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Anti-Matter

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Join date
13-Dec-2007
Last activity
10-Mar-2008
Posts
66

Post History

Post
#320706
Topic
Info: Prologue's new address...
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/320706/action/topic#320706
Time

I think there were three (possibly four) users here who expressed an interest in tracking the Prologue fanedit. My pm box is empty and I’m sorry that I cannot remember your screen names. I don’t want to risk contacting the wrong people, so permit me to post a follow up on your Star Wars board.

The project can be tracked at the new, Digital Fanedits website. I had been posting clips on YouTube in the interim, but now I am in the process of updating and/or creating content for the new website.

Of course, you are welcome to visit and participate. If there are any authors among you, we could use your help jump-starting the editorial community. You don’t have to be a fan editor (and Digital Fanedits is not specific to Star Wars).

Stay well,

Anti-Matter

Post
#313750
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313750/action/topic#313750
Time
GhostAlpha26 said:

I would just like to point out that it is a misconception that lemmings jump off cliffs to their doom...


I also didn't know that until I started searching for some footage. And then I read somewhere that someone off-camera may have been "assisting" the lemmings to leap into the water. There may be a reference to this rumor in the wikipedia article.
Post
#313738
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313738/action/topic#313738
Time
Ok, thanks for responding.

Creating and chronicling a fanedit is NOT illegal. Selling or distributing a fanedit DVD is the part that will change the course of your life.

I understand your point about anonymity, but there are also generic blog spaces.

Basically, when an author announces that he is moving a project to improve or change something, it is ok to ask for elaboration--if you really feel the need for details. If you have no concern or vested interest in the project, you only expose yourself as a useless troll when you suddenly appear to join the judgment mob.

See, "bandwagon" and "witch hunt" [You know who you are]

It is NOT ok to challenge and attack the author, and Moth3r exacerbated the confusion and instigated the mob mentality that continues to this point. [HINT: THIS IS THE PHENOMENON THAT IS PORTRAYED IN THE VIDEO PARODY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CHALLENGED IN SOME WAY. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LEMMINGS.]

And it is arrogant for ANYONE to presume that their situation and experience applies to everyone else. That is precisely why Adywan's first comment is presumptuous. He presumes to imply that I am somehow 'wrong' to move my project because HE would never think to move his. Hello?

Begin with post #1 and star counting, taking note of the contributors before and after post #88. [You know who you are]

Some of you take issue with my ability to use concise English. For the record, I did not abandon this thread without notice or explanation. I announced that the project was moving and gave reason so that the statement would not appear rude.

For those of you without reading impairments, you can see now that the original statement was completely benign and well motivated. In retrospect, I should have added something like, "details forthcoming" because the reason I marked the thread [CLOSED] was to discourage activity during the interim.

Instead, too many "lemmings" found a new shore to visit.

Very disappointing; and shame on you, Moth3r, for locking me out of my own work.
Post
#313721
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313721/action/topic#313721
Time
Mielr said:

Does anyone think it's odd that someone who's been a member of this forum for
3 months would call other members who've been here for years "trolls"?

This is my first post in this thread, so I guess that makes me a troll as well. :)


Your reasoning is childish, as is your remark. What does tenure have to do with trolling?

Are you looking for some trouble? Contact me.
Post
#313719
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313719/action/topic#313719
Time
Erikstormtrooper said:

It was a cryptic and abrupt thing you did, Anti-Matter. It came out of nowhere and made no sense. Personally, I think you should avoid a blog or anything that draws TOO MUCH attention to your project. Just ask Infodroid and Jambe Davdar.


I am expecting less attention to follow. If you read, you will see that I am considering a blog web space to take advantage of resources that are not available here. I'd like to see ONE person show me where my reasoning makes no sense.

I've noticed that many of you really do you struggle with reading (not directed specifically at Erik). It's almost as if you intentionally refuse to "see" words.

Just ask Infodroid and Jambe Davdar.

If I can bother you for the short version, what happened with these individuals?
Post
#313653
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313653/action/topic#313653
Time
adywan said:

Looking through all the posts in your thread i see no evidence of the "juvenile mob mentality" you mention.


You are missing (or ignoring) the obvious. The sequence of unsolicited trashing after post #88 is entirely from people with ZERO contributions to the project. Such people are trolls. There is otherwise no problem with this thread or its participants.

I found an old, educational video that speaks to my original point in a way that you might understand.

The Folly of Lemmings

Note : A sense of humor may be required.
Post
#313623
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313623/action/topic#313623
Time
Lando Lakes said:

please send me a PM to its new location so I can follow you there.
Good luck with the project.


I'm looking into several blog options, which will obviate the need to maintain discussion on one server, while using other servers for clips and images. [Chronicling a project at originaltrilogy.com is inherently awkward in this respect.] Localizing ALL content--for the benefit of the author and reader--is the way to go, IMO. The blog approach may also help promote discussion, because the "thread" would be comments to more focused and separate topics within the larger project.

You need only survey some of the threads here to see why a fresh approach is needed. A simple face lift won't change much.

I'll be in touch, Lando :)

General P.S.
This project is (still) being moved to make better use of available web resources ;)
Post
#313524
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313524/action/topic#313524
Time
Erikstormtrooper said:

Yeah, and some hint as to where this is being moved TO would be nice.


Of course; but I posted the "movING" announcement less than 24 hours ago. It will take some time to ready all the assets and information. There are a few members who have a genuine interest in this project, and I know who they are.

The homerism and juvenile mob mentality will stay here, though. My original discretion turned out to be correct, and I have no intention of going out of my way to make a public announcement. Thanks, but no thanks!

Note to all : Don't stir up controversy where none exists--particularly in a thread to which you've previously contributed NOTHING. The false pretense is transparent.

I am mildly amused at your efforts to believe that "this project is being moved" means "please hijack this thread with rude (OBtwosy) and presumptuous (Adywan) comments," but don't go overboard. The project is being moved for the benefit of the project (and, hopefully, my time). It's not as bad or important as, say, the Beatles breaking up.
Post
#313098
Topic
GOUT image stabilization - Released
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313098/action/topic#313098
Time
It doesn't really matter; but you have to first make some decisions, because you cannot arbitrarily choose starfields (unless you want the title sequence to look amateurish).

You *must* use the starfields from your existing video elements--especially the pan-to frame. The typography is completely independent, except that you presumably want it to match a specific version of the movie. But which version?

I was assuming that any effort to restore the original version would also try to restore the 1977 crawl. Your clip uses the 1977 logo and color.
Post
#313060
Topic
GOUT image stabilization - Released
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313060/action/topic#313060
Time
I really wouldn't mind a good reproduction of the post 1979 scroll, since I don't think of this as the original theatrical release anyway.


So you want the lime-yellow version without an episode number? If so, the logo and velocity can be sourced from the bonus DVD.

If someone can provide the following elements, I will try to re-build the original crawl for you.
1. The first complete frame of the SW tile sequence (from the bonus DVD, which I do not have);
2. Your opening starfield (or the cleanest frame after the text fades out)
3. Your pan-to frame (ideally, the frame immediately before the fly-in).

Thus, I need only three PNG files to get started.
Post
#313039
Topic
GOUT image stabilization - Released
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313039/action/topic#313039
Time
Originally posted by: g-force
I won't be able to post the script that I used to make this for a couple days, since I just threw it together and want to clean up the script a bit first. Here's a new clip though. Let me know what you think.


I saw your clip, and the various sequences look pretty tight--except for the title cards. Thus, I am wondering if it would make more sense to re-do these from scratch. You are trying to stabilize elements that can be reproduced fairly easily on a computer--and with ZERO shaking.

The "A long time ago..." card is a piece of cake; you need only ONE source frame to faithfully reproduce it. The title sequence is a bit trickier, but can be reproduced quite accurately in AfterEffects provided that the font is really NewsGoth.

If you are interested in pursuing this, let me know.
Post
#313032
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/313032/action/topic#313032
Time
The teaser trailer is now up on YouTube. If you like it, I suggest spending the extra 10 minutes and DL'ing the MQ version for better picture and sound (see title post for links).

I am still re-working the short, Naboo forest scene (when Qui-gon and Obi-wan meet up). The Prologue version of this scene will show one droid attack (there are two droid attacks in the original), and it will include new firing effects that are *missing* from the original movie. [I will explain the discrepancy in a later post, but you are encouraged to pull out your EP1 DVD and try to discover it yourself ] Of course, the forest sequence is also being re-directed and rotoscoped to remove JarJar.

The end of the forest sequence already appears in the aforementioned trailer.
Post
#312135
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/312135/action/topic#312135
Time
Originally posted by: guitarfan01
Your explanations would work for any one of the ftb's you explained, but to have three of them in as many minutes and a fourth only three and a half minutes later seems quite overkill. I know I'm sorta resurrecting the thing, and I'm sorry if you dealt with this already and I missed seeing it earlier. No pressure of course, just all the fade to blacks make it seem like a tv show going to commercial.


The fade@18m (2nd emperor address) has been changed to a diagonal wipe (bottom-right to top-left), triggered after Emperor Palpatine raises his arms--so the wipe movement is congruent with the object flow.

I would be concerned that a simple cut (what you call a jump cut) will degrade--rather than improve--the two transitions that flank the Yoda-Sidious duel sequence. I don't mean to argue that FTB is the best device here; rather, I cannot yet imagine a satisfactory alternative.
Post
#311510
Topic
Info: EP3 : Digital Master Artifacts?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311510/action/topic#311510
Time

While scrutinizing EP3 footage from the NTSC DVD and a PAL HD capture, I detected some flaws that I normally wouldn’t expected from THX certified media.

These two instances are within a few frames of one another.
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3497/artifact01al8.png
http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/452/artifact02li0.png

Does the PAL DVD also present these artifacts?

If so, it would seem that the digital master is affected. Also, does anyone have any thoughts about whether these are rendering errors or compression errors?

Post
#311506
Topic
Looking for a quick ('n dirty) PAL Mpeg2 to NTSC Mpeg2 converter
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311506/action/topic#311506
Time
Does anyone know of a program that can re-encode an mpeg2 PAL video into mpeg2 NTSC video without separating the audio and video streams

Even the best technique currently available for PAL-to-NTSC conversion (altering the pulldown flags) requires you to demux the AV streams. You cannot get around the fact that TWO aspects of the video must change: video resolution and frame rate. And of course, once you start talking about pitch-correction, you now have greater need to isolate the data for editing.

I don't mean to discourage you, but videohelp.com is a far better resource for this topic. Just type "Convert PAL to NTSC" in their search box (front page) and your journey will begin.
Post
#311472
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311472/action/topic#311472
Time
This type of discussion and brain storming is good, regardless of what happens.

The Holy Grail of a PT edit (if I may be so bold) is to support Ben's deception in EP4: "Darth Vader betrayed and murdered your father."

The immediate problem is twofold.

First, there is one person throughout the PT doing most of the betraying: Palpatine/Lord Sidious/Emperor. Second, there is a different person doing most of the killing: Anakin Skywalker.

The challenge in an edit--if you share my contention--is also twofold: First, you need to create a credible sense that there is ANOTHER figure (or force) at work in EP2 and EP3.
Second, you need to create an intentionally ambiguous suggestion for Anakin's death.

If you can pull off both of these elements, then you have the perfect device for supporting and maintaining The Big Reveal in EP5: "No. I am your father!" There is then no need to obsess about Padme or babies. Instead, you can concentrate on the normal details that are important for any good movie (e.g., the story telling, timing, cuts, effects, etc.).

The second challenge is the easy one: Just leave Anakin dying at the lava lake, which is what BrachioInGen does. The million dollar question is how to create the suggestion that "Anakin is near death because he was betrayed and then mutilated by someone named Darth Vader." Obi-wan, of all people, is actually responsible for the transformation of Anakin into the infamous Vader form, because it is Obi-wan who nearly kills Anakin. How's that for royally screwed up?

Well, of course, there is no other character that we can readily twist or manipulate in these prequels to draw attention away from Anakin. Anakin is the one with the arrogance and the attitude; Anakin is the one struggling with self-control; and Anakin is the one who lurks around in a hooded robe at night killing anything that pisses him off. There is no hiding this from the audience, because it is embedded into the plots and story lines of both EP2 and EP3.

It may be that the best--and perhaps only--candidate is Palpatine. That is, exploit the Palpatine/Emperor/Sidious element to contrive some confusion and/or suggestion that Anakin dies at the hands of someone other than Obi-wan. That other someone is revealed to be "Darth Vader" when we reach EP4, and then only in EP5 do we realize that (a) there have been two principal villains all along, and (b) Vader is in fact Anakin Skywalker, whom we believed had been betrayed and slain prior to EP4.

I am primarily thinking out loud here, so don't quote me or assume that I've solved these problems in the Prologue
Post
#311404
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311404/action/topic#311404
Time
...you should use more "starwarsy" font for the time stamp text during the fadeouts.
Yes, Commander Courage raised the same concern, and I have since changed the graphics to match both the font and color used in the title card. So we now have something like this:
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4833/textoverlay0ez0.pnghttp://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2865/textoverlay1wq2.png

Another inconsistency from the Prequels that makes me dislike them so... in the Ep. IV Ben says to Luke that he has not gone by the name of Obiwan since "Oh, before you were born".
I am aware of this, but it never really bothered me storywise because Ben is much older and so it is easy (at least for me) to forgive his lack of precision when he recalls the past. Nonetheless, I think it would make more sense to edit the one line in EP4, so that Ben says, "I have not gone by the name of Obi-wan for a long time," or "I have not gone by the name of Obi-wan since you were born" (simply removing the word, "before"). Perhaps an opportunity was missed in Adywan's Revisited edit.

There were scenes during the Jedi purge where more Jedi are being killed (like the Twi'lek Jedi Aayla Secura) I think you should include them. It makes the purge seem bigger, more widespread.

You are correct. There are three more sequences. They were originally included in my first story board, but they interrupted the pace and I do not want to generate too much sadness and dispair early in the movie. I need to save some of this depressing footage, because we will be returning to the first time arc later in the movie.

I hate that close-up on OB1's face during the Grevious duel, you know, right when Grevious says "..you're doomed!" and then OB1 replies with the brilliant ingenious retort "Oh, I don't think so!"

It seems many people have issues with Grievous and his dialogue; but I am not bothered by his character. He is who he is.
I like the sequence because of the intense eye exchange before battle. But what if the two characters simply said nothing at that moment? It just so happens that we do not see Obi-wan's mouth, so it would be easy to either alter or remove speech.

Again, I am not bothered by the original exchange, but I will listen to ideas about improving the moment.
Post
#311342
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311342/action/topic#311342
Time
What if instead you had Qui-gon and maybe Mace 'ghost in' at the end of Episode III?

I especially like your idea IF the movie ends with the sunset scene (when Obi-wan hands off the baby and begins his life of solitude). I will keep this in mind as I get closer to drafting the best possible ending.

@GENERAL
I added a new production log to the title post, to track and document substantive changes to the original footage, subplots, and chronology. I will try to update it as often as possible.
Post
#311332
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311332/action/topic#311332
Time
...but really I think Qui-gon should disappear. It would match OT and Qui-gon's ghost was supposed to teach Obiwan on tatowine how to do this, right?

Is Qui-gon allowed to 'ghost out' ?

Obi-wan ghosted-out at death.
Yoda ghosted-out at death.
Anakin did NOT ghost-out at death, but instead had a funeral pyre.
Qui-gon also had a funeral pyre.

If one were to do as you suggested, one is then compelled to remove the funeral pyre scene from EP1--so that is something to consider, too. If you like that moment in the movie, then you are kind of stuck with the original death sequence.

Of course, removing the funeral scene is a simple matter. But is the issue just as simple?

Are you sure that Qui-gon should (or needs to) ghost-out at the moment of death? I have to check again, but someone I spoke with seemed to "know" instantly that Qui-gon cannot ghost-out, based on a private conversation between Yoda and Obi-wan.

- EDIT
While we're on this interesting topic, how about adding Qui-gon's ghost to the ensemble finale in EP6? I'm not sure if he can be positioned into the frame, but it's something to think about.
Post
#311277
Topic
Star Wars Prologue - Epic Prequel Edit (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311277/action/topic#311277
Time
I was wondering if someone would remove Jar Jar from the Phantom menace using his techniques.

I really don't know what methods were used in that project; but whenever you make frame-to-frame changes (deletions, insertions or corrections), the technique is rotoscoping (a generic term today). The removal of Jarjar in the Prologue has been achieved thus far by background-restoration (mostly) and painting (occasionally).

Before I forget, someone previously suggested that this edit could be used to derive a Jarjar-less version of TPM. That isn't completely true, and I don't want TPM project editors to be misled: I am NOT removing Jarjar from EP1. I am removing Jarjar from scenes that are used in the Prologue. Of course, someone could use footage from the Prologue, but anyone who wants to completely remove Jarjar from EP1 will need to address the remaining footage using extensive and tedious painting methods. That itself could take 3-5 months.

This isn't a concern for me, because in my Star Wars "universe," there will be only four installments: The Prologue, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.

"I for one don't like the PT at all but this may be watchable."
I certainly hope it will be watchable
Post
#311235
Topic
Help Wanted: PAL/NTSC hybrid transfer query
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/311235/action/topic#311235
Time
I see now that people are either confused, distracted or they are missing the question.

First, case #3 is not an example of zooming. It is the PAL image that has been cropped to fit within an NTSC frame. If we zoom the original NTSC image, we are not going to end up with a better picture.

Second, the reason people generally prefer a PAL DVD image over an NTSC DVD image is similar (both technically and conceptually) to why any of us would prefer a music track sampled at 44.1kHZ over one sampled at 22kHZ: it is called resolution.

The PAL (#1) and NTSC (#2) screenshots are depicting the SAME objects, but with DIFFERENT resolutions. The PAL DVD image always has the potential to deliver a more vivid picture because it always has ~434 lines (in the Cinescope case) to depict a visual event, whereas the NTSC DVD image must depict the same event using only 364 lines.

If you cannot see this in these particular examples, just ignore them. It's not terribly important, and I could have just used black on white cards to illustrate the same point.

The question I posed merely asks NTSC users whether maximizing detail on a 16:9 display is more important than preserving a Cinescope frame. You cannot have both.