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Unusual Sequel Trilogy Radical Redux Ideas Thread — Page 97

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RogueLeader said:

NeverarGreat said:

Anakin Starkiller said:

Tbh these things don’t really need to be explained, but this could be pointed to for those who needed that kind of question answered.

You’re right that they don’t need to be explained, and the people asking for explanations for that will also want explanations for how the Holdo maneuver only works in that one particular circumstance and who Snoke is where Maz got Luke’s lightsaber and a billion other useless bits of visual dictionary filler.

If Han Solo demands an answer to questions like this, then so do I.

I still think about your Ben Solo using Anakin’s lightsaber idea. ❤️

I get so exhausted thinking about ideas for the PT and ST. I just want to move on, but my brain can’t help but churn out ideas for them. Maybe it’s because I’ve loved Star Wars for so long it’s like the sunk cost fallacy. I’d like to help complete a solid Rey Nobody edit (which I think Spence has done with his edit), then do a fun Return of the Jedi edit, then move on from Star Wars. But honestly the idea of doing an entire Saga edit will always haunt me…

So true.

I had made peace with the PT for a long time, until the idea for ROTS invaded my brain…the one where Anakin goes to Mustafar while the clones (and Palpatine?) go to the Jedi Temple, implying that Obi-wan lies to Padme to get her to confront Anakin. That one change would solve half my issues with that trilogy while having reverberations all the way through the ST.

Yet I would never be able to limit the edit to that change, and the task of a full edit of another Star Wars movie is just far too daunting. Perhaps some brave soul will take up the mantle and do these movies justice…I can only hope.

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

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Now THAT is an interesting idea.

I still think it would be fun to sit down and have a bunch of us write out ideas for a big Saga edit, and how certain changes not only improve each film but ties into the whole Saga better. I think Eddie’s TPM thread began to touch on that.

But again, I think everyone has different opinions that would make it difficult to find compromises. For example, some people might want to keep the Chosen One and midichlorian stuff, while others would hate keeping it. Personally, I would really love to see a version of TFA with no Stakiller superweapon, but most people have come to accept it.

I think if you went in with a thesis statement or a few objectives for what this hypothetical Saga edit is meant to be, and every change somehow ties back into that thesis statement and its sub-points, then it might make it easier to choose which ideas stay and which ideas go. Because now that all nine films are out, we know what we have to work with and what the overarching story and themes can be. But after TROS, I think we were all like, “Damn, maybe the Saga has no meaning”. But now that it’s been two years, maybe some semblance of a solid conclusion can be pieced together.

But that’s a lot of work, which is why right now I think I would like to just focus on a Return of the Jedi edit that brings it closer quality-wise to the other two OT films, and leave it at that.

Idk. Maybe I should revive that old Collaborative Thread I made. Because despite everything I said, I love hearing your ideas and the ideas of other people on this site. Like that ROTS idea, I would love to talk about that some more. So even if we never make anything it is fun to talk about. At the very least it could be something that people could talk about and just see where it goes.

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It’s hard setting down something that’s been so involved, like you’re giving up on it despite feeling you’ve done all there is to do. There isn’t really any stopping point that isn’t arbitrary. It just has to feel right.

RL, that Rey Nobody cut of Ascendant V2 is going to get made. And I want to see your ROTJ. If you just need someone to make the editing happen even, I’m sure I could find time here and there to help realize your ideas. I trust you implicitly and imagine there’s something there that ought to see the light of day if you feel that way about it.

And Nev, that’s a refreshing idea for ROTS that addresses a few things elegantly. Anakin more believable could be sic’d on the Separatist leaders right away than fellow Jedi. Obi-Wan steps down from moral purity and begins his lying habit. “I saw… a security hologram… of him… [whatever the most comical atrocity you can think of].”

I suppose you’d need to sentence mix Palpatine a bit to tell Anakin to go to Mustafar while the clone troops attack the Temple. Something would have to be done with the balcony conversation between Anakin and Padme to account for Padme worrying about him. And Obi-Wan’s lie would be oddly specific, to be fair.

Also, if anyone listening wants to make Ben Solo’s lightsaber into Anakin’s during the TLJ flashbacks, please do and I will be happy to make use of it. Would be the cherry on top.

My stance on revising fan edits.

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Hal 9000 said:

RL, that Rey Nobody cut of Ascendant V2 is going to get made. And I want to see your ROTJ. If you just need someone to make the editing happen even, I’m sure I could find time here and there to help realize your ideas. I trust you implicitly and imagine there’s something there that ought to see the light of day if you feel that way about it.

Thanks for the support, Hal! The idea of a Saga edit is overwhelming, but then I remember that you and others have already put in much of the actual work already with your edits! Makes it less daunting!
Even if that idea never really comes to fruition, there are already many edits out there that make them a lot better. I think a Rey Nobody cut for Ascendant is just around the corner, and maybe I’ll share more about the ROTJ project soon! Thanks for your offer to help out!

EDIT: Also these LOTR gifs are making me want to rewatch those movies…

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I would really, really like to see an attempt at a communitywide saga edit, where we consider the franchise holistically.

It’s too big for one person - everything would hinge on the collaborative approach. You’ll always have the bottom-up approach, where people generate ideas for scenes, then test them with an audience and tweak them to make them work. But like RogueLeader says, for a project like this you’d need to have a really heavy top-down approach too, establishing the thesis statement/objectives first. The order things were tackled would be vital, and I don’t mean like ‘which movie first?’, but things like how those goals are established, how they are validated, how changes are judged against them?

I’d suggest putting some serious time into polling and discussion there to establish those objectives. For example:

  1. Open discussion of what needs to be discussed, all of the possible considerations, questions that need to be asked
  2. A mammoth (non-binding) poll to cover everything that a consensus feeling is needed for: What should be canon? How far should can canon be deviated from? Aesthetic concerns? Sources? Themes?
  3. On those results, more open discussion, treating them as a guide but not final. Was anything missed that needs to be asked again? Are there any valid challenges to the consensus? Points should be justified, preferences should be argued for.
  4. Some form of locking-in of ideas. I’d suggest approval by a council of veterans - you three above would certainly not be a bad starting point.
  5. Present those goals. Justify them in writing, so others can get on board. Leave room for challenge and refinement.
  6. Then, granularity. Against those goals, probably another poll (again via open discussion of what questions belong), outlining character arcs (Anakin lied to by Obi-Wan?), key elements (Midichlorians? Chosen one?), overall flow of the saga (Palpatine returned?), etc etc. Again, discussion of results, approval by some authority that can thumb-up or thumb-down ideas (Like Hal’s role in Ascendent).

Essentially, democracy beneath some benevolent dictators!

THEN, the bottom-up approach can begin in earnest. Ideation. Realisation of those ideas. Testing against the goals. Impact for the wider saga.

And to support those who will inevitably prefer to deviate from that core, it’d be relatively straightforward to maintain a library of edited individual scenes, LUTs, etc, so that people could pick and choose. It’s always made sense to me that resources like this should be made available to the community as a whole.

Anyway, maybe that’s me taking it too far, but that’s how I’d approach it. I don’t do anything (Star Wars or work-related - I’m a business analyst/change consultant) without ideation, audience polling, approval groups, or a massive fucking spreadsheet.

The Clone Wars: Refocused | Andor: Movie Omnibus

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On Nev’s/Hal’s idea, Obi-Wan doesn’t even necessarily need to lie to Padmé. It could just be something like “I saw a security hologram. Of him… kneeling before the Sith Lord” or “fighting Master Windu”.

The Clone Wars: Refocused | Andor: Movie Omnibus

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RogueLeader said:

A gif so accurate my head is starting to hurt…

Yeah, I’m saving that one for future use!

“That’s not how the Force works!”

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I’d love to help out, even if it’s with a non-voting status. Just to get some extra mileage out of all this Saga thinking my edit is inflicting… er, allowing me to do.

“That’s not how the Force works!”

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Very interesting developments. I’m always amazed at how specifically Neverar and RogueLeader come up with very creative and unique ideas for all of the movies. I’d definitely be excited. Hopefully the two of you have something written down if the burnout ever really gets to you, to pass on the torch 😃

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I’d be honored, but it would depend upon that council getting along and acting in good faith at all times.

We’d just need some sort of monarch figure to knight us into the position.

Step one: nominate someone to appoint themself monarch.

Step two: this person appoints members of the council.

Step three: the council now has absolute power over their domain and settle all matters internally.

Step four: the council must appoint, either deliberatively or organically, a leader figure.

If I’m included I would give it my all, but I don’t think I could be the take-charge leader since I already have finished saga edits and maintain them. Maybe a member who attends as often as his realm allows him to leave.

My stance on revising fan edits.

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^Indeed, sounds like fun. I would only worry that someone might feel slighted if excluded from such a club, intentionally or not.

I think it would be a good idea for someone to start a thread for such a project, allowing time for anyone who wishes to partake ample opportunity to chime in. Of course, anyone could contribute even if they didn’t have direct say in what changes to make, just like I could suggest changes for your projects but it was ultimately your call. In that spirit, I hereby nominate Eddie to assemble the League of Extraordinary Faneditors!

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

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I also could kick up my old Collaborative Saga thread and move this discussion to there.

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Well, I’m excited that you guys think it’s a decent enough idea!

I don’t think I have the right credentials to deserve the same authority as the rest of the council, but I’m happy to serve in this administrative capacity. (A seat on the council without the rank of master, which I’m sure has never gone badly before.)

Ultimately, I imagine that the purpose of a council would be to make decisions on behalf of the community that the community would ultimately collectively accept, even if they disagreed personally with the odd individual decision. Therefore, I’d suggest that the most qualified people would be those who have experience, tenure, and trust amongst the community. Authority would be granted in service to the community, rather than over it.

Rogue, Hal, Nev, Spence - all of you have created multiple well-regarded edits, have been members of this community for a long time, and importantly, have been heavily involved in the more collaborative elements of editing rather than purely personal edits. (GMatias, I’m sure you have too, I’m just less personally familiar with your work.) I can’t claim the same, but like many others here I’d be more than happy to be part of the democratic process beneath your ultimate decisions. It feels important that the community trust that all voices will be heard whether on the council or not.

If high-end goals were established, perhaps edits which fit within those goals can be marked as something like “Part of the OriginalTrilogy.com Saga Edit™” to make it easier to identify those edits which’re internally consistent. (Since it’s always hard to cherrypick a personal set of edits when one you like is perfect except for the fact that Obi-Wan’s lightsaber is green with purple polka dots.)

As always, I’m happy to create a thread with a detailed OP to help organise things, present resources, and get people on the same page, but as usual I’m wary of overdoing it, which I’m prone to. I’m more than happy for anyone else to take the lead on that.

Rogue, I’ll shortly be putting together the community ROTJ thread, which I know you’ll be a major contributor to - do you see your theoretical ROTJ edit as a part of this larger collaborative initiative, or more of a personal standalone edit?

The Clone Wars: Refocused | Andor: Movie Omnibus

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Your help would certainly be appreciated if you feel like it’s something you would enjoy doing! I don’t have strong opinions on how to approach it at the moment.

My ROTJ idea is probably too radical for a Saga edit (there are things I want to do differentiate it from Ady’s eventual edit), but there are some common things I want to address that could definitely be used for a Saga edit. My plan was to use sources that could be plugged into other people’s edits, but then I’ll further alter it for what I want to accomplish. I’ve been reading Rinzler’s making of book, and there’s definitely a lot I feel like is worth discussing.