Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Edit Suggestions — Page 23

Just a quick update:

I am now in Doomtown. As of right nowthe "damn I thought that was closer" line overlaps the punch sound and seeing the soldiers fall out of the truck. So it looks less like Indy is pausing for the joke so long. I tried cutting if off after the "damn" but it looked weird. I would LOVE !! to SOMEHOW be able to just see that "aw hell" look he kinda gives and then elbow the soldier with no dialog. I considered cutting away to Spalko looking in the rearview right when Indy crashes in, then back to a point AFTER he says the "thought that was closer" line. But then it might make it look like Indy was just riding along with the bad guys for too long before taking action. Any ideas here??? It works as I have it now, but not as good as it could be. 

Also, I cut the shots of the alien corpse. We see Spalko cut into the casing, we see the soldiers gather around in awe, we see Indy look at it, so it really establishes a nice sense of mystery and wonder. 

I also took out the "oooohhh" noise when Indy misses the whip swing. 

I cut the somewhat comedic shot of Indy and Dovechenko on the sled so we see them lean back as it takes off, see it fire out of the tunnel and across the desert (with no prairie dogs) and I'm still considering what to do once the sled stops. It all gets a bit goofy there too. Again, I'm all for keeping the comedic elements that work, but this is needless goofiness that sets a bad tone for the movie. 

In doomtown, I cut Indy's "whoa" when he sees the people are dummies. Now he just stands back in shock. Again, the look and reaction says it all and works much better. I also cut the "sure don't wait for me" foolishness. Also, I cut several of the bounces from the fridge and am still working with extending the time it takes for Indy to open the fridge so it seems like he's hurting a bit in there. Any ideas on how to do this? Tech-wise?

So that's all for now. 

I'll try that. Thanks, Laser.

Jonesy said:

Also, if you're thinking of putting music from the originals, the music that plays after Belloq says, "Do as you will" in Raiders would play really well as Indy asks, "What is this thing?" in KOTCS. It'd be a nice transition to him and Mutt walking up the steps.

 

Tonally it would work, but I have to recommend not doing this, because the music playing there is a variation of the Ark theme, which made sense in the warehouse, because it was there, but now the focus is on the skull, and using that music wouldn't make any sense at all.  I would really strongly recommend trying to find other music either from the KOTCS score or some kind of cue that doesn't have as strong an identity to connect it directly to something else.

Yeah, I don't really mind Indy pushing Dovechenko off the sled, I just hate Indy's prat fall after that. Trying to figur out what to do there. 

Anyway, quick update:

I am now all the way to the quicksand scene! Made some good progress last night and everything is coming along nicely. I finally got to take out Indy saying "yeah good" when Spalko figures out a piece of the puzzle (always hated that he congrats here).

I took out the "or have you retired?" line from Marion so the line ends with wreckage and goes right into "you looking for a date" Marion's delievery of the or have you retired was a bit hammy.

Unfortunately, I had to keep ONE shot of the alien corpse when Indy and Spalko are in the tent. So in that one wide shot when Spalko is turning the aliens head is the only time you see it (well that and the shot of the crytal skull inside. I like never seeing it at all, so I'm gonna see what I can do. Every other time its behind the cloth which is fine by me. 

Ox's dancing by the fire and twirling the stick are gone as well. Now the soldiers drag him in and push him into Indy's grasp to start that dialog.

The AWKWARD head spasms are gone as well - I rearranged the shots of the skull hypnotism so that they build better toward Mac saying shut it off and we only get Indy's first slight head spasm. Still looks ilke he's getting pretty messed up there. 

At the cemetery, I took out SOME of the noises the little skull mask guys make especially when Indy blows the dart back into the one guy's mouth. I still need to add Marion's gunshot and the part time from the trailer. 

I also cut the cememtery scene early. So now Indy says what is this thing? Then I get the wider shot of Mutt and Indy standing there that originally ended the scene (worked out perfectly) then we see them walk up the stairs. 

I cut the Sean Patrick FLannery look a like in the sanitarium Well actually we see him real quick that first time, then we just see Mutt looking freaked out walking by. 

I cut "sure don't wait for me" and the first "that can't be good" - Why is it in this movie that ndy HAD to vocalize EVERY thought when Ford's face can speak volumes? Far too many "whoas" and "damns I thougth that was closer" etc. So I tried to cut back on these. 

And I did I cut out a few of the "you don't know HIMs!" from Mac in the warehouse. 

Jonesy, 

I'll give that piece of music a try. I'm taking it from the CD, so do you know what track it is specifiaclly? 

Also, last night I completed the quick sand scene, making "go get help" simply "help!".

I took out the science lesson about quick sand.

Also removed the "call it a rope" gag. Now Indy finally decides to grab the snake as his head is just about to be submerged and Mutt yells one last time. Works fine. 

So now I'm into the truck scene. 

So just to get a head start here, how do y'all suggest I integrate Marion's cememtery gunshot edit into my edit?

Thanks!

Agreed. But how do I put it in there? Is Marion's vid the same format and quality?

At the very least, I can add the gunshot sound right before the reaction of Mutt and the skull guy, then Indy shows his gun, but I'd like to have the muzzle flash and smoke.

Cool. I'll try it out. Thanks. 

Jonesy said:

 Jones1899,

Can't wait to watch this thing. As for whoever said the music cue I suggested is too associated with the ark, it's not. It's just a tension building bridge into the next scene on the island. To me, if it was anything from the well of the souls, or the map room, it'd be too nostalgic and agreed, too linked with the ark to use.

 Yes, it is.  It's not just nostalgic, it's specifically a variation of the Ark Theme.  It's not just generic transition music, it's a transition based on the Ark Theme.  I don't know how I can make this any clearer.

Update time!:

Ok I just about completed the obelisk puzzle. Making pretty good time I think, though the obelisk puzzle was a HUGE challenge to make Indy look like he was more involved with solving ti as opposed to Ox already figuring it all out in his cell. So now Indy and Ox walk around the obelisk, Ox finds the lose stone, sand pouring out of it, Ox pours sand into Indys hand and says the clue. Indy  says the obelsik is the key, then looks at the pillar. Mac cuts in, Indy grabs a stone, , , then I inserted a shot of Indy and Mutt watching the obelisk lower a bit sooner to make the mechanics a bit clearer. I'd say I'm about 90 percent done with the scene. 

Before that I cutIndy saying good job Ox as they run from the natives (yeah I kept them ...so far) I might cut the scene of them coming from the walls though. I think we need them in there to get Indy and friends out of that temple and up the obelisk stairs. If you have any other ideas let me know. 

Cut Indy saying to Ox I think i understand now, someone came. Now Ox approaches the painting of the visitor in awe and raises the skull to it. Works nicely. 

I totally redid the waterfall scene, having the truck go off the cliff, get Spalkos reaction, truck emerges from the water, floats towards BIG water fall, Indy takes off his hat, they fall, walk to shore, Indy helps Ox, asks Marion if shes ok, cut the sterring wheel thing, ten Ox says his mumbo jumbo, we get a shot of the skull waterfalls, Back to mutt saying they have to go through the skull, end on shot of Indys back as he stares at the skull. Cut all the Skull told me to business. 

Left the ant scene alone, though did increase the volume of the gunfire toward Mutt and Mac

Jungle chase is cut in a similar manner to Laser's. Cut Marion's fencing lessons and getting hit in the head with the branch, cut the number of times Spalko hits Mutt, now when she hits she means it. Cut the monkey's just like Laser expecpt reordered the shots leading to Mutt swinging back in so no that far shot of the jeeps from the trees is cloer to when he swings in to save the day. Cut the Hi Mac! Now Mac says Jonesy! and Indy just punches him. 

Cut the Henry Jones ....Junior crap from Ox. This required a reordering of the Spalko shots, but it works just fine. 

Cut the pants rip and some of the the awe shucks look from Marion after Indy leaves. 

So that's the bulk of it any way. Now I have to finish the obelisk and make my way toward that terrible climax.

Soon I will have to start thinking about putting in the cemetery gunshto, rendering this thing out and building menus. Not looking forward to the menus...  

Well, just thought I'd check in to say that the edit is ...kinda done. The ONLY things I have left to do are the two lines from the trailer, the cemetery gunshot and the menus. 

I finished the obelisk puzzle to make Indy look more involved (quite a chore that one) 

I took out Indy saying to Ox that's he'd give it (the skull) back, he promised, before he opens the door with it. 

I cut back on SOME of Ox's Mayan babble. 

I totally recut the sequence of Indy tryin to save Mac. It's a bit more immediate now and now longer has Mac saying "i'm gonna be alright" (what!?)

I also totally redid the Spalko death. Now we finally do see a quick glimpse of the alien (barely through the light flashes). But no close ups and no leaning over in shame. (shame!)

I recut the water thing to be more perilous and immediate. Now it appears as though the water is right on their heels and shoots them up more rapidly instead of the fun family ride we have before. 

I cut Ox's Dad? line in the end and I cut the second time Indy says Knowledge was their treasure. 

Also cut Indy saying "why don't you stick around" and Mutt saying "why didn't you daddy?" Now Mutt tries to lead the way, Indy says its gets dark fast in the jungle and then laughs saying somewhere your grandfather...

I kept everything else and yes that includes the wedding. I never had a problem with it except that I wished Marion's kiss was more in line with Raiders and less goofy, but there is no way to fix that.

So there we go. While this is not the THANK GOD ITS DONE post, it's very close. LIke I said I still need to take those lines from the trailer, insert the gunshot in the cemetery and do the menus, which I have NO CLUE how to do. I would love for someone to volunteer to do the menus, but I'm not gonna ask anyone. I'll figure it out if need be.

TMBTM said:

I did not know where to post it: http://mysterymanonfilm.blogspot.com/2009/03/raiders-story-conference.html

The 1978 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK Story Conference Transcript, with Lucas and Steven, avalaible on pdf format.

 

"GL:

The trouble with cliffhangers is, you get somebody into something, you sort have to get them out in a PLAUSIBLE way. A BELIEVABLE way, anyway. . That's another important concept of the movie -- that it be totaly believable."

 

Amazing reading, where GL looks like the serious guy and Steven like the one who want to make it funny.

Except there is nothing Plausible or Believable even in the Indy world to explain hiding in a fridge to survive a Nuclear explosion.  Or swinging with monkeys that attack Russians, jeeps falling down three waterfalls in a row. etc.

Where was this George Lucas from the transcripts, maybe it  is like invasion of the body snatchers,lol. Or he was replaced with a clone somewhere between 1983 and 1993.

Good points Jonesy.

1.) I've kept the aliens and would have to say it would be nearly impossible to take them out. To be honest I don't mind them being in the film. I just hate how there was no build up to thier appearence. We see the corpse of the alien in the first few minutes of the film! Now we get a glimpse of one behind the cloth outside Spalkos tent, a brief wide shot of it lying on the table, then the "full" reveal in the climax. But even this "full" reveal is MUCH MUCH more limited than in the original. You see the crystal skeltons combine as Spalko's eyes burn with it culminating in a shot of the alien that features a lot of bright light to KINDA keep you guessing. I've cut the full body shots and close ups, etc. Also, I limited the amount of the UFO we see in the end. It's not so in your face.

2.) As far the "you're grandfather is laughing" line, now Indy says it in response to Mutt being so head strong. Works fine.

I hit kind of a snag or two of course considering how smoothly the rest of the edit has gone I can't complain too much.

So here are the problems:

1.) I am having trouble extracting the lines "not as easy as it used to be" and "part time" from the trailer. I would REALLY appreciate some help here if anyone wants to volunteer to pluck those out and send them to me. If no one volunteers, I'll just have to figure it out....

2.) Marion posted a great edit to the cemetery scene. I just don't know what format or quality its at or anything. If anyone wants to help with this I would really appreciate it as well. I'm anxious to get this edit out there to you guys and these things will help a ton. Again, I'll figure it out myself if need be.

Thanks.

Heks,

My edit is in SD.

I'm going back through my edit again now, but I'll check the DVD extras for those lines if no one volunteers before then... :)