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.:. MoveAlong's - The Story of Star Wars .:. Complete!

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What:

This project uses "The Story of Star Wars" vinyl LP audio synced up to a variety of video sources to create a unique preservation/fan-edit dvd. It is a 51 minute version of SW that is very enjoyable to watch.

Why:

I have immense admiration and respect for the community here. I've wanted to contribute something back since I discovered this place and got the original TR47 set. However, I don't own a LD player and there are enough really good LD transfers out there already. So, I was going through my old vinyl one day and came across my original copy of "The Story of Star Wars" LP, the one my dad bought me when I was 7 in 1977. Coincidentally, later that week a very high quality audio transfer of this was posted on alt.binaries.starwars. Listening to it got me thinking it would be cool to have this audio synced up to video pans and zooms using scans from the picture booklet included with the album. In essence, it would be like listening to the album and "reading" along with the booklet. I'm not a complete hack with Final Cut Pro, so I thought I'd give it a try. The initial results were very pleasing. However, when I got around 7 minutes of the film edited, it was obvious that this idea was a one-trick pony and there was no way I could watch 50 minutes of pans and zooms. I told a few members here about my project and each one of them said they thought a sync to footage would be ideal. I agreed. First idea scrapped. So, this project now syncs with video from different sources for the majority of the album and uses pans and zooms sparingly at times when there is only narration or when editing requires. It is much better this way. As far as I know, nobody's done anything like this project yet. This is for anyone that listened to this record on their parents' hi-fi over and over and over again as a kid. It will truly take you back.

Sources/Specs/Tech:

AUDIO - The true star of this project is the audio, no question. I used the mp3's made by ScottyBalls that were posted to a.b.sw. Great vinyl transfer! The mix is so unique with music, dialogue, alternate voices, takes and narration that this project needed to be done so people would be more likely to hear it.

VIDEO - A list of the video sources used
-2004 NTSC: majority of footage - color corrected
-Citizen NTSC DL: replaces the most offensive SE elements
-Darth Editous NTSC: fixes Luke's green saber on the falcon
-GKAR PAL: tractor beam meter now reads in english

This next one will upset some, but I have cropped the 2.35:1 aspect ratio to 1.78:1 to completely fill a 16x9 screen anamorphic. This was not my original intent but working with pans and zooms made this necessary. And believe me, I'm an aspect ratio snob. I would have had to add black bars to my anamorphic pan/zoom files. There was just not enough usable visual area to make this feasible. That being said, the whole project has been cropped on a scene to scene basis, sometimes shot to shot. It's not perfect, but it works. I didn't just center the crop for the whole movie and go. Really, the album itself is "cropped" so it's not all that bad.

DVD Features - Project completed/updated 6-17-06

-16x9 anamorphic main feature and motion menus
-Dolby Digital 2.0 audio - 2 streams: '77/'04 hybrid or pure '77
-English subtitles
-JACKET_P
-DVD-ROM including:
Cover and disc artwork (including slim version)
5G iPod version of main feature
The original Scotty Balls mp3's
The Star Wars Original Radio Drama mp3's
Scans of album packaging and other images

-Easter egg

Thanks go out to Scotty Balls, Rebel11_38, Citizen, Darth Editous, ocpmovie, russs15, Zion, and SKot for their direct or indirect help with this project.

Available on a.b.sw, myspleen, and rapidshare.

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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Current Progress

The syncing and editing in FCP is now complete and I have burned a test disc which plays great. I am now tackling the issue of trying to fix the crystal clear yet butchered color and gamma of the official dvd footage. Using my preferences and taking some nice cues from starwarslegacy.com, I think it will be much better. Here's a screenshot that shows my first couple of scenes of fixed color and gamma balance.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3383/screenshot4sk.jpg

Once the color correction is done, then it's authoring time. Hopefully this disc will be "released" by May or so. I welcome any comments...

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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This sounds great MoveAlong. I'm really looking forward to seeing the final product.

Rock on.
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Yay, a Star Wars fan edit project I'm totally excited about! This is going to kick ass.

I used to be very active on this forum. I’m not really anymore. Sometimes, people still want to get in touch with me about something, and that is great! If that describes you, please email me at [my username]ATgmailDOTcom.

Hi everybody. You’re all awesome. Keep up the good work.

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I cant wait to see this myself,looking good MoveAlong.
DJ
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I stumbled across your original 7 minute sample the other day and wondered how you were getting along with the project.

Looking forward to seeing the finished product........

4 - 5 - 3 - 1 - 6 - 2

Discuss…

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This is so encouraging! I'm really looking forward to this unique project, and this gives me the motivation to start prep on a project of my own. Keep us posted!
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A few questions have been asked, so...

Yes, I am doing Empire and Jedi. I will "release" each one as they're completed.

I have also replaced 99% of the SE elements primarily using Citizen's ANH NTSC DL. I think it is the best NTSC version out right now. That being said, I have left a few SE things in that don't scream out "Hey, look at me! I'm horrible CG destroying this film!". Little things like Ben and Luke's view of Mos Eisley, Vader's restored saber glow when Luke's shooting at him. It's not 100% SE free, but the intent and feel is. Darth Editous fixes Luke's green saber on the Falcon and GKAR puts the English back on the tractor beam meter. With a little color correction, it will feel like the ot.

I will be posting this on alt.binaries.starwars. I would love for someone with myspleen upload privileges (..cough, Rikter, Metallaxis, cough..) to torrent them. I will also be sending out copies myself. So, everyone should have an easy time getting this.

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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Hi MA,

Glad to see this being done. I toyed with the idea of doing something like this myself, and even tried to cajoole Russs15 into doing it, so I'm glad someone has.

Can't wait to see it!

FINISHED:
The Sith Revealed - A Scrapbook
Episode III The Video Game - The Movie
24: The Missing Day
Star Wars - The Interactive Board Game DVD
Battlefront - Journal of the 501st
The Clones Revealed

email me for details daveytod AT btinternet DOT com

 

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This project uses "The Story of Star Wars" vinyl LP audio synced up to a variety of video sources to create a unique preservation/fan-edit dvd. It is a 50 minute version of SW that is very enjoyable to watch.

Ive never seen or heard the lp "Story of Star Wars" but I do own the trilogy read along records on 7 inch or cassette singles, which I also got when I was a youth. I wonder if these are just edited down versions of what you have & if not, could you use these as well? Id be happy to rip them.

You will know it is time to turn the page when Artoo beeps, like this...
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The Story of LP's and Tapes are totally different from the Read Along LP's and Tapes.

The Read Along's were also posted on a.b.starwars in the same very high quality as the Story of's, all transferred by ScottyBalls. A big thanks from me too.

4 - 5 - 3 - 1 - 6 - 2

Discuss…

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I've never seen or heard the read along tapes or lp's. Unfortunately, for some reason, I didn't get them off absw when I had the chance. I don't think I'd be able to use them for this project, but would love to hear them. Does anyone have any scans to go with them? Sounds like a project begging to be done by someone.

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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Originally posted by: MoveAlong
Does anyone have any scans to go with them? Sounds like a project begging to be done by someone.


I have the books and a scanner as well as the HQ audio so I have all the bits needed if anyone fancies doing this one........

4 - 5 - 3 - 1 - 6 - 2

Discuss…

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Current Progress

First attempt at color correction completed. I'll burn a disc and test it on my CRT television just to make sure. But one thing is for sure. It's a big improvement already. I've definitely leaned toward warming it up. Some before and after examples using the 2004 dvd as the source (yes, the Biggs shot really is from the 2004 dvd)

Before/After
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5165/ben1before6ki.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3681/ben1after3cl.jpg

Before/After
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1289/biggs1before8te.jpg
http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2071/biggs1after1br.jpg

Before/After
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7016/lukethreepio1before7eh.jpg
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3915/lukethreepio1after9zs.jpg

Before/After
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4320/tarkin1before6zp.jpg
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6893/tarkin1after6uk.jpg

Before/After
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3792/vaderleia1before1fp.jpg
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1595/vaderleia1after9ny.jpg

Before/After
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3907/vaderleia2before6uz.jpg
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6655/vaderleia2after3np.jpg

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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Help Needed!

Well, I've just about got everything done on the editing side. One final element eludes me before I start authoring this thing...

I'm in desperate need of a custom logo/crawl to start this thing off right.

I tried it within FCP and the results weren't satisfactory. Could one of the video masters here help out? It should be very simple for someone in AfterEffects or something else similar to knock out. The receding logo/custom crawl needs to be simply black logo/text on a light blue background. No starfield, just black over blue. If you have the LP, you know where I'm coming from on this. Whoever can do this, I'll get you the timing and color info. Post here or PM me.

Thanks guys!

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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PM with the details and/or a pic of what you want and I'll do it up for you right away.
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This sounds like another great project. I used to have this LP and would love to see what you do with it. Keep up the good work.
1000 Word Migraine
www.1kwordmigraine.com

An off topic site for an off topic world!
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I love this project, particularly because The Story Of Star Wars _was_ my movie, and I played it uncountable times. I was 7 when SW came out, and was the biggest SW fan in my school (no exaggeration), but I never got to see the actual film until high school after it came out on video. So I can't wait to see the final product here.

--SKot

Projects:
Return Of The Ewok and Other Short Films (with OCPmovie) [COMPLETED]
Preserving the…cringe…Star Wars Holiday Special [COMPLETED]
The Star Wars TV Commercials Project [DORMANT]
Felix the Cat 1919-1930 early film shorts preservation [ONGOING]
Lights Out! (lost TV anthology shows) [ONGOING]
Iznogoud (1995 animated series) English audio preservation [ONGOING]

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Originally posted by: SKot
I love this project, particularly because The Story Of Star Wars _was_ my movie, and I played it uncountable times. I was 7 when SW came out, and was the biggest SW fan in my school (no exaggeration), but I never got to see the actual film until high school after it came out on video. So I can't wait to see the final product here.

--SKot


This comment, in a nutshell, is why I'm doing this. Talk about a target demographic...

Not that our younger members won't enjoy this, but if you're older and loved this album as a kid you're not going to be disappointed.

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker

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Move Along,

I'm new to the Forum, just started reading the threads this week and I feel like I know a lot of you already and it's good to know that I'm not alone in loving the OOT.

This project sounds just great. I too had that LP when I was about 6 or 7 and listened to it. I wish I knew where it was now, but I'm anxiously awaiting your DVD version to re-live those days gone by.

Keep up the good work,

M

“Meesa Stooopid”

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I'm really looking forward to this MoveAlong. Have fun making it!

And as I'm sure you can imagine, I'm drooling at the prospect of the Empire one!

JD

Creator of Star Wars Begins, Building Empire and Returning to Jedi
Follow me on twitter @jamieSWB. Please support me at - http://www.patreon.com/jamiebenning/

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Originally posted by: Jambe Davdar
I'm really looking forward to this MoveAlong. Have fun making it!

And as I'm sure you can imagine, I'm drooling at the prospect of the Empire one!

JD


I, too, am really wanting to get to Empire. It is my favorite of the trilogy (duh!). I did SW first because the LP was a part of my childhood. I never had the Empire or Jedi LP's as a kid. I do now thanks to ebay. Doing a project like this, you learn a lot, and I definitely have. This will make the workflow for Empire more streamlined and hopefully I'll be able to get it done quicker than SW has gone up to this point. It's amazing how long something like this takes when life gets in the way...

You can go about your business. Move along, move along.

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4962/nowplayingbannermasterzc2.jpg
The Story of Star Wars
The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker