So it’s time for an update.
Progress is going well. I was recommended a deleted scene from TLJ with some usable Kylo footage by GMatias. These shots allowed me to have reactions (or lack of reactions) for Kylo during Leia’s death scene where he is not wearing his helmet, which means I now don’t have to cram all of Kylo’s stuff into the first 10 minutes of the movie. It’s a big breakthrough, and really helps fix the pacing early on.
Here’s how it looks now:
Pacing is now a lot better in the first half, and allows for more flexibility in what I can cut back and forth to.
The Force Bond duel is in much better shape now as well, but I will likely have to do some more audio editing to make the music fit in better. The imporance of the scene is diminished when skipping the flashbacks to Rey’s parents, but I still think it’s turned out well as a fun little action beat, and we get some of Rey’s anger as well.
axlanian graciously played with the audio of the Sith Whispers to make them blend in better and sound more interesting.
I will say that the workprint I shared is quite outdated now. I want to do a bit more tweaking and then I’ll do another workprint for feedback.
One thing I’m struggling with is now that I’ve gone back to both Luke and Leia’s sabers being blue, there’s two shots near the end that they’re both in together where I’m losing the crackling effect. If anyone who worked on that effect for HAL’s edit would be willing to add it in for those two shots, please reach out to me, I’d be very grateful!