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L. A. Story - The Extended Zell Edition (Released) — Page 2

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I have a version 2 of Harris skipping to the bank.
I've removed the trailer's music and foley in exchange for the music from another deleted scene that won't be used.
I'm actually fairly happy with it. Do you all think this is better?

Edit v3: http://rapidshare.com/files/7263853/LAS3.avi.html (1.9mb)

Edit's Edit: Heh, I just realized it'd be funny if there was a caption at the bottom of the screen that said "2:59PM".

Edit's Edited Edit: That's what it needed to sell it. It only took me 2 hours to figure out how to do this and to time and match the font size, position, etc. with previous subs in the film, but I think this is the cut that's going to make it.
It preserves the original joke's impact but lets us add the skipping gag.
Do I hear an amen?
http://rapidshare.com/files/7271373/las3.avi.html (2.1mb)

Dr. M

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Before anyone comments, yes the sub as been changed to 2:59pm. That's why you shouldn't edit when tired.

Dr. M

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Yes. Works spectacularly.

One question about the subtitle: Is it "pm" or "p.m." elsewhere? We like to be sticklers for detail here But seriously, a great resolution to the problem--reminds me of Python's Life of Brian. "Jerusalem, 33 AD. Saturday afternoon. Just after tea time."
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Besides saying 2:59 pm it now also types onto the screen instead of appearing all at once.

Original museum caption:
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2175/001bo8.jpg

Reproduced caption:
http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/9083/002su6.jpg

Tell me the similarity is not incredible. (Name that movie quote )
The only flaw is that they have a white border around the bold white text. I cannot reproduce it (the border and shadow have to be the same color in SSA format) so my lettering seems a bit thinner. Besides that...

Dr. M

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So for whatever reason, I've run into a few deleted scenes that don't sync with their audio (all the way through).
From a technical standpoint I'm stumped. Maybe they had a variable frame rate that Womble's repair tool stripped, I don't know.
I've also run into a few scenes that from a plot perspective should probably be added, but I'm not fond of.

The commercials at first seem like Steve Martin being wacky Steve Martin; something I'm not a fan of.
The thing is, if he has super-agent Harry Zell, how do you explain him not working or getting any jobs before the end of the film when he returns to KYOY?
...So the commercials SHOULD stay. I hope you all like them more than I do.

Same goes for the rocketing in scene: For him to suddenly be talking about being back as a serious weatherman, it's reasonable that Harry Zell would rocket in and tell him. Of course I have no audio (of value) and the scene seems a bit off pace compared to what's around it.
I can have rocket noise over the nonsense that John Lithgow spews, and you can assume that Zell is giving him the good news. I really think some hard subs would work better... but what?
Yikes the early cuts were much easier to deal with.
I cannot believe how difficult this project has been. And all I really wanted to do was cut in the Harry Zell lunch meeting.

Next project... cutting in a fixed subtitle for the title card of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (No not really, but I need SOMETHING easy or I might never edit again).

Dr. M

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Gack! That sounds awful on a technological level.

My sense is that Zell is supposed to be this super-powerful agent, but he's not really that good. Think about what he proposes to Harris in that first scene, and maybe it's not surprising that he doesn't get Harris any work, leading Harris to go back to the "serious" news bit. I think this is also borne out by the fact that the first thing he recommends to Harris is doing the same parade Harris just refused to do for his earlier agent. Bottom line: If you don't think they work, leave 'em out. Steve Martin didn't think they worked, either. Same goes for the scene where Zell zooms in.

Thanks for all the work--I hope it goes more easily.
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So I took a day away from this to think about things...
I went back and cut the commercials and Zell rocketing in.
Anything I disliked did not make the cut (the first post has been updated).

For the scene that wouldn't sync I just cut the audio up and did several crossfades to sync regions. It works well. I even added some ambient effects and wind (there's a cut of wind blowing through foliage and it doesn't make noise. Pretty jarring, fixed it.)

Well the initial edit is done. I still need to export, build a DVD, preview, make any changes and produce all the extras.
I think the worst is over... mostly.

Dr. M

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I think your cuts sound right to me (both what you're leaving in and what you're adding). Good luck finishing it up--hope it goes more smoothly!
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Extras created. The Showtime John Lithgow clips are soft because of their source (and my filtering) but they are much cleaner (audioly (?) and visually) now.
The menus have been designed... but the DVD is not yet authored.

I'm on the fence about keeping the Easter Egg interviews from the first DVD release.
Half of them appear as part of the new DVD documentary. Mostly the Mick Jackson, some of the Steve Martin and none of the Victoria Tennant clips.

It seems partially redundant to add them and I'm trying to save a bit of space since the DVD currently is a bit over 5.3gb.

Tough call.

Dr. M

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Some snaps.
Main Menu:
http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/4674/mainmenuko7.jpg

And the cleaned up John Lithgow clip:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2892/jllc7.jpg

Dr. M

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Love the menu shot.

I don't recall Victoria adding much to the discussion; given how things had gone between her and Steve, I was surprised she showed up at all on the DVD. So if you're looking to save space, I would guess most of the good Easter Egg stuff is on the documentary.

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Built the DVD... aye yay yay did I bite off a big chunk.
I've never done anything like that before with the Play movie and Play with Intro, etc.
About a half dozen SETS of command sequences were necessary to have that work... and I've never actually USED command sequences before.
And it worked the first time, I don't believe it. Bet it would have been easier if I read a manual or something.

Anyway, compression to a single layer DVD took 70% of the original size. A bit more than I'd like.

Sat through the test disc and here were my impressions:
Wooo. It's sort of work printy but everything I added fits nicely and matches the mood and style of the film. The "Walk in L.A." is still a bit dodgy but I don't want to cut it (see the posted clip earlier in the thread).
The John Lithgow clips needed to be recoded without the edge enhancement. All that did was bloat the file size and add sparkley artifacts.
I've gone back and made some other minor fixes, technical mostly, and even added ONE more line from the alternate ending that I love and could not do without.
I also thought long and hard and decided to cut the easter egg extras too. They were only 100mb but they really don't seem to be necessary (my apologies to Victoria Tennant who loses the most.)

Hopefully I'll have a final disc in my hands, um, tomorrow?

Next up... some holiday prep and then:
Little Mermaid The Restored Theatrical Edition (audio and preacher fixes)
Other possible on tap projects:
Eurotrip Extended (contains just what it says on the tin)
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings Preservation (mind you I can't stand this short anymore)
Star Trek The Motion Picture: Phase Two (drastically cut until not boring. I'm shooting for 1:30+ (The size of a double length TV episode.))
I swore there was more that I've promised but for now that's more than enough.

Dr. M

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Actually now I'm sort of stuck. I want to author the finished DVD but I want to put jacket art on the disc.

The problem is I'm not so good at cover art.
I really didn't want to just take a standard cover and smack some new text on it, but I'm leaning that way. Any volunteers?

Dr. M

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Just an idea, because I am probably worse with art than you. What about using the sign? If there's a good shot of the sign with Steve Martin, it could work to have the new title on it. Or maybe a scene with Harry Zell?
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Those with interest should do a search on Demonoid.

Dr. M

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Was just thinking about this for the first time in a while. Is this still available anywhere and does anyone care?

Dr. M

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Doctor M said:

Was just thinking about this for the first time in a while. Is this still available anywhere and does anyone care?

That’s quite the necrobump but it is your thread… Now about your questions. I have no idea if it’s still available but I’m guessing more people would care if there was an HD version.

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I was thinking about it. Haven’t done an edit to this degree in a long time. Mostly because they take a long time.

Dr. M