timdiggerm said:
I haven't had a chance to read the script, and won't until tonight at the earliest, but I had a thought Re: The Bothan Spies intro
So, other than the obvious problem of filming an entirely new intro sequence featuring the adventures of several actors in Bothan costumes, with props, blue screens, stormtroopers and more, there's the story problem of none of the main characters being present. This is a particularly difficult problem to overcome because we can really only film masked characters.
But what if Leia, in the Boushh armor, was part of the operation? By introducing Boushh early on as part of the Rebel Spy operation, the viewer will already consider Boushh a separate character, making the Leia-reveal more surprising. It doesn't resolve the "No Main Characters" problem for the first viewing, but it fixes it on subsequent viewings. It also gives us a new way to see Leia as a fighter, which I suppose is always good?
Boushh's final appearance in that sequence could involve getting into some sort of personal ship, receiving a message and looking at a hologram/photo of the Falcon parked on Tatooine. Hopefully aspersions could be cast on the character during the Bothan Operation scene, causing the audience to doubt Boushh's allegiance. The word "Bounty Hunter" could be used. On first view, the viewer should think "Oh no, this creepy bounty hunter has found the Falcon!", a thought which will be completed when he appears with Chewie. On second view, the viewer will know that Leia has been contacted and told where to meet Lando & Co.
I am really torn on this scene, as it would extremely difficult to complete and is not necessary. However, I think it would be really cool, and could allow for a little monitoring of the espionage to increase the tension and paces the story a bit better. Plus I really like the idea of Leia as Boushh. Often we see things that don't immediately make sense and only after a revelation later do the earlier scenes gain their full meaning (and like you said, on subsequent viewings as well). If/when we do make such a scene, I think this would be a great way to do it.
@ronster, I forgot to mention that I still couldn't watch your clip. I've already neglected much of my job while working on the script and this site, and had an extra project to do last night that I wasn't expecting (helping someone move), so when I got home in the evening I only briefly came here and had no more time to look at anything else. Sorry, but I should be able to get to it by today, and then I will comment.
I do have one thing to say, since you mentioned it earlier. I like the idea of Leia's injury just before Vader taunts Luke about her joining the dark side. However, the way I conceive the battle includes the shootout in the bunker taking place after their second time getting in, which means she would be injured while they break in. Yet she would appear to be in perfectly good shape at that point. Maybe you pull it off well in your cut, but that problem occurs to me.