The Last Jedi: A ST One-Film Edit (WIP)

So I know there are a few one-film edit threads out there. I have a few ideas that might vary from what’s been discussed, so I wanted to post them here and see if anyone has thoughts on how to improve it!

My goal is to make a standalone sequel film that will focus on centrally on Rey and Kylo Ren. That means very little Resistance. Here’s my outline:

• Scene 1: Rey: Day in the Life (because the transition from stars is just so dang good)
  Rey goes about her day, rescues BB-8
• Scene 2: Rey with BB-8/Unkar Plutt
• Scene 3: Finn meeting Rey & BB-8
• Scene 4: Millennium Falcon chase thru Han reunion
  NO RATHTARS
• Scene 5: Han takes the gang to Maz
• Scene 6: Rey has a vision
• Scene 7: Rey runs away and captured
• Scene 8: Kylo & Vader/Rey’s Interrogation
  NO STARKILLER (just a base on an ice planet)
• Scene 9: Rey Escapes/The Search/Han & Finn Rescue Rey
• ​​​Scene 10: Han Killed/Duel with Kylo
  FIRST REVEAL OF HAN’S SON; FINN DIES
• Scene 11: Meeting Leia/Map Discovery/Rey Leaves
• Scene 12: Rey Finds Luke
• Scene 13: Resistance Flees
  (cut most of it; just them leaving the planet and jumping to lightspeed)
• Scene 14: Kylo & Snoke
• Scene 15: Rey & Luke (including Luke Takes a Moment)
• Scene 16: Resistance Attacked
  Leia dies OR Ben saves her via the Force OR we cut from her hand to the window to the gurney. No more Poppins.​​​
• Scene 17: The Tree/Luke refuses to help
• Scene 18: Luke at the Falcon
• Scene 19: Force Timing 1/Lesson 1
• Scene 20: Force Timing 2/Lesson 2
• Scene 21: Lesson 3/Force Timing 3
• Scene 22: Rey in the Cave
• Scene 23: Force Timing 4/Rey Leaves Ach-To
• Scene 24: Luke & Yoda
• Scene 25: Rey, Kylo & Snoke
• Scene 26: Showdown on Crait/Luke’s Death
  No Resistance fight; cut to explosion at the gate; just a few shots of them looking vulnerable/Leia & Luke
• Scene 27: Rey Cuts Off Kylo/On the Falcon
• [Ideally, insert Kylo’s Haunting/Redemption here because it’s a good scene, but it’s not necessary]
• Scene 28: Legacy

Children are told the legend of Luke Skywalker. A broom boy uses the force and sweeps.
[If including Ben’s redemption scene, I’d love to include a Ben in exile thing here.]
Rey appears on Tatooine, the place where Luke grew up. She buries the two halves of Anakin/Luke’s light saber. An old woman appears and asks who she is. Luke’s force ghost appears. Better take of “Rey Skywalker.” Rey leaves on the Falcon.
Broom Boy sees it jump to hyperspace. Ends on him looking at the stars.

NeverarGreat said:

Lifeincontext said:

• Scene 1: Rey: Day in the Life (because the transition from stars is just so dang good)

Is this the transition you’re referring to? (Password: fanedit)

Overall, I like the idea behind this edit. The Luke and Rey story is the strongest completed aspect of this trilogy since Finn has been tragically dumped by the wayside, so focusing on that makes a lot of sense.

What would the crawl of such a film look like?

Yes! Very much so. It’s like…why wasn’t it that way to begin with?

So for right now, I’m thinking of making it more its own standalone thing, so it wouldn’t have the standard episode crawl. It may have something Solo or Blade Runner-esque. But since it’s (kind of?) part of the Skywalker Saga…I’m open to other opinions lol.

Also, you said overall. I’m curious to see what changes you think will really work and what things you might not agree with?

This sounds awesome! I’d love to see a link when it’s done

Great thoughts!

So in the interrogation, he takes his mask off, but it’s never said who he is. So in my mind, it’s like a subversion of expectations. We expect this guy we just met to be like Vader, but he’s not. Rey sees into his mind and sees he wants to be like Vader. But that’s all we know. So I was thinking it might be good to find out when Rey does that Kylo is actually Han’s son. Reveal lol. That’s where I’m coming from. Is there something I’m missing?

And yeah, I totally get the thing about Ben’s redemption. That’s why I don’t think it’s necessary. If it were to work, it would start after Han’s dice disappear. The idea is that Ben is now broken. He’s lost everything. He runs back to back to Vader’s mask because his attempt to let the past die has failed. It keeps catching up with him. The mask no longer speaks to him. It’s more visions of Han and Luke. I’d like to use some of the Kylo/Vader face off fan film. He faces Vader and is drawn to the Death Star ruins. In a last desperate attempt to stay on his path, he goes there, thinking that he can hear the darkness guide him more clearly. But instead, his parents call his name. And then Han appears.

Yes, it’s contrived lol. But it made sense in my head. Not sure if I’ll do it yet, but that’s the direction it would go if I do.

NeverarGreat said:

I see. In that case I think the Solo reveal might just work!

I say go for the ending, there’s really only one way to see if it works 😉

Haha know anybody up for helping this padawan with some mask and track?

I would need to change the planet when Kylo is on his way to Exegol, and to mask the burning ship/smoke out in the Pasana desert and/or put him on Tatooine.

How’s this for a rough version of Kylo’s haunting?

https://vimeo.com/418754884
PW: fanedit

Lifeincontext said:

How’s this for a rough version of Kylo’s haunting?

https://vimeo.com/418754884
PW: fanedit

This looks really awesome! I can’t wait to see the finished edit wow

How are you planning on ordering the ending with this scene?

adobewan said:

How are you planning on ordering the ending with this scene?

Thanks! So this vision would probably either replace the Falcon ending of TLJ or come after it. Then, I’d probably use Kylo’s flight to Exegol, but replace Exegol with Kef Bir or the forest moon. When he’s on the ruins, he reaches out in the force again to hear guidance from the darkness. But instead, out of the silence, Leia calls his name. She uses her life force to project Han to him. Kylo throws his lightsaber in the ocean, then realizes both of his parents are gone. He hears Luke whisper his sorrow.

Then it would go into the kids learning about Luke Skywalker/Rey on Tatooine.

Next time we see Ben, after Rey buries the pieces of Luke’s saber, he’s in a desert (ideally Tatooine) where he chooses to enter exile. I’d love he and Rey to connect one more time there, but I’m not sure I can swing that lol. Thoughts?

I’d cut from Ben’s face to Rey’s and add the force time sound effect if possible. I think it would get the idea across

For sure. That’s what I was thinking would be simplest too. No dialogue though, unfortunately lol.

Thoughts about the ending structure? Does the Kylo stuff seem like it’s too much for an ending?

It sounds really good and simple enough to understand. My ‘The End Edition’ of TLJ is something of a similar edit and it was hard to find a super satisfying way to wrap up Kylo’s story

adobewan said:

It sounds really good and simple enough to understand. My ‘The End Edition’ of TLJ is something of a similar edit and it was hard to find a super satisfying way to wrap up Kylo’s story

Sweet! Glad to have your stamp of approval lol. I also love your edit, btw. You did a great job! Did you do the shot with the Luke-only force ghost? That was awesome.

Lifeincontext said:

adobewan said:

It sounds really good and simple enough to understand. My ‘The End Edition’ of TLJ is something of a similar edit and it was hard to find a super satisfying way to wrap up Kylo’s story

Sweet! Glad to have your stamp of approval lol. I also love your edit, btw. You did a great job! Did you do the shot with the Luke-only force ghost? That was awesome.

I did. I really appreciate that! I could never get Rey burying the two halves of Luke’s saber to work properly but if you manage that it would be really cool to combine our two effects shots!

That’d be great! I’m looking into a couple options for that. As a quick fix, though, I just cut to where she’s rolling them up, so we don’t actually see the saber. But if I can figure it out, it’s definitely yours to use!

Turns out adding the Kylo ending has led to some interesting moments. Here’s the revised ending:

• Rey cuts off Kylo/The Dice Disappear
  (I think the Falcon TLJ ending might need to go, although Rey and Leia talking about Luke is a nice moment.)
• Kylo runs back to Vader. Vision sequence. Haunted by Vader/Luke. Sees the ruins of the Death Star and leaves.
• Small part of Forces of Darkness fan film: Vader choking Kylo. “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.” Kylo kills Vader.
• cut to Ben at the Death Star ruins. Leia calls to him. Han appears. Kylo throws away the saber. We hear Luke. “I’m sorry.” He leaves in the TIE.
• Rey travels to Tatooine. As she makes her way to Luke’s but, we cut to…
• Kids learning about Luke. Broom boy sweeps.
• Rey slides into Luke’s old home. She buries the two halves of the saber. She reveals her new saber.
• Ben connects with her one last time. His ship burns in the background on a desert planet. “I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it. Why didn’t you?” “I did want to take your hand. Ben’s hand.” Rey smiles. She notices the old lady. Sees Luke’s ghost. “Rey Skywalker.” Leaves on the Falcon. Broom Boy observes and looks up into the stars.”

Chase Adams said:

Do you want any help with a new VFX shot of the Starkiller base without the massive super-laser?

That would be amazing! Thank you so much man!!

Chase Adams said:

Lifeincontext said:

That would be amazing! Thank you so much man!!

Can’t promise it will be perfect, but I’ll give it ago. You’ll need to give me some time though since I’ve got a lot on my plate already so I’ll have to get around to it a little later.

First of all, I’ll need you to go through your edit and tell me how many times the planet is shown. I’ll create a few variations from different angles.

Dude, no rush at all. Take your time. I really appreciate your offer to help.

So right now, there’s only 1 or 2, I think. I had cut most of the planet establishing shots and just showed the landscape.

Lifeincontext said:

Turns out adding the Kylo ending has led to some interesting moments. Here’s the revised ending:

• Rey cuts off Kylo/The Dice Disappear
  (I think the Falcon TLJ ending might need to go, although Rey and Leia talking about Luke is a nice moment.)
• Kylo runs back to Vader. Vision sequence. Haunted by Vader/Luke. Sees the ruins of the Death Star and leaves.
• Small part of Forces of Darkness fan film: Vader choking Kylo. “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.” Kylo kills Vader.
• cut to Ben at the Death Star ruins. Leia calls to him. Han appears. Kylo throws away the saber. We hear Luke. “I’m sorry.” He leaves in the TIE.
• Rey travels to Tatooine. As she makes her way to Luke’s but, we cut to…
• Kids learning about Luke. Broom boy sweeps.
• Rey slides into Luke’s old home. She buries the two halves of the saber. She reveals her new saber.
• Ben connects with her one last time. His ship burns in the background on a desert planet. “I offered you my hand once. You wanted to take it. Why didn’t you?” “I did want to take your hand. Ben’s hand.” Rey smiles. She notices the old lady. Sees Luke’s ghost. “Rey Skywalker.” Leaves on the Falcon. Broom Boy observes and looks up into the stars.”

On another note…the place I had wanted to put the last Rey/Ben connection isn’t working. I don’t have a lot of footage of Rey’s face that would make sense for either the Falcon or Tatooine. It’s just not long enough/doesn’t show the right emotion. Most of the Pasaana footage I was going to use for Kylo won’t work because…of course…he has his helmet in his hand. I have about 5-6 seconds of a closeup that can still be used though. Anyone have any thoughts on this?