INFODROID:
Yeah, we've all talked about it and decided that 3PO's officially out of Episode I, although Commander Courage came up with the suggestion of replacing TC-14 on the Neimoidian ship with Anthony Daniels' voice. Which, I thought was a very interesting (while radical) idea. But ultimately, how would you explain how he conveniently ends up on the Lars' farm in II (which, in itself, never made sense to begin with)?
Of course, he could be entirely edited out of II, but that's Trooperman's call. That may be the more necessary change from a saga standpoint, however, because it never added up why a droid with 3PO's personality who spent ten years on a secluded farm with him, would not be recognized by Uncle Owen when he again conveniently turns up in ANH.
I like the idea of him saying the first line in TPM since he also has the first line in IV. So, if we go the TC-14 route and cut him entirely out of II, he'd end up being reintroduced in III as Padme's valet. But, how would you explain it on screen? I mean, wasn't he on the Federation ship when it exploded? Is there a way around it?
And if we don't go the TC-14 route, how will he be introduced in II? Trooperman, you'll have to elaborate on your ideas for this please. And anyone else who cares to chime in with a viable solution would be greatly appreciated.
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TROOPERMAN:
Unfortunately, all I knew to begin with was that I didn’t want Anakin to build 3PO. Looking back, it looks as if the best way to do that is to cut 3PO from Episode I.
The problem is that we need C-3PO in Episode II because he sets up what is going on with R2 on Geonosis. You may or may not remember that the ship lands, Anakin and Padme exit, and C-3PO starts arguing with R2. R2 leaves and C-3PO stays, ending with “Have you no sense at all?” Then, when Padme is stuck in the pot, R2 pops up unexpectedly and saves the day (without flying). Without the previous sequence, this would make no sense to the viewer, and I don’t want to have to cut that part of the droid factory sequence. I have to have the R2/C3PO scene to set it up, because it’s even more necessary after we’ve cut the flying (which establishes his presence). He just shows up on the pathway.
Also to clarify, in SOTDS, C3PO never enters the factory, he never loses his head, he never shows up at the arena, etc. R2 also does not show up at the arena. He just has his traditional heroic moment (in the droid factory), then disappears into the woodwork until the wedding.
This is why turning TC-14 in Ep. I into C-3PO would probably not work in this scenario. C3PO in Episode II has to be the real thing. Unless, of course, we turned C3PO in Episode II into a different droid, which doesn’t really appeal to me much. With that in mind, we need to figure out why Anakin picks him up if he’s Owen’s droid.
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Here’s an idea I’m sure you didn’t expect from me- Redub Uncle Owen. He only has two or three lines anyway; they would hardly be difficult to remove. Also, his voice doesn’t sound anything like Owen from Ep. IV anyway, and it’d hardly be a loss as he was no great actor. I also want to point out that the following is very convenient because we have a lot of footage that would otherwise be cut out and unused (like Owen’s babbling about stepbrothers and girlfriends)…
C3PO: I am See-Threepio, human/cyborg relations. At your service. So pleased to meet you, sir. I need not take the liberty to inform you that…(or some other typical 3PO ramble).
Anakin: I’m here to find my mother- Shmi Skywalker.
C3PO: Your mother! Well, the proper procedure is ….etc. etc. (blah blah blah- establishing him as a very annoying character from the get go).
Anakin: Just take me to your master.
C3PO: Oh, yes. I see. My master. Follow me, please.
CUT to EXT: Owen’s place.
Anakin: I’m Anakin Skywalker.
Lars: Owen Lars.
Anakin: It took awhile for your droid to take us here.
Owen: Don’t even get me started on the robot. He’s a protocol droid and he can’t even speak Bocce. The Jawa traders dumped him on me last month. (pause). I’ll give you 500 credits if you take him.
Anakin: Is my mother here?
Cliegg arrives and gives his little talk. “We have a lot to talk about.” He turns. We hear the sound of footsteps as they walk away.
It begins to sink in for C3PO. CLOSE-UP (CFSS)
C3PO: Sir, sir! There must be some mistake!
CUT to Beru serving drinks in next scene.
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The movie continues from there, except for the following: After Anakin and Padme decide to leave Tatooine, instead of “I’m not worried, R2. It’s just that I’ve never flown before,” C3PO says, “What did I do to deserve this?”
Anthony Daniels has recorded so much 3PO dialogue between the OT films, the radio dramas, the specials, and so on that that wouldn’t be a problem. And best of all, I believe that it would introduce C3PO in a much better way than it was done in Episode I, when Anakin built him. The fact that Owen paid Anakin to take him is some real humor, which might also be good for the movie at this point (we’ve removed a lot of the lame stuff and it could use a lift). Also, it perfectly sets up 3POs and R2’s first meeting and argument.
Also, I think that the new Owen lines link his character much more closely with Ep. IV, which was a weak point there had never been a way to fix- until now.
All we need is an Uncle Owen impersonator that has the time and the means to dub six short sentences. I’m not going to pull a Lucas and insist that this was part of my “original vision”, but I really like this idea that came to me today. I’ve checked the widescreen and full-screen discs, and the outline above will actually work. Please comment The good thing is that this only affects my movie; you guys won’t have to worry about it at all for Ep. I.
Sorry for the late response!
INFODROID:
Wow, TM. That's an excellent idea I would've never considered! Dubbing Uncle Owen.
Best part is, I can put you in touch with a guy who will do the recording for you. No doubt he can sound exactly like a young uncle owen. He's fast, uses his own equipment and he's good at what he does. In fact, if you send me the lines, I'll just go to him and get 'em done for you and send you the wavs (or mp3's), whichever you'd prefer.
And the most exciting part about this idea is that C-3PO is now a Trooperman problem instead of an InfoDroid problem.
Muhahahaha!Thanks, Man!
MUSICMAN:
Thanks for the welcomes, guys!
I'm glad to hear the visual work is being done. Yeah, Trooperman, that may actually be my main beef for the PT. I don't think the issue was even so much a CG issue (though some sweet model work would've been nice), as a film/digital issue. A film look (IMO) is much better for Star Wars, and that'll be a big help. And I love the idea for 3PO's introduction! I was truly laughing at the dialogue--it'll be fun hearing Uncle Owen ask 3PO if he speaks bocce in ANH after that! I hope you go with that, because it's really good. I must say, I was a little sad to hear the dynamic duo wouldn't be present for all six films with this approach, but just that bit made me feel a whole lot better about it. Very nice!
YODA IS YOUR FATHER:
I'm still digging my version, but Trooperman's could work too. I don't think a jedi and a queen/senator would want or need 500 credits badly enough to take a rusty whiny old droid with them though. Plus it still doesn't explain why Owen doesn't remember having already owned a protocol droid called SeeThreepio when they meet in ANH.
COMMANDER COURAGE:
The redubbing of Owen has opened up all new possibilities. Without saying too much, I think everything is going to work out just fine.
And in response to YIYF, the Owen remembering 3PO thing has been an issue with fans ever since AotC came out. I've never really had a problem with it, and I don't think it's a continuity glitch in out edit either. 3PO looks totally different, and Owen never learns his name. The only interaction they had was when the droids were being purchased. I'm sure eventually Owen would have realized who he was, but things didn't go that way.
MTHASLETT:
Just chiming in to say I love TM's threepio fixes!
I think more opportunities may exist to take advantage of this new and exciting characterization of threepio. This is much more in line with the "We seem to be made to suffer" threepio we meet in ANH.
I love cutting him out of TPM and only hesitate slightly at the "500 credits" to take him beat-- I wish it could be established that Anakin or Padme have some use for a protocol droid. Otherwise, it will stick out as a strange and uncharacteristic beat.
Maybe increasing Artoo's role in this exchange would help -- i.e. they take threepio to help interpret Artoo or otherwise create a more useful arrangement of droids for their mission to save Obi Wan.
Obviously, that's an SOTD issue-- but we seem to need it solved here as well.
TWISTER:
I have a suggestion on the C3PO thing. Perhaps these lines:
C3PO: May I present two most important visitors. (mabye something else for C3PO)
Anakin: I'm Anakin Skywalker.
Owen: I expected you would come here. I'm Owen Lars that robot was a gift from my Father to your Mother. She would have wanted you to have it.
Anakin: What are you talking about? Is my Mother here?
Cliegg: (off camera) No she's not. (on camera) Cliegg Lars, (extends hand camera on Anakin) Shmi's my wife. We should head inside. We have a lot to talk about.
Sure, it's not as, funny as, the "take him for 500 credits" beat but, it might work.
C3PX:
This really isn't any contribution to the usefullness of this thread or anything, but after hearing somebodys suggestion of redubbing TC-14 with C3-POs voice, I thought how interesting it would have been had Lucas decided to make threepeo one of many droids with that same voice. It would have been just sort of a fun cameo having the droid introduce himself as TC-14 with Anthony Daniels voice. That would have been great hearing that voice speak the opening lines of the film. In Ep II the same voice could have been the voice of Clegg's droid or even just make him Padme's droid from the start. Would have been a lot better than "I'm building a droid..."
Oh, and I really think the "I'll give you 500 credits if you'll take." fits in really well with threepios lot in life. Maybe it is a little silly, but it is funny and not too over the top like most of the threepio scene shown later in Ep. II. And it isn't that Anakin and Padme need him, the guy pretty much gave them the droid so they take him. Probably Padme thinks some tech's back in the capitol might be able to do something with him. Anyway, I don't think the audience is going to be thinking "Why would they want the five hundred credits, it isn't the point. The point is to establish that the Lars family doens't want him, and with this line it is accomplished. I really like it. Actually I am getting more and more excited about the Ranch Ep 1 and Trooperman's Ep.2