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The Force Awakens: Starlight (V1.1 Released!) — Page 26

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NeverarGreat said:

However, now that I have R2 find the map at night with Rey nowhere in sight, it begs the question of what she’s doing at that moment. Sleeping would be the obvious answer, but what better place to put the dream of the island? Honestly I didn’t intend for this when making the night shot though it probably should have occurred sooner:

https://vimeo.com/334596045

Password: fanedit

This is an interesting concept. I don’t dislike it. I like that we’re still getting this feeling of mystery that comes with the Luke reveal in the original.

However, I do think I’m going to have to agree that it is considerably more complex. I feel like movies generally need to be pretty simple and straightforward. Weaving these two sequences together isn’t impossible, but I just think it’s a little unnecessary.

Again, you know my love for the original ending based on my comment above and previously. I’m open to changes to it, but I believe that whatever changes are made needs to ensure the sense of mystery powerful build up to Luke’s reveal remains intact.

“The Ziggy Edit” — A Conceptual Fanedit of Return of the Jedi

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Episode-VI-Return-of-the-Jedi-The-Ziggy-Edit/id/17844

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ziggyonice said:

NeverarGreat said:

I agree that it’s a great scene, it just doesn’t really work for me as a literal cliffhanger at the end of TFA.

What could I do to convince you to consider more than one version of your fanedit?

Multiple versions of the same fanedit are not uncommon. You have so much very good content that you’ve worked on here. I just believe that the ending scene with Luke is a defining moment for the saga. However, opinions like mine here are not uncommon — everyone has their own take on things and are looking for their “go to” version of their favorite fanedit, after all.

If there’s any way I can convince you or help you make an alternate version, please let me know. It isn’t terribly difficult, especially with the cost of storage being so cheap. Plus, you’d be opening the door to more people being able to enjoy your work based on their version they most enjoy.

You don’t have to answer now, but please at least consider it for the future.

Two versions would be tricky unless you also prefer the original version with R2’s coincidental awakening, since I’d have to make two entirely different versions of an edit-heavy sequence.

ziggyonice said:

NeverarGreat said:

However, now that I have R2 find the map at night with Rey nowhere in sight, it begs the question of what she’s doing at that moment. Sleeping would be the obvious answer, but what better place to put the dream of the island? Honestly I didn’t intend for this when making the night shot though it probably should have occurred sooner:

https://vimeo.com/334596045

Password: fanedit

This is an interesting concept. I don’t dislike it. I like that we’re still getting this feeling of mystery that comes with the Luke reveal in the original.

However, I do think I’m going to have to agree that it is considerably more complex. I feel like movies generally need to be pretty simple and straightforward. Weaving these two sequences together isn’t impossible, but I just think it’s a little unnecessary.

Again, you know my love for the original ending based on my comment above and previously. I’m open to changes to it, but I believe that whatever changes are made needs to ensure the sense of mystery powerful build up to Luke’s reveal remains intact.

I hear what you’re saying for sure. It is complicated, and difficult, and might lose something of the mystery and power of the original. But in trying to come to terms with my issues with the scene, I realize that it comes down to a simple question: is this movie essentially about Luke, or about our new heroes? Because ending TFA with an unspoken plea to Luke ends up making everything else feel inconsequential. Leia and Poe and Finn are now half a galaxy away and all that matters is whether or not our human MacGuffin will save the day. And it’s not about Rey’s feelings about Luke, not really. All we as an audience care about is fanboying/fangirling out over that magical unicorn of a character and his cool, mysterious reveal, and a glorified ‘tune in next week for the exciting conclusion’ TV cliffhanger.

Placing the scene in the context of Rey’s subconscious allows the story to more obviously be about Rey and her image of Luke as a magical Jedi master, resplendent in his Jedi robes and contemplating deep Jedi thoughts. It’s a proper setup for the inevitable subversion, rather than having Luke really standing on that cliff in his Jedi robes which he immediately puts away in the next scene (in an ideal edit of TLJ the lightsaber scene never takes place). What I’m trying to say is that JJ makes the search for Luke the point of the movie when Luke’s role should really be about what his legend means to others.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Nev, I like the ending shots! Good idea to use that extra shot to make it fit with the music. Totally dig it.

I wonder if there are some effects you could add to the “dream shots” that wouldn’t be over the top. Throwing out ideas, what if you played with the stuttering frame effect of the Dagobah cave, or the wispy vignette of Anakin’s ROTS dreams?

So in a hypothetical TLJ edit for you, you might have Rey reach the Jedi Village, then she’d hear the hut door slam maybe? Having Rey dream of an idealized Luke at the end of TFA, but then our first real intro to Luke is him holding himself up in his hut like a hermit, you’d still be getting that subversion Rian wanted without being beholden to how JJ ended TFA.

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RogueLeader said:

I wonder if there are some effects you could add to the “dream shots” that wouldn’t be over the top. Throwing out ideas, what if you played with the stuttering frame effect of the Dagobah cave, or the wispy vignette of Anakin’s ROTS dreams?

You beat me to it. I was also gonna highly suggest, recommend, whatever adding the wispy dream vignette from ROTS.

https://youtu.be/7Mvzb5gHANA

This edit also adds the echo to the VO, and while there isn’t VO in that dream sequence edit, maybe changing the Jedi Steps track to a slightly softer (or slower) dream-like variation of the track? After watching these final scene clips I feel like the momentum is at an increasing montage-like level where there’s not too much of a breather once they blow up Starkiller and are back on D’Qar? That’s just me assuming from what’s been posted here after silently watching, and I don’t really know if softer music would make any difference.

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NeverarGreat said:
Two versions would be tricky unless you also prefer the original version with R2’s coincidental awakening, since I’d have to make two entirely different versions of an edit-heavy sequence.

Eh, I don’t think it would that difficult. Obviously things are still set to change, but going with your idea of having Rey fix Artoo — that works fine. In fact, I think I’d keep everything after that.

Basically, keep everything immediately after Artoo wakes up.

The only thing I can think of that could be questioned is where is Rey when Artoo shows the map. Granted, she wasn’t in the original scene either, so I don’t really know if this matters.

…What I’m trying to say is that JJ makes the search for Luke the point of the movie when Luke’s role should really be about what his legend means to others.

I certainly do understand what you are saying, and they are good arguments. What I disagree with you about is that I don’t think JJ made the “point of the movie” to be about the search for Luke. Just because Luke is the focus of the ending scene doesn’t mean that what the movie is about has changed. Also, I do kind of feel like it is necessary because he is a legend, a myth. When the audience sees the mysterious that surrounds him, when we experience that same build-up of curiosity that Rey feels, that’s how you know that the scene is successful.

“The Ziggy Edit” — A Conceptual Fanedit of Return of the Jedi

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Episode-VI-Return-of-the-Jedi-The-Ziggy-Edit/id/17844

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RogueLeader said:

Nev, I like the ending shots! Good idea to use that extra shot to make it fit with the music. Totally dig it.

I wonder if there are some effects you could add to the “dream shots” that wouldn’t be over the top. Throwing out ideas, what if you played with the stuttering frame effect of the Dagobah cave, or the wispy vignette of Anakin’s ROTS dreams?

In the latest version of the dream sequence I’ve significantly slowed the first handful of shots to achieve a similar effect. I think that plus the different TLJ aesthetic gives an otherworldly feel to the scene. I’ve also done away with Finn being medic-ed and shifted some shots for the finale to cover the weird transition from the Falcon in the clouds to it flying past the rings.

https://vimeo.com/335299081

Password: fanedit

I think the stuttering framerate idea might feel too Dark Side for the dream.

So in a hypothetical TLJ edit for you, you might have Rey reach the Jedi Village, then she’d hear the hut door slam maybe? Having Rey dream of an idealized Luke at the end of TFA, but then our first real intro to Luke is him holding himself up in his hut like a hermit, you’d still be getting that subversion Rian wanted without being beholden to how JJ ended TFA.

Something like that. I imagine her going to the cliff, maybe using some of the TFA footage of her climb, then taking the shots of her looking confused and walking back down as if she expected him to be standing there like in her dream.

Lesser said:

RogueLeader said:

I wonder if there are some effects you could add to the “dream shots” that wouldn’t be over the top. Throwing out ideas, what if you played with the stuttering frame effect of the Dagobah cave, or the wispy vignette of Anakin’s ROTS dreams?

You beat me to it. I was also gonna highly suggest, recommend, whatever adding the wispy dream vignette from ROTS.

https://youtu.be/7Mvzb5gHANA

The vignette is kind of weird for TFA since this movie establishes a different style for Force Visions - Rey essentially just finds herself in a different environment.

This edit also adds the echo to the VO, and while there isn’t VO in that dream sequence edit, maybe changing the Jedi Steps track to a slightly softer (or slower) dream-like variation of the track? After watching these final scene clips I feel like the momentum is at an increasing montage-like level where there’s not too much of a breather once they blow up Starkiller and are back on D’Qar? That’s just me assuming from what’s been posted here after silently watching, and I don’t really know if softer music would make any difference.

The latest video is the entire D’Qar sequence so you can judge for yourself whether it feels too rushed or too slow. I’ve debated moving the R2 map reveal scenes to before or after the dream, but if the dream is placed before the map reveal it seems strange for Rey to not be present (or to be present but in another costume) and if the dream is placed after the map reveal it feels weird for Rey to wake up for the map reveal then go back to sleep for a dream then wake up again in the space of a few minutes.

ziggyonice said:

NeverarGreat said:
Two versions would be tricky unless you also prefer the original version with R2’s coincidental awakening, since I’d have to make two entirely different versions of an edit-heavy sequence.

Eh, I don’t think it would that difficult. Obviously things are still set to change, but going with your idea of having Rey fix Artoo — that works fine. In fact, I think I’d keep everything after that.

Basically, keep everything immediately after Artoo wakes up.

But that’s just it, in the newest versions R2 waking up is interspersed with the dream.

The only thing I can think of that could be questioned is where is Rey when Artoo shows the map. Granted, she wasn’t in the original scene either, so I don’t really know if this matters.

Rey is in the original map reveal scene though.

…What I’m trying to say is that JJ makes the search for Luke the point of the movie when Luke’s role should really be about what his legend means to others.

I certainly do understand what you are saying, and they are good arguments. What I disagree with you about is that I don’t think JJ made the “point of the movie” to be about the search for Luke. Just because Luke is the focus of the ending scene doesn’t mean that what the movie is about has changed. Also, I do kind of feel like it is necessary because he is a legend, a myth. When the audience sees the mysterious that surrounds him, when we experience that same build-up of curiosity that Rey feels, that’s how you know that the scene is successful.

I can’t argue with the scene being cool. I’ll just have to try my best to keep that mysteriousness and if it still doesn’t work for you, you’re more than welcome to use this edit to create your ideal version 😃

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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It’s been a while since I’ve worked on the crawl, so here’s a new attempt coming at it fresh:

Luke Skywalker has failed.
Hiding in exile, his new order
of Jedi Knights lies in ruin,
vanquished from within.

Without the wisdom of
the Jedi, the galaxy has
begun to lose faith in
the fragile New Republic,
supporting instead the
sinister FIRST ORDER
which has vowed to
regain the power of the
once mighty Empire.

Desperate to win back
the faith of its people,
the Republic orders the
formation of a covert
RESISTANCE to find the
last Jedi and return the
light of hope to the
galaxy…

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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NeverarGreat said:

In the latest version of the dream sequence I’ve significantly slowed the first handful of shots to achieve a similar effect. I think that plus the different TLJ aesthetic gives an otherworldly feel to the scene. I’ve also done away with Finn being medic-ed and shifted some shots for the finale to cover the weird transition from the Falcon in the clouds to it flying past the rings.

https://vimeo.com/335299081

Password: fanedit

I’ll admit, you may have sold me. The transition from Rey sleeping to her waking up is beautiful and the Jedi Steps makes this “dream” feel very mysterious.

The only nitpick I had was this rendition is that I felt like it would be more powerful — maybe — if Leia saying “Luke” while looking at the map happened BEFORE he turns around and faces Rey. I feel like we need more time on Luke’s face.

EDIT: On another watch, I don’t know if this is necessary. Maybe just to try it.

Other than that, I liked it. Really interesting idea.

“The Ziggy Edit” — A Conceptual Fanedit of Return of the Jedi

https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Episode-VI-Return-of-the-Jedi-The-Ziggy-Edit/id/17844

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I’ll also say this sequence was great! I think my pacing worries were mainly from staying up to comment at 3 am. I also agree with the no vignette decision to keep it consistent with the vision on Takodana, that hadn’t registered for me. My last praise will be of that night shot you added; it’s beautiful!

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Thank you both!

I wanted to revisit an older idea, that of turning Jakku into more of a purgatory through lighting. The prior attempt worked well except for lasers and explosions which turned blue, so I played around some more with just bleaching the highlights and keeping the shadow/midtone reds the same:

1
2

1.5
1.7

3
4

5
6

7
8

This subtle approach seems to play nice with the explosions, as you can see.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Yes! I’m so glad you came back to this! It looks great to me.

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Nice, looks like ash or salt. I like it very much!

The dream sequence drags on a bit and I got confused. It felt a bit like parallel editing.
Perhaps a shorter, more mysterious sequence where we only see Luke from the back (and no sword).

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I agree with 4throck. It did feel like parallel editting as opposed to a dream sequence. Yeah I would suggest it being shorter too…maybe adding some sort of dreamy filter either on top or something around the boarders of the frame aaand perhaps playing with the sounds by adding reverb or something.

SSWR’s YouTube channel

Attack of the Clones: Alternate Timeline Edit Thread:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/SSWRs-Attack-of-the-Clones-Alternate-Timeline-Edit/id/66888

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4throck said:

Nice, looks like ash or salt. I like it very much!

The dream sequence drags on a bit and I got confused. It felt a bit like parallel editing.
Perhaps a shorter, more mysterious sequence where we only see Luke from the back (and no sword).

Might that make it more confusing though? We would just assume it was Luke, and Rey wouldn’t actually make the unspoken plea for his training if I cut the saber.

SomethingStarWarsRelated said:

I agree with 4throck. It did feel like parallel editting as opposed to a dream sequence. Yeah I would suggest it being shorter too…maybe adding some sort of dreamy filter either on top or something around the boarders of the frame aaand perhaps playing with the sounds by adding reverb or something.

I mean it is parallel editing.

When you suggest making it shorter, I assume that means cutting some of the music which would be problematic since that scene is carried almost entirely on the strength of that cue.

I guess I just want some more specific ideas for how the scene could be cut without parallel editing and without making it longer.

Some version of R2 finding the map could happen right after the night establishing shot, and after the map is revealed cut to Rey and the entire dream. Then it would probably need a transition shot before going back to Finn. In this case the entire Jedi Steps cue would be required for the dream, and additional time would be reserved for the mapfinding.

Alternately, Rey could dream of Luke before R2 finds the map, and the dream could end on the dramatic notes when Luke turns to face Rey. When the music goes quiet again, instead of the lightsaber it could cut back to R2 and have a condensed scene where 3PO says they must tell the others and the condensed map reveal. Cut back to Finn as usual. This version wouldn’t add any time to the sequence and avoid parallel editing.

Thoughts?

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Perhaps your last suggestion - Rey’s dream and R2D2 finding the map. Should be clear enough 😉
And yes, leave all the sword and training stuff for TLJ. Here seeing Luke’s face is enough.

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Damn…now I don’t know. I just rewatched the clip and…it works really well. I don’t know what I was on the first time I watched it. The only thing I would still potentially play around with is some sort of dream-type boarder/filter…but it might be just fine as is. 😃

SSWR’s YouTube channel

Attack of the Clones: Alternate Timeline Edit Thread:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/SSWRs-Attack-of-the-Clones-Alternate-Timeline-Edit/id/66888

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I think I get what you’re describing. Honestly I think this is one of those things where you have to test it out, because it is hard to say what works better on description alone, at least in this case since it is a very different idea.

I am still trying to think of ways you might help make it very clear that this is a dream or vision of some kind. What about some kind of edge blur and a slight RGB split?

Also, if you end the film with Rey leaving to go find Luke, do you think you might include a “Rey’s Journey” sequence in a potential TLJ edit where we see them jumping from planet to planet before she reaches Ach-To? I always loved that test you made for that idea, and I also like the added meaning of the various points on the map being another level of “Jedi steps”.

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Do you have a rough cut of this?

After being beaten and battered by prequel hate, I promise not to be that to the next generation.

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4throck said:

Perhaps your last suggestion - Rey’s dream and R2D2 finding the map. Should be clear enough 😉
And yes, leave all the sword and training stuff for TLJ. Here seeing Luke’s face is enough.

I’ll try that.

RogueLeader said:

I think I get what you’re describing. Honestly I think this is one of those things where you have to test it out, because it is hard to say what works better on description alone, at least in this case since it is a very different idea.

Here’s a rough idea of what it could look like.

https://vimeo.com/336731924

Password: fanedit

Though, it probably makes more sense to cut the brief scene with Leia in favor of 3PO announcing his intention to tell everyone, which would better explain Rey’s sudden appearance in the next scene.

What this sequence really cries out for IMO is a transition from Rey asleep to R2, but I don’t really want to reuse the same sleeping shot.

I am still trying to think of ways you might help make it very clear that this is a dream or vision of some kind. What about some kind of edge blur and a slight RGB split?

Your wish is my command (at least for the TFA bits of the dream).

Also, if you end the film with Rey leaving to go find Luke, do you think you might include a “Rey’s Journey” sequence in a potential TLJ edit where we see them jumping from planet to planet before she reaches Ach-To? I always loved that test you made for that idea, and I also like the added meaning of the various points on the map being another level of “Jedi steps”.

I think that would be very fun. It all depends on the available footage or if someone like EC Henry is willing to take on another render project.

dgraham414 said:

Do you have a rough cut of this?

I don’t think a rough cut would be particularly helpful at this stage, since so much is still being assembled. Maybe when I have all the big ideas in place and all that remains is polishing I’ll release something for comment and dissection. It’s getting there!

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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NeverarGreat said:
Here’s a rough idea of what it could look like.

That’s great! I really like it this way, and going from Luke to R2D2 works.
I’d only move Rey’s close up from 2:17 to end of the map sequence, and end it on her.

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I love the dreamy filter! And yes, if there could be some sort of cut back to Rey asleep or waking up from the dream (I don’t know the footage well enough) that would be ideal.

There is a continuity issue that looks like it can’t be fixed: Rey’s appearance. She’s all cleaned up asleep, dirty in the map scene, then clean again with Finn.

SSWR’s YouTube channel

Attack of the Clones: Alternate Timeline Edit Thread:
https://originaltrilogy.com/topic/SSWRs-Attack-of-the-Clones-Alternate-Timeline-Edit/id/66888

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SomethingStarWarsRelated said:

There is a continuity issue that looks like it can’t be fixed: Rey’s appearance. She’s all cleaned up asleep, dirty in the map scene, then clean again with Finn.

Yeah, I don’t think Rey can appear in this final scene. I am working on a version of the scene where R2 projects the full map without BB-8’s help, so it should allow me to remove Rey in every shot except this one, which will take some more effort:

Full Map

I guess the question becomes, which version of the edit has more promise? The sequential edit might lose the saber entirely as well as the Leia scene while also raising the question of where Rey is after the dream, whereas the parallel edit could keep these things while maybe not being the most intuitive from the outset.

You probably don’t recognize me because of the red arm.
Episode 9 Rewrite, The Starlight Project (Released!) and ANH Technicolor Project (Released!)

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Seems like it’d be a lot of work to cut Rey out of the map reveal scene. I do like the new sequence of events though (and the blue and rgb split!).

Also, why didn’t you keep the flickering light on R2? I think having him plugged up to the computer plus having the flickering light would help imply that something is in progress, if that makes sense.