I’ve managed to make major inroads into this edit this week.
I have completed the second cut, built the 5.1 Soundmix and done a third scan of the transition points.
It weighs in at 2h57, which is curiously exactly the same length as Episode 1. I would have liked it slightly shorter, but the material is just so good I didn’t want to make excessive cuts and lose the story beats.
All that is left are 8 audio transitions that need a little work including one that needs re-scoring.
It is shaping up really nicely.
Here is the list of alterations.Broad Changes
Edited to introduce a time skip between this and the previous movie edit.
Andor is captured off screen during the time skip to eliminate the Niamos scenes. His capture is explained in the opening text.
The remaining elements of Episode 7 have been used as the opening scenes to set the hunt for Andor as the driver of the first act.
Syril’s Coruscant scenes that were cut from the previous edit are utilised but his mother is removed. His scenes at the Bureau of Standards are used as a juxtaposition to Andor’s scenes in prison - this makes far more sense than using Mon Mothma, which is how Episode 8 was cut.
Vel now leaves Coruscant after she is ordered to find Andor and doesn’t return. Her unnecessary connection to Mon Mothma is removed.
Linus Mosk is cut completely. This gives Syril’s character more strength and autonomy. Syril’s presence on Ferrix is largely cut. He only appears when he rescues Dedra.
Andor’s return to Ferrix from Episode 7 is utilised for two dream flashback sequences whilst he’s on Narkina-5. Using these scenes chronologocally impacted on the pacing and structure of the two movies, so they had to be removed. They are, however, essential for Andor and Marrva’s character arcs and the ISB’s investigations.
Mon Mothma’s scenes are largely cut. Only the basic plot regarding her finances and sacrifice of her daughter remains.Detailed Changes
Opening sequence and text to match Episode 1
Syril’s arrival on Coruscant from EP4 is intercut with Kleya meeting with Vel from EP7 and Dedra briefing Yularen and the ISB from EP8.
Syril arrives at the appartment but his mother is cut. We then see him in his room looking at the hologram of Andor.Episode 8
Sharp cut to Andor arriving on Narkina. The arrival sequence is edited to be continuous.
Cut to Syril arriving for his first day at the Bureau of Standards from EP7.
Cut to Andor in his prison uniform being delivered to his unit. Sequence is shortened to remove the uneccessary interplay between the guards about staffing levels.
Sprint segmnent on the factory floor is cut.
Cut from Andor’s face as he realises what he’s got to do during his sentence, to Syril at his Bureau work station from EP7.
Cut to Andor on the brdge at the end of the shift. The prison dormitory orientation sequence plays out as one scene with the Mon Mothma scenes cut, and placed later in the edit.
We cut from Andor reflecting in the darkness of his pod to the first flashback scene from EP7 on Ferrix where Andor returns for Maarva.
Cut to Andor in the dark pod and the 30 shift timeskip.
Cut to Syril at the Bureau as the ISB arrive to take him in for questioning.
Hard cut straight to Syril in the ISB interrogation room as Dedra arrives.
Cut to the prison as a normal shift unfolds.
Cut to Syril’s second interrogation scene.
Present time Ferrix scenes of Brasso and Bix with Maarva and the watching Vel and Sinta. Vel and Sinta heavily edited to remove reference to Vel leaving Sinta on her own.
Ferrix and Luthen/Cleya scenes play out in sequence but with the scene of Vel leaving Ferrix being cut.
Cut to nightime prison scene where the prisoner is about to commit suicide but add in shot of Andor sleeping. Then cut to the second Ferrix Flashback scene where Maarva tells Andor she is staying on Ferrix. The Flashbacks of young Andor v the Clones are removed to avoid having a flashback within a flashback. Cut Maarva “That’s just love… nothing you can do about that” - those lines never sat well with me. References to Andor’s sister are cut.
Cut back to a reversed, trimmed shot of the prison dormitory and then Andor sleeping as the fellow prisoner jumps to his death.
Cut back to Ferrix scene where Bix is spotted - “Get Heeeeeer” is cut.
Cut to Luthen and Saw. Part of Saw’s rant is removed.
Cut to Bix’s capture and meeting with Dedra.Episode 9
First prison scene moved up to provide a spacer between the Bix/Dedra scene at the end of the last episdoe and start of this episode.
The torture scenes have been removed. I’ve gone with the ANH tactic with the torture being implied rather than shown. It also helped with the pacing. We see the suggestion of the torture, the results of it and the information gained from it.
Mon Mothma/Vel scenes cut.
Syril’s mother is cut.
2 of the 3 Mon Mothma appartment gathering scenes from Ep8 are moved to here and intercut with the evening/night prison scenes. The middle one is cut. They are introduced after her scene in the Senate.
The Syril/Dedra scene is edited to make Syril appear less creepy. “Have you been waiting out here…… Yes”, “Being in your presence” and “I sense it, I know it” have been cut.
Removed the prison doctor “He’s had a massive stroke” - I dont like “earthy” language in my Star Wars!
Moved the last ISB briefing scene to the end to provide a spacer scene between the prison scene at the end of this episode and the start of the next.Episode 10
Cut Ulaf’s body being taken through the factory floor.
Cut Mon Mothma “I’d feel far more comfotable paying you for your trouble” - sounds like something out of a west end musical!
Cut first 2 clips of Andor cutting the pipe - we have already seen him working on that pipe but it looks untouched.
Trim the sequence of the new prisoner being prepped for dropping onto the floor - speeds up the sequenece.
Trimmed the breakout sequence. The floor is activated a lot earlier, as it should have been.
Cut the shot of water dripping through the ceiling of another floor.
Cut Kino hesitating and not knowing what to say over the tannoy - I wanted him to appear strong until the point where he admits he can’t swim. A much better character arc.
Trimmed Lonni’s journey in the lift.
Cut references to Lonni’s child.Episode 11
Cut Andor and Melshi on the cliff.
Cut Andor and Melshi’s capture and escape with the aliens - poorly executed scenes. Having their escape happen off screen works just as well.
Cut Vel and Kleya scene.
Cut Vel and Mon Mothma scene.
Cut Brasso - B2 scene.
Cut scene where Bix is asked about Anto Kreeger.
Cut Scene where Linus contacts Syril.
Keep scene of Syril emptying his safe but cut his mother leaving the apartment.
Cut Melchi from the Niamos scene - implies that Melchi and Andor already agreed to separate before this point.
Move the Fondor battle scene to the end to provide a better transition into the next episode.Episode 12
Cut first scene of Wilmon making the bomb.
Edit Vel/Cinta scene to remove references to Vel coming back - she has been there the whole time.
Edit scene when Andor touches his father’s brick so that the flashback is of him being killed by the Clone Troopers - provides a more powerful resolution to the story.
Cut Luthen speeder sequence.
Cut all scenes involving Linus and Cyril. Cyril’s presence on Ferrix is unknown until the point where he rescues Deedra.
Trim the funeral band procession to speed up the pacing.
Cut the extended pause during Maarva’s hologram speech.
Cut Bix refusing to leave with Andor.
Hey Smudger, will you be loosing the discussion of how they were going to torture Bix- the story about the screams of another species being decimated. That was really dark and bold for a Star Wars show, so I thought it was important to display the tone of the aeries