*FUNCT?* ;)
Yes, this thread is no longer defunct. Emanswfan has stated that he would like to take over. This is wonderful, since he's actually got some editing experience to his credit. I feel I've offered what little I really had to offer. Now Disney, I mean emanswfan will be taking over the Collaborative ROTJ project. See his post announcing his willingness :) I do hope that one day this becomes an amazing reality. We just need able and willing people. I'm sure it can be done.
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*DEFUNCT*
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(taken from post 1470)
I loved this thread. I loved this idea. In a sense, I've given up on it. In another sense, I hope to see it come to pass. In any case, I feel it wasn't a waste. Let me tell you why:
I think there are two primary successes to be had from this thread:
1) There is great interest in a collaborative project. Many people working together could surely get a great deal done. It could get done faster, and it could be more thorough and radical. I know that Adywan and others have some collaboration in their work, but I think this could be taken even further with marvelous potential.
2) Return of the Jedi is a good film (IMO) regardless of whatever silliness doesn't appeal to others. but together, through discussion and debate, we've created an interesting potential edit, with many other ideas floating around that could be utilized, even if they're not in the script drafts I put out. Many fascinating thoughts were stated. The people here are brilliant at coming up with ideas.
I appreciate all the work others put into it. I really did enjoy watching videos like Johannus's trailer and Ronster's concept film. I like the mockup pictures and aalenfae's Anakin force ghost ending. There is so much to love about this project, as much of a failure as it may seem in the end. I never wanted to lead this project anyway. I merely wanted to inspire others to do it. I have a few more thoughts regarding its future:
1) I am finishing the script, somewhat based on the last vote, but admittedly taking a few liberties and changes. Some things just don't work for me. All the details you guys needed has been included, including the last vote. I will upload my final script very soon, because I really am working on it, and not merely saying that I'll get around to it.
2) I will post that and several links into my signature. My signature will be around even after I've lost interest in this site. Hopefully some future editor will find my script, your videos and mockups, this thread full of so many ideas. Hopefully that editor will be inspired but what he sees, and will make many of our ideas come to life. I have my doubts that Adywan is interested in the direction we took with many of these ideas, but perhaps even he might get some inspiration out of it.
3) There are two fan films out there that have a lot of potential for us: SW:THX and Tydirium (too lazy to find trailers right now). THX appears to still be at least semi-active, and Tydirium's site indicated perhaps it is restarting work. If either of these is ever completed, they offer great footage that could be wonderful for our edit. I'm watching Daneditor's work on his unreleased ROTJ edit (he made an edit that he released on FE.org, but this one is more experimental). He uses various lower-quality clips from numerous sources, and to surprising effect. Just imagining how it could look with a better source from a completed fan film makes me excited. Hopefully these see the light of day, and then editors will have much more to work with.
At the end of the day, I still love this film, and hope to see a completed, wonderful edit. Who knows when that will be, but I believe something great can come of it. Thanks to everyone who worked on it with me. You were a good bunch.
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(I am keeping the remainder of this first post as it was when I last edited it, just to give an idea of how the project went forward)
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I wish I were talented. I really love what I've seen done by the gifted fan editors on this site. That still hasn't stopped me of dreaming what I would do were I to create my own fanedit, but even if I had the software and hardware, I certainly don't have the time, patience, or natural gift. I preface my proposition with this because I understand that what I am suggesting is rather bold, considering my involvement would be limited to suggestions and ideas.
With the immensely enjoyable ANH:R and the upcoming ESB:R, I've been looking forward to a complete trilogy. I truly look forward to Adywan's finished masterpiece. But at the same time, I'd love to see an ambitious edit of ROTJ sooner. Unlike most on this site, I truly love ROTJ. But since I started visiting and reading here, I have learned that there are problems to the story that never really bothered me before. What I would love to see is an edit that would correct many of these issues and make this movie closer to the epic conclusion it once was.
The unfortunate thing about fan editing is that it is time consuming and difficult for the editor, not to mention the wait of the excited fans. Some editors are more skilled at one aspect or another. Many great edits burn out and the ideas with the edit may be permanently lost.
What I am proposing is an ambitious edit of ROTJ. It would require the collaboration of several editors who could focus on their specialties. It could be completed in a relatively short amount of time and could truly make a great edit. This is already getting long, so let me make a summary.
A collaborative ROTJ edit would need the following (in order of when they must be completed):
-Story direction (a collaborative process, but with someone acting somewhat as a director to keep things uniform). This includes ideas of how the story should be altered (i.e. tougher Ewoks), and how to implement these ideas
-CGI and/or model building, as such an ambitious edit would likely have additional ships taking part in the Battle of Endor. CGI would likely be needed at other points as well, such as if a line is altered and the editors wish to alter mouth movement to match.
-Additional actor footage, as it seems likely that such an edit would want more Endor commando action and more pilot cockpit action.
-Voice impersonation and dubbing, if new lines are added.
-Music composition, if changes were to be made, along the lines of TheCutter's ROTS edit. This could help with lengthened scenes or to better catch a mood. Could especially be useful for Max Lame-os' Band.
-Sound editing and splicing. If Darth Stewie or TheCutter have shown me one thing, it was how effectively lines could be spliced to change dialogue. Furthermore, other sound editing would be needed, obvoiusly.
-Mattes could be useful, and Angel has demonstrated how to create beautiful backgrounds that could beautify the movie without making it overly PT-like.
-Deleted scene restoration. This would be valuable for all editors, even those not taking part in such a project. Several of the ROTJ deleted scenes could drastically improve the story if incorporated, in my opinion. Some here have shown how to effectively fix up the low quality scenes, and perhaps someone could even upscale them from there.
-Color correction, to make it all match of course.
-Final editing. Rough edits would likely come out, at various points, including a storyboard-type edit early on. But when all the effects were completed, someone would have to ensure it all fits together smoothly.
Some might see this as a turn off because they do not wish to make a movie that would not meet their vision exactly. Well, that's part of the beauty of this idea. When your part of the movie is done, you can make your own edit using the same work. GL owns the rights to this anyway, so what is to stop you from using your work on the edit to fulfill your own vision? And the final product might save you several steps in making your own edit, as you could use it as a starting point.
One important thing to remember: all editors should share their work regularly. If someone feels like dropping out, their work should not disappear with them, and someone else could take up where the previous editor left off. This edit would allow the work to always move forward as long as someone still has the ambition to get it done.
The whole OT.com community could take some part in this, as many have brilliant ideas (such as my own :) and could offer voice impersonation and other skills.
First a team of at least two or three should begin formulating a plan. And taking part in only an aspect of the edit leaves more time to work on any previous edits you may have undertaken. Any takers? Any thoughts?
Project updates:
Confirmed participants:
CGI modeling/animation and other special effects:
aalenfae
Angel
Jaitea
Physical models:
Johannus
Background/mattes:
aalenfae
Angel
Lighting/Compositing:
Angel
Voices:
aalenfae
darth_ender
Sound/music editing:
timdiggerm
Music composition:
GoodMusician
Scriptwriting/editing:
darth_ender
Film editing:
MrInsaneA
Angel
Deleted scene restoration:
emanswfan
Deleted scene colorization:
TMBTM
Story ideas/storyboarding/streamlining:
Anybody who wants to help out!
Handy links:
ROTJ ideal ending post (a rough idea of how I picture ROTJ ending)
Most recently updated script/editing guide
The ESB and ROTJ wishlist thread (intended for Adywan's forthcoming edit, but ideas available to all, I imagine)
The Return of the Jedi Wishlist (intended for Adywan's forthcoming edit, but ideas available to all, I imagine)
How would you have done ROTJ? thread (discussion on alternate ROTJ plot lines)
Pilot cockpit discussion thread, (to help coordinate space and cockpit shots)
MovieMistakes.com ROTJ list (listing all the noted errors in the film for the perfectionists)
Star Wars Technical Commentaries (detailed analysis of ship sizes in order to accurately scale vessels for the final battle)
Movie Mistakes' errors made into a doc (I simplified the pain-in-the-butt movie mistakes into a doc, which means no ads and visually easier to read.
Potential Sources of Footage and lines (the preview shows a great deal of compression; actually downloading will reveal their true quality):
Star Tours clip from advertisement (possibly best quality, 4:3, interlaced, needs some color correction)
More complete Star Tours video (also decent quality but not as good, interlaced, seriously needs color correction)
Star Wars Interactive Video Board Game audio, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6 (had a hard time extracting the audio, and a couple of these ultimately came out very short)
Star Wars Interactive Video Board Game post (actual game video in 19 rar files)
Implementing our ideas:
Sharpening the story:
First round of voting: who voted how; tally; winners/losers
Second round of voting: all results
Collecting the contributions:
darth_ender's stuff (updated on 2/13/12)
fishmanlee's alternate John Williams cues
ben_danger's collection of SSWR's suggestions
List of potentially useful footage (links forthcoming):
Star Tours (original) - over the surface of the Death Star
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues - approaching the Death Star
Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game - Vader walking down a Death Star corridor (needs expansion to improve resolution)
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor - Ewoks engaging in battle
Rebel Assault II - fighter cockpits (low resolution, only only acceptable as transmissions)
Fan Films: (list with descriptions forthcoming)