Sounds like a great outline for trimming the first episode. The only suggestion I’d make is to reconsider the Bix nightmare, which ties in to the traumatic scene in episode 3
Thanks STF for the feedback!
I wanted to open this movie by giving Bix and Brasso a moment of peace before the Empire’s heavy hand encroaches upon their lives again. While the tie-in to Season 1 is undeniable, I felt that opening with such intensity didn’t quite match the tone I wanted to establish. You do notice subtle hints that Bix’s is carrying the trauma from the first season.
Now, on to Episode 2. I’ve felt it was the weakest of the three, and I’ve managed to cut it down from 35 minutes to a lean 17! This keeps me on track for a total arc of around 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Here’s the changes I’ve made:
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Yavin has been removed.
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Here I’ve inserted the opening scene from Episode 3, featuring Cassian in the TIE, trying to activate his communication device. This not only keeps Cassian relevant but also provides a plausible explanation for his silence.
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Mon and Perrin’s conversation about Tae’s marital issues has been cut.
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I’ve restructured several scenes to smooth out the transitions between Chandrila and Mina-Rau, creating a much better narrative flow.
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I decided to cut Cyril’s Bureau of Standards scene. His first appearance now hits harder when he arrives at Dedra’s apartment, this is now more of a shock moment and works brilliantly!
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The initial Imperial inspection scene on Mina-Rau felt out of place, so I’ve cut that too. This builds suspense by holding off on the Imperials until the climax of the arc. They just slowly encroach off screen. I’ll adjust some dialogue between Bix and the Lieutenant in the Episode 3 footage to make this work seamlessly.
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There are a few other small edits that I won’t bore you with.
And with that, I’m ready to dive into Episode 3! I’ve updated the G-drive file to add the episode 2 footage. If anyone fancies viewing it I’ll give you a link. The first 2 episodes have a runtime of 43mins, which is actually the same length of the episode 1 footage alone!