Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions — Page 20

I think the overbrightening may have been intentional (deliberate creative choice).  IIRC the use of high dynamic range lighting is fairly common through the film.

I guess it just feels brighter without the color tint.

Ok so I'm learning Premiere more and more as we speak. I've been working on the sand/obelisk puzzle to make it seem more like Indy figures it out as opposed to stupid Ox. Anyway, its actually coming along nicely...well the video is at least. 

1.) I am still completely lost when it comes to audio. How do you get separate tracks for the dialog and music?

2.) Also, lets say I wanted Indy to look over to one piece of the obelisk (lying horizontal) to size up the puzzle. The only shot of a piece in that position is when the pieces start rising. So my question is if I cut to a still of that piece (before it starts to rise) would it stand out completely? This is not required for this edit, just a question.

Thanks for the help.

Thanks Laser. I'll give it a shot.

Nice job again on the chase edit.

Got A LOT done last night on the video edit, but for some reason my audio only came out as 2 tracks. Both of which I swear are the same damn thing. I am going to town on the video though. I think I found a new hobby.

I got rid of Ox's goofiness in the camp, Indy's head awkward head spasms after looking at the skull, some fridge bouncing, Indy saying fine don't wait for me in Boomtown, some cuts in the warehouse (not done there yet) and a few other things. 

Heading to the quick sand scene next and cutting Indy being TOO friendly with Spalko in the camp. 

Yeah its a well and good, but like I said this is all video and no audio. Still, good learning experience and the movie is better for it. 

Well, like I said - there's no audio. And of course I have no idea how to render out or post video clips. What can I say? I suck!!

As soon as I can figure out the audio track thing (why I only have 2 similar tracks) then I'll start posting some stuff. It's pretty fun to do, Heks, have you started messing with it at all?

cool sounds good. let me know. 

Video edit is comign along very nicely on my end. I did my own version of the waterfall sequence that I think works pretty well, I changed up the bit with Mac holding on to the whip in the end - that part always looked off to me. And I edited the quick sand bit, but the audio will do alot to help there as well. Let's see, what else... Oh! I was able to cut out Marion holding on to the steering wheel like an idiot after the waterfall. So glad to see that go. Still trying to fiugre out the magnetic gunpowder bit. To me its just more CGI that we don't need.

So now a couple of questions ...again.

1.) A major goal of mine is to use more familiar music from the OT in this film. Will it sound ok if I just pull those from my soundtrack CDs?

2.) What is the best program for color correction? I assume Premiere doesn't have that? Is there a free program that does color correction?

3.) I color correction a frame by frame job? Scene by scene? Or do you just adjust the entire movie at one time and then make tweaks here and there when needed?

4.) Let's say I wanted to borrow the edited version of the opening (without prairie dogs), if my version of the film was a different quality (not hd for example) would it be THAT noticable? 

Thanks!

topdawg193 said:

Laser, I was just watching your edit of the jungle chase and I have one other, minor suggestion. Is it at all possible to trim the duration between Mutt coming up to the front of the truck and then asking 'so, what's he gonna do next?' - there seems to be a strange lull in the momentum here, what with his pause/strange look before he asks that question. If his pause was trimmed, so that he quickly asks 'so, what's he gonna do next' almost immediately after he comes up to the front of the truck, it may seem less clumsy and more natural/convey a sense of excitement from Mutt, and get the action started sooner.

I initially thought that this pause signalled a dawning appreciation of Indy on Mutt's part, but he immediately responds 'don't call me son!' when Indy emerges a second later with the rocket launcher, and continues to remain sarcastic and aloof to Indy ('what are you looking at daddio?') throughout the majority of the rest of the chase (and we can really only identify Mutt's full acceptance of Indy as his father at the end of the film, anyway). So, we would really lose nothing by removing his pause, and may gain slightly better pacing in doing so.

 I think it was a combination of the revelation of Indy as his father and seeing Marion in action.  He was kind of processing things.  He wanted to say something, but he couldn't quite figure out what.  It's natural, and I don't think it needs to be trimmed at all. 

And I loved the "What are you looking at, Daddy-o?"  moment--I don't think it's just him being distant, but he's actually kind of embarassed at his defeat by Spalko. 

Really appreciate the help guys. I am finished with the video editing and it is really looking good. I even started some color correction and the values seem to work really well. Definitely looks like the OT. Some edits I've done recently include removing SOME of the CG gunpowder stuff - just went on a bit too long. I removed the shots of the aliens in the tent - now they're only seen behind the cloth. Less Alien in the climax, less saucer too.

Overall I just took out a lot of the goofiness, while still keeping the good, funny lines that adhere to the classic feel of Raiders.  

Here are a few more questions:

1.) Is there any way to just download that 6 channel audio file?? I've downloaded 6 programs and none of them have worked!! :[

2.) How do I combine or merge sequences? (how do i erase razor cuts between sequences?)

3.) Is there any way to color correct the whole film as one? THis might be linked to question 2, but I have to color correct each sequence seperately and I have A LOT of sequences marked. 

4.) This one is not Technical (yay). I really feel like the exposition in this film is repetitive and often throws the pacing off. Two scenes stand out - the cemetery dialog after they find the skull and the tent scene with Spalko. Any suggestions on what we DONT need to hear AGAIN in these two scenes? I would love to cut away when Indy says "what is this thing?" in the cemetery, and lose all of the what if's scenarios that we establish later on anyway. 

Left to do -

AUDIO!!! As soon as I get those 6 tracks. 

Adding more OT music to certain scenes. 

Trying to put in the "not as easy as it used to be" and "part time" lines from the trailer. 

Putting in Laser's prairie dog free opening (with permission) and Marions (? I think that was Marion...?) cemetery gunshot edit (with permission.)

Whatever I decide in regards to the question 4 above.

"you're not from around here, are ya?" sounds really un-natural. I'm trying to figure out how to fix that scene also. 

Ya know, after doing this edit, I've found a lot to like about this movie. I think watching it so much has helped me to accept it as part of the series. 

Thanks Idol, I'll admit I should have done it a lot sooner. Turns out I'm having a blast with it. 

Any input on question 4 up above.

You know, I don't recall if it was between my first viewing and second, or between my last viewing in theater and first at home, but at some point I actually had it in my head somehow that the Orellana's Cradle scene actually did end with "What is this thing?"  It seems feasible.  The only real challenge I can see is making the musical transition smooth.  I don't recall precisely what the music is doing.  If you can somehow get the music to go from wherever it is to the resolving chord that plays over them walking up the steps, then you should be in business. 

I personally don't mind the remainder of the scene (I'm really curious as to what the scene was like with the ground collapsing beneath them), but I think this cut could be feasible, and fairly smooth.

Yeah. I guess my only concern is do we need any of the WHAT IFs coming from Indy and Mutt? Lord knows there is plenty of exposition in this film, and it feels like we hear the same crap over and over again. But is the possible fate of Orellana's men, and the fact that Ox was the one who'd been in the cemetery before made clear enough to the viewer without that dialog. Just seems to drag a bit, then we hear the same stuff from Spalko 5 minutes later, etc.