn learns that she was wrong to doubt her father all these years and they can never make amends.

After escaping the destruction of Jedha, Krennic and Tarkin discuss what is to be done. Tarkin informs Krennic that these security breaches ‘have laid bare your inadequacies as a military director’. Krennic responds with ‘we’ll see about this’ and exits.

There is a brief cut to Yavin 4 where they learn that Jedha has been destroyed. All other dialogue is cut.

Krennic departs the Death Star, and reminisces about his recruitment of Galen. We are shown what transpired from his perspective, and this completes the flashback.

On the U-wing, Jyn is deep in thought as well - seemingly reminiscing about the same event as Krennic - but is pulled back to the present by Bodhi, who asks if she is the daughter of Galen. The conversation happens largely unchanged, except of course that there is no going to Eadu.

Krennic meets with Vader. This scene is unchanged, and leads to the scene on Yavin 4 as in the original. The team departs for Scarif (sans the R2 and 3PO reference).

The final act proceeds roughly the same as the original. It is not necessary to change anything from here on out, but I would shift sections of the battle so that it makes sense from a logistical perspective. For example, the fighting on the beach, up to and including Bodhi’s death, all happens before Jyn decides to transmit the plans using the dish. This way, there can be no rescue in the transport. Similarly, Bodhi’s successful transmission to the fleet is what compels them to ‘begin probing that shield’. The bombing runs on the shield gate and the Star Destroyer decapitation maneuver are both the result of this communication. Krennic is told of the data breach the moment after Cassian fails to use the right hand of the officer, and the waves of Stormtroopers are a result of Krennic’s direct orders.

The film cuts to black after the final shot of Vader staring at the departing Blockade Runner. In this version, with the removal of the R2 and 3PO shot earlier, there is ambiguity as to whether this is the Tantive IV or whether it later beams the plans to another Blockade Runner. The final shot of the Tantive going to hyperspace could happen directly before or after Vader’s final shot, depending on how the music works out.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time

I’ve been thinking about how to “fix” Rogue One since December, and I think I’ve settled on what I’d do if I decided to edit it myself. It’s pretty conservative, and mostly boils down to: cut everything relating to Bodhi and Jedha before Jyn and Cassian get there.

So the movie starts as normal, then the Cassian/informant scene, then the Jyn rescue, her interrogation/assignment and leaving for Jedha. I’m not sure where to place the first Tarkin/Krennic scene, but in there somewhere - I’m just trying to avoid too much planet-hopping in the first act.

Once on Jedha, cut the Ponda Baba/Evazan cameo (obviously), and continue until Jyn and Cassian are captured. We meet Bodhi when Cassian does, and Saw when Jyn does.

No Bor Gullet at all, and no bouncing back and forth from Jedha to new planet to new planet throughout the first act.

And I’d definitely cut the Artoo/Threepio cameo, too…

Author
Time
 (Edited)

I figure since they’re already little more than a plot device, might as well cut them down to the minimum necessary to better focus on the characters we should actually be getting to know at that point.

Plus it adds a bit of mystery and a feeling of foreboding to discover Saw’s rebels with our protagonists instead of being shown everything beforehand, especially when we have so little context for them at that stage.

Also, fuck Bor Gullet. Particularly since it doesn’t have any lasting effects on Bodhi beyond his initial confusion in the cell.

Author
Time

I cut out everything from when Jedha blows up to when they reveal Vader. That’s an idea.

Reading R + L ≠ J theories

Author
Time

Don’t know if this was mentioned before here, but ever since I had seen it at celebration, it had always intrigued me. It is the opening to the rogue one celebration panel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9BuyiFvLJA

I knew it wasn’t going to be in the film, but it eventually got me thinking…
*some average movie-goers had not known that this was a film that had taken place right before Star Wars
*seeing episode IV in the crawl would confuse them, until that interruption happens and focuses on the "rebel spies section of the crawl, then transition to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
*It is essentially a subversion of your expectation, but it eventually becomes a stylistic introduction to the story

Again it might confuse with the whole Episode IV subtitle, but once the imagery steps in, the audience realizes what they are really in for. I was completely fine without a crawl, but this would have taken the cake for me if it was what we had got.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

OGSpark said:

Don’t know if this was mentioned before here, but ever since I had seen it at celebration, it had always intrigued me. It is the opening to the rogue one celebration panel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9BuyiFvLJA

Indeed it has OGSpark, and you may be interested to see what I originally posted about it back on page 8.

Since then, I’ve been disappointed (though not surprised) to find that it didn’t end up amongst the ROGUE ONE ‘extras’ after all…especially since I’ve thought of ANOTHER way I’d have preferred to have incorporated it for myself sometime, compared to my initial thoughts on page 8 -

My new idea concerning it was inspired after seeing a couple of ‘test’ videos that DigModiFicaTion previewed over on Fanedit(.)org, as he was working on his own RISE OF THE REBELLION:A ROGUE ONE EDIT. (Here’s this site’s details about it, by the way) -
originaltrilogy.com/topic/Rise-of-the-Rebellion-A-Rogue-One-Edit/id/55859

He was mulling over whether the usual End Credits music was the right ‘tone’ to end the movie on, considering the previous events overall. Personally, I think it worked fine seeing as the movie ended up on a mention of ‘HOPE’…but I reckon I’d prefer to end my own ideal version on a more sombre-sounding note before the usual End Credits score kicks in.

Anyway, here’s what DigMod came up with -

(ROGUE ONE / ANH end score comparison clip) - https://vimeo.com/222152616

(ANH score replacement clip - the password is fanedit.org) - https://vimeo.com/220156877

I REALLY like this use of the ANH intro. score as a way of ‘foreshadowing’ what ROGUE ONE was leading into next…and will definately use it for my own version someday. The only alteration I would make to this for myself…is that once the ANH music reaches the 0:18 mark on DigMod’s clip (where we see the credit Director of Photograph GREIG FRASER, ASC, ACS begin to fade out), I would THEN introduce the usual ‘jaunty’ End Credits music - the reason being that I don’t want to hear TOO much of ANH’s intro. score beforehand, if I choose to watch it immediately after ROGUE ONE!

So thanks very much DigMod for that inspired notion! 😃

However, had the ‘Celebration Panel’ scroll been available on the extras, I’d have liked to incorporate it as a way to FINISH the movie instead!

Here’s a better version of it where you can hear the final notes much clearer without the crowd whooping - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgsbzxSIPrU

It would certainly have given me the more sombre kind of ‘foreshadowing’ tone I’m after to end the movie on…and here’s how I’d have included it -

…the movie ends, and the Tantive IV jumps to hyperspace…then the circular ‘iris’ wipes to the ‘Celebration Panel’ scroll (so that it begins at the 0:49 mark on the video I linked to above), until it ends just before the word DECEMBER appears)*…and then we get a SECOND circular ‘iris’ wipe as the usual END CREDITS and music begin. 😃

(alternatively…as above, except we could just fade to black at the end of the oncoming scroll at the 01:18 mark in the video, so that we just hear those final notes without seeing those particular ROGUE ONE A Star Wars Story titles…and THEN begin the usual END CREDITS and music)

But as we DIDN’T get that ‘Celebration Panel’ scroll amongst the ‘extras’ after all, DigMod’s neat suggestion will do me just fine instead.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

^ love those Celebration '16 crawls for Rogue One 😃

 

 

a little late for the quality Fan Edits already out there - yet thought this was worth a mention…

^ from https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/7pey0x/i_made_an_opening_crawl_for_rogue_one/

The text:-

'The World is become undone, Imperial Flags reign across the galaxy. The only known combatants to push back the menacing GALACTIC EMPIRE have heard rumors of an Imperial Super-Weapon.

In an attempt to stop this doomsday device, the brave REBEL ALLIANCE has dispatched two rebel soldiers to locate the daughter of the weapon’s creator.

Being held captive in an Imperial Prison, Jyn Erso is unaware of the intentions of the two rebels, as they race off to Wobani to recruit her and destroy this mysterious weapon.’
 

A little confusing to have that as a crawl if opening with Jyn as a kid in the opening flashback sequence - yet for other Fan Edit ideas… a pretty decent crawl.

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

Author
Time

Oh that’s a very cool crawl ! Indeed the opening scene must be removed but since the movie uses flash-backs the opening scene can be restructured that way during the movie. Could be an interesting take on Jyn Erso character: we learn what happened to her mother later in the movie.

Author
Time

Really good crawl, but saying “the WORLD is become undone” seems a bit silly. Like when Padme says “this is a real world, Anakin” in AotC.

Author
Time
 (Edited)

An expanded idea from another thread.

In order to improve continuity between RO and ANH, show Vader’s shuttle docking with the flagship and the Rebels running through the halls in desperation, carrying the floppy disk. Perhaps they think that they can get away with it in an escape pod (like in ANH), but when the door jams and Vader appears, they quickly hand the plans to an officer on the other side of the door, who plugs it back into the ship (using the shot of him removing the plans except reversed), and transmits the plans from that station to the Tantive, which is waiting at the edge of the system.

As the door is forcibly sliced open and the rest of the soldiers perish, cut to the Tantive IV flying through empty space (VFX work would be needed to remove the flagship and the planet below). The movie ends as it does originally, sans Scarif.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

Author
Time

Super super random thought, but I know a lot of debate was had over the contradiction of the plans being “beamed” to the Tantive IV according to ANH and then seeing it brought onto the ship physically in Rogue One.

There was some interesting ideas to alleviate this, and maybe this was one of them, but I wonder in the end if you could just alter it to remove or cover up the the data disc in the Rebels’ hands, and just make it like they are just trying to get off the Raddus and evacuate to the Tantive IV, and Vader is just trying to board it to prevent its escape.

You could just cut the shot of them downloading the plans to the disc, and trim out the disc being passed off, “Take it!”. I would also cut the shot of Vader watching the Tantive IV flying away. I also read the idea that Vader was using the Force to keep the door shut, so it would be interesting to add a very subtle “Force” sound to imply that idea more.

So even though we don’t see the transmission downloading onto the Tantive IV’s computers? The audience could just assume that when Jyn started broadcasting the plans, that any ship could download it, and they were the only ship to complete the download and actually escape. I think that is easier to rationalize than the “beaming” versus “boarding” contradiction.