This is very well thought out, EddieDean. Thanks for taking the time to write your ideas out.
I think you make very good points. It feels very focused, and we have this obstruction (generally adhering to the canon) that can challenge us in creative but fun ways.
While there are radical ideas I’ve thought about and like, the stuff beyond the movies is becoming a significant part of people’s Star Wars experience. My family has watched The Clone Wars and Rebels, and I like the idea that I could show them these edits without them immediately contradicting the other material that they (and myself) like. It also helps make the edits “futureproof” like you said.
And if, for example, Sith Lords show up in an inevitable old republic series, they’ll more than likely refer to them as Darth, which would instantly make this edit incompatible, and ironically, inconsistent with non-saga material.
I also think this kind of limitation gives us a practical workload and tangible goals.
I personally agree with a “movies and TV” guideline. The Clone Wars and other shows are becoming big parts of people’s Star Wars experience, so I see the merit in trying to stick to them as much as possible. I would argue for this not to be an unshakable rule if there are ideas that benefit the films, and aren’t blatant contradictions. Books and comics shouldn’t be necessary to adhere to. I think the Phasma example is a good point, one that I think should be discussed at some point. Not necessarily a continuity issue but something that fans were generally disappointed with.
I also agree with Adywan’s Revisited trilogy being a prime source for the OT, as long as he’s okay with that. Not only are they the definitive Special Editions imo, he tackles continuity errors that I didn’t even realize were continuity errors, so I believe a lot of his changes fit into the goals of the project.
Also, for example, Y-Wings could be added to ROTS to help tie the trilogies together, as long as they are the sleeker, Clone Wars style design. I also would argue that some prequel elements could be given the low-tech treatment if they don’t blatantly contradict certain things seen in the TV shows. Because one could argue that the technology itself seems to be a contradiction between the films. I think some things would be worth discussing at least.
I think the initial focus should be on continuity issues and errors, but I still think it would be nice for the films to make narrative edits as well, even if they weren’t radical changes per se. This idea actually makes me think a lot of NFB’s prequel edits, where he was inspired to improve the movies by making the prequel characterization more in line with their Clone Wars counterparts, characterization that some prefer over how they’re portrayed in the prequels. I think this might be a good approach, and still allows a lot of room for creative freedom. I don’t think we should be bound to keep the movies exactly the same sans continuity errors.
I like “From a Consistent Point of View”! If not the name of the project, it definitely would make a good slogan. I think CONpov is a good abbreviation for continuity-focused changes as well.
I appreciate your thoughts too jarbear, and I agree with a lot of your thoughts as well. I think quality should be a good standard for this. So a change shouldn’t be implemented if it can’t be pulled off believably. And, the quality of the narrative should be a standard as well.
So Consistency and Quality should be standards. I do think the new canon should be a guideline, but a rule that can be bent, depending on how the change is handled.
I’ll try to make a example that covers one of Nev’s thoughts.
I always felt the Sifo-Diyas thing in AOTC was really unnecessary because it is information that never get brought back up in the films. It’s a clue that leads to nowhere. One potential edit could be to remove Sifo-Diyas being mentioned in the film. The Kaminoans could tell Obi that the “Jedi” ordered a clone army for the Republic, but don’t go into detail. Jango still tells Obi-Wan that he was hired by a man called Tyrannus, though. There is a clue. While Obi-Wan never realizes who Tyrannus is in the movie, we as the audience find out by the end of the film.
In The Clone Wars show, the Sifo-Diyas subplot is touched upon in the final season of the series and is given some long-awaited clarity. Would removing any mention of him from the film contradict the tv series though? Sifo-Diyas still could have been the specific Jedi that ordered the army, but his identity is really unnecessary information for the film, and could potentially improve the narrative of the movie as well. So someone could watch the movie and just assume Dooku did it, but it works either way.
I would like this kind of change because it doesn’t necessarily contradict anything, but it also helps simplify the plot of the prequels. So sometimes the simplest answer could be the best way to address these kind of issues. Thanks for bringing up this kind of stuff, Nev. I’d like to talk more about these issues.
Eddie, I’d love for you to make this spreadsheet you’re referring to! This would be a good start. I don’t know if this would be included in your spreadsheet idea, but making a list of continuity errors and contradictions would be a good idea as well, and see how many of those issues we’ll need to eventually address.