That's correct, and I think it would work too. Not actually using HAL, of course, but just that type of thing. There are only a couple shots with Obi-Wan and the droids in the same frame, and the others can be completed replaced with the new machine. You can bet that some type of large computer processor would be a lot closer to the OT style than CG droids zipping around and wearing spiked hair. The whole spiked hair conversation really cracked me up, by the way
I don't think it'd be that hard for a SPX guy, though....
The music in that scene is actually from "Citizen Kane". In temp, I used brooding music from Psycho, and then realized it was far too familiar to use. Of course, the same could be said about other music I'm using, like some music from "Raiders". But that's a flaw inherent in the project- if I were to find less familiar cues that conveyed the same type of emotion, then I'd use them.
"Still don't like the droids look and movement. "
Neither do I.
"The ONLY thing I think you could try and do (until replacing the droids entirely with a HAL 3000) would maybe play with the frame rate (like you are doing with yoda). Maybe make them look a little jerky...a little stop-motion-y, if you will."
I could- the problem being that Obi-Wan is in a couple of the shots, making that impossible. If I did it for some shots and not others, it wouldn't be consistent.
"One more thing...I had a hard time understanding his last sentence. He said "It's a toxic kyber dart." Then I had to watch it 2 more times to finally get the rest."
I'll see what I can do- I was actually expecting that comment from more people.
The basic problem with this scene is that it throws a wrench into everything I've been working on in this movie. The style of the effects up to that point is very good, and then you get to this scene and it goes to pot with the gratuitous CG animation. For the DVD-5 release, however, (edition 1) it's looking like this is the way it'll be.
I'm glad that people are liking it, though. I could post more video clips, but I don't really want to give much else away. I haven't come close to showing you the best sections yet.
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I completed the whole trial/confession/arena sequence yesterday, up to the point where the Jedi are surrounded by the droids. The only things missing are a few shots I haven't rotoscoped yet. The method in which I built the sound mix was... pretty ridiculous, considering the fact that I took all of the sound effects from the final mix of AOTC, and added my own music and sound effects when necessary. It was pretty pathetic that originally the music was mixed so low into the track (and when it is audible, it's mostly percussion) that this was even possible. It shouldn't have been possible.
I'm getting more excited than any of you about this, because I just watched the arena sequence, and it's so much fun. I used a couple tricks while I was at it, on a couple of the monster shots, to make them more realistic. For instance, on the rhino, I chroma-keyed out some of the bright red, so that it blends a little better. There's also two close-ups in this sequence that aren't particularly long, but they give it so much meaning. I stumbled on both of the shots by accident.
Anyway, I'm excited! Work continues...