StarWarsLegacy.com - The Official Thread — Page 3

Author: mverta
Time: 5-Nov-2004 2:46 PM
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I've considered it, but there's a line there... I'm not sure I'm comfortable crossing it. Lucasfilm is watching the site and has given me a pass with the screencaps so far, and I really don't want a C&D. Not that a C&D would prevent me from doing the restoration, but it would prevent me from sharing it, and I think it's important for the effort to have a public face for so many reasons... Anyway, we'll see.

_Mike

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Author: Patrick R.
Time: 5-Nov-2004 5:06 PM
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You said you got the Lucasfilm approval. What does he think? I think things look great.

Patrick

"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." - Tuco from The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 5-Nov-2004 5:08 PM
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I don't think he meant "approval".

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: mverta
Time: 5-Nov-2004 6:03 PM
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Originally posted by: Patrick R.
You said you got the Lucasfilm approval. What does he think? I think things look great.

Patrick

Yeah, definitely not approval, I just happen to know they've seen the site. The fact that they haven't shut it down is tacit approval for the posting of screencaps that they could revoke at any instant.

_Mike

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Author: Zion
Time: 5-Nov-2004 6:42 PM
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Same thing with my site. I got a nice email from them a few weeks back about my image archive having Insider images, but they didn't say anything about the DVD project section, so I'll take that as approval.

My Projects:
[Holiday Special Hybrid DVD v2]
[X0 Project]
[Backstroke of the West DVD]
[ROTS Theatrical DVD]

Author: Hal 9000
Time: 5-Nov-2004 7:10 PM
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I almost don't want to see what other things your working on in regard to the set, as obviously I'll never be able to see or own it.

My stance on revising fan edits.

Author: justlnluck
Time: 9-Nov-2004 2:47 AM
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Yes, in a perfect world, Lucasfilm would hire Mverta to do a new restoration for them and make that the official dvd release available to EVERYONE!

Author: ADigitalMan
Time: 9-Nov-2004 9:20 PM
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Originally posted by: mverta

I've considered it, but there's a line there... I'm not sure I'm comfortable crossing it. Lucasfilm is watching the site and has given me a pass with the screencaps so far, and I really don't want a C&D. Not that a C&D would prevent me from doing the restoration, but it would prevent me from sharing it, and I think it's important for the effort to have a public face for so many reasons... Anyway, we'll see.

Thanks for the explanation. It's interesting that Lucas has paid attention to your site. Makes me wonder if he's at all remorseful for the half-assed job they did at the release. I'm sure he'll use your site as a guide to fix everything that was broken and, instead of releasing corrected discs to those of us who have already paid, he's just going to make us buy them again. And then after we've paid again, he'll release the HD-DVD version and make us pay yet again.

I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 9-Nov-2004 10:52 PM
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I won't even buy the DVDs. I just copied the supplemental disc from my father-in-law's set, and that's it (although I'm tempted to put the commentaries on my discs alongside my Def. Col. commentaries.

)

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: mverta
Time: 10-Nov-2004 3:55 AM
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Originally posted by: ADigitalMan

Makes me wonder if he's at all remorseful for the half-assed job they did at the release.

Personally, I don't release work that I can't be completely proud of. While you can't please everybody, you always know when you've given it every last ounce of your effort. But I doubt that George Lucas feels the release was a failure on any level; certainly not monetarily. And there are no shortage of people who are genuinely excited about the DVD's. I think it would be an easy place to go, psychologically, to say, "Hey, that was a huge success, and the next ones'll be even better. So it's all good!"

To be honest, what I find most personally disappointing is the bold-face dishonesty on both Lucasfilm and THX's part regarding the production problems. When THX issues press releases insisting that everything was scrutinized using "revolutionary" processes, and there are obviously glaring errors in production, it totally devalues the brand. I find this distressing, because I always admired THX's origins as a "best possible quality assurance" program.

Lucasfilm's deflecting of the problems is "easier" to understand, as an alternative to the most expensive recall in entertainment history. While this may be morally bankrupt, I think it's phenomenally naive to expect any corporation not to act in the preservation of its profits over all else. In my world, Lucasfilm would've released the DVD's with a public "caveat emptor", saying, "the original negative elements were heavily damaged and the materials are presented 'as-is'. Future releases will address the correction of these compromises." But this would only happen in the alternate universe that is the world according to me. Very little good comes from the wishing of things to be different. This is why I've chosen to do something, if only for my own gratification. In the end, Star Wars has my life-long loyalty, because it played a seminal role in shaping my life, and I'm grateful for that every day. That doesn't mean it can't disappoint me.

_Mike

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Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 10-Nov-2004 8:26 AM
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"In my world, Lucasfilm would've released the DVD's with a public "caveat emptor", saying, "the original negative elements were heavily damaged and the materials are presented 'as-is'."

...and this doesn't even address the rear-channel swap and audio drop-outs that only exist on the English soundtrack.

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: tellan
Time: 11-Nov-2004 9:03 AM
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it's just the usual corporate arrogance towards consumers. the thing sells $100 million plus in the opening few days, therefore the fact it isn't of tremendous quality is irrelevant and any admittance that there were issues gets you sent to the funny farm for an extended holiday.

if Lucasfilm were to say, look, this was a release but there is a super duper 6 film all singing all dancing pack coming 2006 I wouldn't care.

LOTR and New Line took that approach so you could make an informed choice.

as it is, Lowry got 1 month to sort the 3 films out, of course things are going to fall by the wayside and the very fact they only got a month indicates it was very much a snap decision by Lucasfilm. I can see the beancounters sitting there thinking, if we don't release the OT in 2004, then we won't get a double header out of it when we re-release it in 2005 with the prequel films as a box set.

the whole thing smacks of oppoturnism with no consideration for the material.

the supplements are good, but we all know there is a lot more material out there that wasn't included and could have been.

considering the amount of time lowry were given, they did quite well, but the quality control must have had one of those days where they look at the footage and say 'yeah, it'll do, who's gonna notice?' and to be honest, if you read web reviews of the DVD sets, that is indeed the case. everyone gushes about picture quality, sharpness of image, but neglects to mention what's been trashed as a result of it.

When a woman says yes, she means no - when she says maybe, she means no.

http://www.auky37.dsl.pipex.com/falconlogo_web.jpg

Author: mverta
Time: 11-Nov-2004 9:20 AM
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The issues and shortcomings with the DVD's have been exhaustively debated on dozens of forums, not the least on starwarslegacy.com. I'm hoping we can keep this thread confined to discussions of the restoration, specifically... this way, new forum members can scroll through the posts and get useful information, without seeing a lot of ot rantings that we could all get off on in a heartbeat, myself included!

Just a request. Thanks, guys!

_Mike

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Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 12-Nov-2004 11:10 AM
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Sorry...

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: Rikter
Time: 13-Nov-2004 3:49 AM
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Originally posted by: mverta

Originally posted by: ADigitalMan
Mike,

Is there any plan to put up video captures of your finished scenes? The screen caps look great, and I'd love to see things like the re-rotoscoped saber in the Falcon in action.

Just wondering.

I've considered it, but there's a line there... I'm not sure I'm comfortable crossing it. Lucasfilm is watching the site and has given me a pass with the screencaps so far, and I really don't want a C&D. Not that a C&D would prevent me from doing the restoration, but it would prevent me from sharing it, and I think it's important for the effort to have a public face for so many reasons... Anyway, we'll see.

_Mike

AND on that note...

mverta...

Can you please at least post a 3 minute clip of your restoration?

I mean you can legally post a link to a 3 minute clip (AS this is for an EDUCATIONAL MUTIMEDIA PROJECT) - you would be in no danger of doing this -

Here's some more info on this so you know I'm not pulling your leg.

A 1994 Conference on Fair Use (CONFU) developed guidelines to determine fair use portions of copyrighted works in educational multimedia projects:
Motion Media - Up to 10% or 3 minutes (whichever is less).
Text Material - Up to 10% or 1000 words (whichever is less).
Poem - An entire poem with less than 250 words, 3 poems by same author and 5 poems by different author.
Music, Lyrics, Music Video - Up to 10% of an individual work (no more than 30 seconds per event).
Illustrations and Photographs - Up to 5 images by an artist or photographer may be reproduced or incorporated. Up to 10% or 15 images (whichever is less) from a published collective work.
Numerical data sets - Up to 10% or 2500 fields or cell entries (whichever is less) from a copyrighted data table may be incorporated.

Evidence exhibit A and Evidence exhibit B

I had to post this as - NO offence is intended here at all... SO please do not take it as such (and IF I ordered a shirt I would NOT complain about waiting at all

) BUT - I think you should post a small clip and share it either VIA - a Secret FTP or GROUPER - making it so ONLY a few select members - like MeBeJedi, Zion and Laserman get get them. This way we can get other reviews of this project - without actual video this just seems like more internet "vaporware" - again no offence is ment as it seem like your the guy to talk to about video encoding and authoring but without that sample....

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

Author: Laserman
Time: 13-Nov-2004 7:11 AM
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Jeez guys, let up!
If someone hounded me like that to post a clip, it would never happen!

He has already stated over and over again that it is entirely a project for his own use, and that it won't be released -- really really.

He is nice enough to share some techniques and insights into how he is going about it. I vote to have NO-one, ask, hint, or beg for clips or copies of this project here. Its walking a fine line for all of us doing this stuff, and pushing the limits with posting clips etc. just makes it more likely that the heavies will attempt to shut us all down.

Even if it was all a big con, the techniques and methodology he has posted so far is all good stuff (Well, maybe except for the component output from the LD player, but we agree to disagree on that one) , so we all win.

Everytime I see a veiled hint to give someone a copy here, it makes me cringe, so could we all stop mentioning it.

I think its now clear that...
a) Everyone would love a copy of the finished product (Duh!)
b) It's not gonna happen

Oops I've turned into a ranting maniac... Just my 2c. Now back to your scheduled programming....

Author: Rikter
Time: 13-Nov-2004 8:00 AM
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Geez....

I was just asking for a sample....

And is it really being "hounded" when a few folks ask for samples??

Really now, if he's doing it that's just fine and dandy with his background in FILM HE should be doing this -

YES, he may offer help to some folks DOING the transfers but I've seen NO instuctions or any How-To's on his site or in this tread so how is that helping? (he maybe helping some of you by phone or email right?) - I'm just saying why bother RISKING showing-off the menus and cover art (includeing FBI warning

) if this set is being made "yourself" and why is he selling "Star Wars" shirts on his site?

So why would someone with his background and future risk it all with the site?? - isn't this is one of those things best kept under-wraps and NOT associated with his studios (I mean he says he can burn DVD9 in house) - UNLESS you wanted the attention right?

MAYBE just MAYBE _Mike is really a STAR WARS insider posting to judge our reactions to the "real" in progress lucasfilm restoration!!!

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

Author: Rikter
Time: 13-Nov-2004 8:21 AM
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Oh yea - I'm not asking for a copy in any way shape or form.

I actually suggested that you get a sample along with MeBeJedi and Zion so that those of you doing transfers can REALLY learn from the master - what's wrong with that?

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

Author: mverta
Time: 13-Nov-2004 10:29 AM
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Guys -

Personally, I don't care about being "hounded." I get it, and I sympathize. But it's not going to accomplish anything, and it makes the thread uninteresting. If the thread gets uninteresting, I and everyone else will stop watching and contributing. That would suck, since I opened this thread as a courtesy, and I've made a commitment to being a part of it, because some people have actual questions about the work.

My advice, if you find the site frustrating or misleading, or if you think it's fake or hypocritical, is to stop watching. It's not that big a deal. According to google, there are 8 billion other pages to watch which presumably will be more fun for you.

For everyone else: more updates coming soon!

Laserman - we don't agree to disagree. We agree. I'm still searching for that new LD source, which is why I'm moving on to other scenes for now.

_Mike

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Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 13-Nov-2004 12:00 PM
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"My advice, if you find the site frustrating or misleading, or if you think it's fake or hypocritical, is to stop watching. It's not that big a deal. According to google, there are 8 billion other pages to watch which presumably will be more fun for you/"

I don't think Laserman meant that...

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: mverta
Time: 13-Nov-2004 1:04 PM
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Neither do I. (?)

_Mike

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Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 13-Nov-2004 1:41 PM
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What I meant was, he wasn't complaining about this site. I got the impression your comment was directed at him. Perhaps it wasn't...

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 13-Nov-2004 1:42 PM
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Oops, wrong thread...

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.

Author: eros
Time: 13-Nov-2004 8:14 PM
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I'm beginning to dislike certain peoples attitudes on this board as if because they are TRYING to create a slightly better version of the OT they feel they belong to some exclusive club. Get off your high horses, all of you are breaking the law and don't deserve exclusive rights to anyones WIP.

Author: MeBeJedi
Time: 14-Nov-2004 12:09 AM
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WTF?

MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.

MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.

JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.