Star Wars Redemption: Episode 1 (Rendering final cut!) (* lost project *) — Page 9

Ripplin said:

Is that new escape pod clip from Revisited? Funny I can't remember that...

It's from the DVD menu for ANH courtesy of good ol' Van Ling.

What Plans? said:

I don't like the Tantive scene as a flashback.  The other stuff looks great... but this one feels more awckward than the others.  It almost feels disorganized, particularly the transition from Kenobi's hut to the ship.

Are you talking about when we first transition? Just wanted to be sure we're on the same page.

Ripplin said:

I think the second clip depends on how much footage there is between the first and it. Hard to say.

Is that new escape pod clip from Revisited? Funny I can't remember that...

Yes, as Brash said it's from the official menu. I felt since I was going back to that event it would help to have a fresh angle of the pod launching.

rpvee said:

It's verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting, to be sure.  The transition from Obi-Wan's hut to the Tantive works for me because I get the kind of editing you had in mind.  The cut from the Tantive back to Obi-Wan, however, is too rough in my opinion.  It almost seems to indicate that Obi-Wan and Luke were talking while the Vader stuff was happening, which counters the flashback feel of the whole Tantive scene.  You should fade between them or something instead of just a straight cut.

Also, when we first see the escape pod launch at the very beginning, it's unclear exactly where it came from (the Tantive or the Devastator).  I'd include the shot from the flashback of the pod leaving the Tantive.

 

Very interesting project, I look forward to upcoming clips and the likes!

I knew some people would connect to it and some wouldn't. Thanks for the nice comments.

I'm also thinking about what you said. I've been so buried in this edit that I need fresh eyes. It may work better to fade back instead of a hard cut. Thanks for the advice.

I'm ok with the way the escape pod is in the beginning. I'm ok with people not knowing everything just yet. I think you figure it out when you flashback, because you will always have the droids as that connection. For me, the mystery makes it that much more interesting. Also, I really love the classic shot of the rear of the pod as it releases. Just looks so awesome, physical and real. Don't want to lose that if I don't have to.

brash_stryker said:

Well I'm a bit late to comment as my internet has been down all day.

In terms of the narrative structure you've chosen, I have no problems. I love the direction you're going with this and I can seriously see this being my preferred way of watching the prequels in any form from now on. This edit isn't meant to be star wars as we know it, but a fresh experience :-)

Technical editing is excellent, except I feel in one transition (which I've already discussed with you elsewhere but can't resist seeing what other people think) ;-)

In the escape pod shot in the 'a quick escape' clip, Benja has transitioned from the launch of the pod straight to it's fall to the planet, so as to save all the r2 and threepio stuff for later.

In our conversation about it last night, I felt the transition was a bit jarring and could use some smoothening out. Benja thought I might just be too used to the way it was originally.

I've created a clip with an example of how, using the soundtracks, it can be (in my opinion) improved. It's probably not a dealbreaker, but I'm curious what everyone else thinks. Maybe it's fine the way it is and I just need a hearing aid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH0aCt7VesI

Thanks Brash. And I would like to know what people think. It's really hard to turn off your SW brain when watching edits like this. I know, because I really have been working on this thing forever as most of you know. So, if there really is something wrong with it, I want to know. I just always ask myself, does it sound musically correct? I find myself saying yes the more I watch it. We really need someone who has never seen star wars to comment. lol Anyone know one? My child hasn't seen it yet, but she's 3 months old, so it's forgivable. =)

Ripplin said:

I knew I was thinking of the wrong thing! I need sleep. :p Thanks for jogging my memory.

Me too.... My kid wanted to party last night... Babies are so selfish.

mrbenja0618 said:

rpvee said:

It's verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting, to be sure.  The transition from Obi-Wan's hut to the Tantive works for me because I get the kind of editing you had in mind.  The cut from the Tantive back to Obi-Wan, however, is too rough in my opinion.  It almost seems to indicate that Obi-Wan and Luke were talking while the Vader stuff was happening, which counters the flashback feel of the whole Tantive scene.  You should fade between them or something instead of just a straight cut.

Also, when we first see the escape pod launch at the very beginning, it's unclear exactly where it came from (the Tantive or the Devastator).  I'd include the shot from the flashback of the pod leaving the Tantive.

 

Very interesting project, I look forward to upcoming clips and the likes!

I knew some people would connect to it and some wouldn't. Thanks for the nice comments.

I'm also thinking about what you said. I've been so buried in this edit that I need fresh eyes. It may work better to fade back instead of a hard cut. Thanks for the advice.

I'm ok with the way the escape pod is in the beginning. I'm ok with people not knowing everything just yet. I think you figure it out when you flashback, because you will always have the droids as that connection. For me, the mystery makes it that much more interesting. Also, I really love the classic shot of the rear of the pod as it releases. Just looks so awesome, physical and real. Don't want to lose that if I don't have to.

 You're most welcome.  Regarding the mystery of where the pod comes from... it really isn't a mystery, just something that needs to be clearer.  Where a pod came from isn't something worth pondering by the audience, it's just confusing.

I don't know.. Looked at it again. I get it... A ship is getting shot up and then an escape pod goes off, ends up on the surface of a planet where two droids have emerged from. It's not confusing to me, and again, don't want to reuse shots if I don't have to. And I don't believe I have to in this case. I appreciate the feedback though.

Is anyone else confused?

Not me. Makes perfect sense.

I will agree with rpvee that it is slightly sudden going from the star destroyer back to Obi Wan's hut. Perhaps a fade is needed to make it clearer that ALL of what we just saw was a flashback.

Also I've just had a thought of a possibly neat way you could transition back, but it would involve changing what you've done with this scene completely

When r2 stars showing the hologram, have the flashback start with everyone rushing around as the blockade runner is about to get docked with (.i.e. the first interior shot of the movies) where we see Threepio and r2 talking. The troopers board and the film carries on as it normally does until we see r2 with princess leia. At this point you transition back - possibly dissolving from the real princess leia to a closeup of the just formed leia hologram. You zoom out from the hologram and it plays as normal.

You of course lose vader talking to leia and seeing the droids escaping a second time, but we already know they escape don't we? :-p

I can't decide which version I would prefer. Guess I'd have to see both.

mrbenja0618 said:

I don't know.. Looked at it again. I get it... A ship is getting shot up and then an escape pod goes off, ends up on the surface of a planet where two droids have emerged from. It's not confusing to me, and again, don't want to reuse shots if I don't have to. And I don't believe I have to in this case. I appreciate the feedback though.

Is anyone else confused?

Well like you'd said, you have to put aside your former knowledge of the movie.  For someone who hasn't seen it, they'd see two ships, then out of nowhere see this strange device (with no basis on size since we never see it against a ship) shooting out of some strange shaft and heading for the planet.

And re-using the shot later on in the flashback would only make it feel more "full circle".

rpvee said:

mrbenja0618 said:

I don't know.. Looked at it again. I get it... A ship is getting shot up and then an escape pod goes off, ends up on the surface of a planet where two droids have emerged from. It's not confusing to me, and again, don't want to reuse shots if I don't have to. And I don't believe I have to in this case. I appreciate the feedback though.

Is anyone else confused?

Well like you'd said, you have to put aside your former knowledge of the movie.  For someone who hasn't seen it, they'd see two ships, then out of nowhere see this strange device (with no basis on size since we never see it against a ship) shooting out of some strange shaft and heading for the planet.

 

And re-using the shot later on in the flashback would only make it feel more "full circle".

I hear ya rpvee. I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. However, like I said before, I do agree (I think) on having a fade at the end of the flashback. Hope to try that today to see how it looks. I appreciate your advice regardless.

Filthy Pierre said:

brash_stryker said:

I love it! Excellent transition into it. Everyone wonders what method can fix the prequels, well this is it! Having them as flashbacks, you can cut out as much crap as you want :-)

Good work!

I agree.

 

I just watched a short clip and it was awesome. Extend the Original Trilogy with flashbacks from the prequels. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMdn4yYy7-s

This makes me want to learn editing now.

Brilliant.

 

I appreciate it. I wish I could claim the idea, but I can't. This was something imagined originally by InfoDroid and TJDavis. Honestly, wish I had their version in my hands... It was going to be epic.

However, I'm trying my best to deliver something special.

Also, A-man is working on a similar style edit if you want to see his progress.

mrbenja0618 said:

rpvee said:

mrbenja0618 said:

I don't know.. Looked at it again. I get it... A ship is getting shot up and then an escape pod goes off, ends up on the surface of a planet where two droids have emerged from. It's not confusing to me, and again, don't want to reuse shots if I don't have to. And I don't believe I have to in this case. I appreciate the feedback though.

Is anyone else confused?

Well like you'd said, you have to put aside your former knowledge of the movie.  For someone who hasn't seen it, they'd see two ships, then out of nowhere see this strange device (with no basis on size since we never see it against a ship) shooting out of some strange shaft and heading for the planet.

 

And re-using the shot later on in the flashback would only make it feel more "full circle".

I hear ya rpvee. I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. However, like I said before, I do agree (I think) on having a fade at the end of the flashback. Hope to try that today to see how it looks. I appreciate your advice regardless.

Agree to disagree it is, haha.  It is your edit, after all.  Best of luck on the rest, I can't wait for more updates. :)

brash_stryker said:

I will agree with rpvee that it is slightly sudden going from the star destroyer back to Obi Wan's hut. Perhaps a fade is needed to make it clearer that ALL of what we just saw was a flashback.

Also I've just had a thought of a possibly neat way you could transition back, but it would involve changing what you've done with this scene completely

When r2 stars showing the hologram, have the flashback start with everyone rushing around as the blockade runner is about to get docked with (.i.e. the first interior shot of the movies) where we see Threepio and r2 talking. The troopers board and the film carries on as it normally does until we see r2 with princess leia. At this point you transition back - possibly dissolving from the real princess leia to a closeup of the just formed leia hologram. You zoom out from the hologram and it plays as normal.

You of course lose vader talking to leia and seeing the droids escaping a second time, but we already know they escape don't we? :-p

I can't decide which version I would prefer. Guess I'd have to see both.

Excellent idea!  But here's a slight twist.  Instead of having the transition from Leia to hologram, why not have it the other way?  Have the scene in Ben's hut, show the Leia hologram and then transition to her finishing the hologram up with R2.  Then the video can go in one of two directions... with the boarding party or Leia's encounter with Vader (but it would lose the boarding party scene).  Once the droids escape, it would make a nice transition to Tattooine and Ben's house.

I've toyed with some of these ideas, and for some reason that just don't click with... I'm going to tinker more. Thanks again for everyone who gave their opinion/advice.

Yes, I'm still working on this. Debating on the next clip I show off. Stay tuned!

My Zam chase scene as it stands right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7-rdtRDT5Y

Very much toned down... and the sequence was chopped to pieces. lol

Oh and I also eliminated Obi-Wan jumping out the window. Something that has bothered a lot of people, including me.