Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here and I have made some extraordinary progress. I will explain more (with screenshots and maybe video) in a couple of days, but I have removed the "purple hand", rotoscoped one or two other saber shots, made some great headway on the final duel, and dubbed and mixed the "en route to Naboo" scene. This last item I am the most excited about, as I really believe that Anakin is so much more likable now- and none of his dialogue was even changed for this scene (an exchange at the end was removed, and a couple smirks were cut out). The scene just has such a classy, better quality about it with Hayden's whiny readings removed. I've found that the scene became even better when I put lounge music in the background (the only other instance of source music is the nightclub). Of course, I'm going to do the love theme to death as the movie progresses, but since it's already being introduced at the beginning, I think it's kind of neat to change it up for this scene.

I actually came up with a different ending for the scene than I OR MTHaslett had come up with. Originally, I had had "You've changed so much." "I know." END SCENE. When I actually went to dub it and cut it, this seemed completely out of place. Now, Padme asks the equivalent of "Are you taken?" Anakin says his speal until this line, "We are encouraged to love." He smiles. Then, I've reversed the reaction shot to Anakin's deleted "I dream about you" comment, so that now, Padme is looking down, and she slowly looks up at him. I've also added a slow zoom. Cut back to Anakin, who smiles. Padme smiles. Then, I've reversed one of the opening shots, so that the camera is now pulling away from the long shot. Wipe away from scene.

With the background music and the new line readings, the scene is so much better and so much more HUMAN. There is subtext. We have less dialogue because the camera is now telling the story, along with the music and everything else that contributes to the ATMOSPHERE. I had actually recorded this scene previously, but this time through was much better; partially because of the improvements in my recording technology, and partially perhaps because I had a cold and it gave the voice a different quality. Listening to it, I'm not even bothered that the voice is mine; I just accept it as Anakin.

More later, and I'm sorry for those who have requested video clips. They will come eventually!

-TM

P.S. This whole project as it stands now is being backed up on disc today.