Have you thought about using the link that SomethingStarWarsRelated posted (http://fanfilms.theforce.net/User_SearchPI.asp). With that you might be able to get someone to do the fx for those ideas that your not able to do to. But then agian everyone on TFN would never want there precious PT touched to match the OOT.
Thanks for the reminder, Richard. Actually, I don't want to give too much away yet, but someone right on OT.com has PMd me about some possible special effects work. He's busy and my requests are difficult, so I don't know how much'll work out, but it's still very good news for me.
Another concern I would have would be the red soldiers from Dune, for anybody who has seen Dune they would be instantly recongnizable. That might be the difference between making this a good replacment for Attack of the Clones or it just being another cool fan edit.
This is precisely what I'm worried about. I have the hope that this film will become the definitive version of Ep. II in times to come. On the one hand I want to augment the movie with this footage, but on the other hand, using something so immediately recognizable by Dune fans is rather unprofessional. And yes, the Lawrence of Arabia stuff does contrast with the CGI (particularly the horse that someone pointed out a long time ago! Oops
) Now, I am definitely for the idea of "Mars", however. I was just looking for confirmation. John Williams was not only influenced by Mars, he actually copied part of it in his Star Wars score, at the beginning and the end of the movie (under pressure from G. Lucas). Therefore, I think this particular piece is OK to use.
I have a suggestion that I don't know exactly how to impliment-- but the idea would be to introduce a mini-story that gets told through the sound-track of clone-soldiers speaking on com-link. It would echo the way com-link dialogue made the Death Star run work.
If we had a little of this:
CLONE 1: "TC17, see if you can get past that first droid line"
CLONE 2: "I think I've got it-- NOOOO!"
CLONE 3: "We lost TC17-- Mothar Squad, get over there now!"
CLONE 1: "Roger"
CLONE 3: "They're coming in on Rolling Artilery Batteries now, launch the counter-measure!"
CLONE 4: "Launching."
Whatever. Keep the tone cool and collected-- Stormtrooper-esque. But paint a picture with words that kind of lays into the background of the sequence and starts to build drama. Let the leader name a target (like the launching transports that Anakin finally helps stop) -- and write lines that get the Clones closer and closer to their target.
This added dialogue would bring the sequence a kind of "guide" which would really help shape that battle and give it a little more form. Things should be pretty tough for the clones too, I think. It would be nice to hear a lot of them die, though we'd also hear how little the remaining clones care about their fallen brothers.
Just an idea.
As usual, a brilliant idea. I wish I had thought of it. Especially the part about the clone's indifference to death. This is exactly the type of idea I was looking for. Again, it gives me focus for the sequence. The only issue is the voice of the clones, which is supposed to be the same as Fett's. However, I can redub all of the clones with his accent, and I'll bet the fact that it's over radio will make it more than convincing enough.
I think MTHaslett has a pretty interesting point with the whole com-link idea. Look back at Star Wars, in the trench run, we see a lot of shoots of x-wings and Y-wings moving through the trench, we see turret firing at them, and we see tie-fighters, but holding all that action together is the pilots communicating via their com systems. Imagine that whole scene without the inside the cockpit shoots and without the pilots communicating with each other and you might have something a slight bit like, but not near as poorly done as the opening battle of the clone war.
Perfect comparison! Actually hearing the radio dialogue will give the battle an actual semi-story, not just a meaningless CG montage. This will make the battle feel like Star Wars, and it solved my nagging problem with editing this thing; I myself was at a loss as to the point of the whole sequence, even with the extra footage and music inserted.
Of course you are the one editing it all, so it is for you to say whether this is feasible or not.
It IS in fact feasible for me.
...the low-tech, "Original Trilogy"-style nuances like sand that kicks up around people's feet and the way real people move as opposed to animated soldiers.
Whether I use the red and black soldiers or not, I can probably still use the shots of the feet moving around in the dirt.
Anyway, I would love to hear even more about what you'd like to see in the clone war sequence, taking our resources into account. Perhaps expand on the talking clones idea...
This idea definitely set my brain off again, though! Thank you...