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Jar Jar Bricks

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15-Jun-2019
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28-Mar-2024
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Post
#1578579
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

To help narrow things down concerning the line itself, consider that, beyond justifying Kylo dropping his lightsaber, it gives a whole new meaning to the new final scene/track of the movie “A New Home”. Since Ben joins his mom and uncle there, it means that is where they’re being laid to rest in peace. Their “new home” together. So “come home” takes on a whole different meaning than what you initially expected.

Concerning your other point, it is especially poignant considering the fact that OpenAI just unveiled AI video that’s like 90% there. However, I don’t think you’re considering the two different ways you can employ all this technology:

  1. First, as you stated, you could completely morph a story and its points into something completely different and unique to you. This is what I’m doing in my own thread.
  2. Alternatively, you can sprinkle in the AI creations to emphasize and clarify certain interpretations that were already present in the original film itself. This is what Ascendant ought to be doing as much as possible, imo.

This new line touches on the second point far more than the first. Leaving the scene devoid of audio allows for more interpretation, sure, but it’s also confusing and dissatisfying compared to how they could have honored Leia and Carrie.

I really think you should make #2 into the official stance of this edit so other ideas can come through. The Zorri stuff about Poe being undercover is definitely #1, as this is a completely different plot point, and thus shouldn’t be included. Her line establishing that Luke started the chaos on Kijimi would be #2, because it’s true even in canon from a certain point of view. Now if only I could get her voice to work 😉

I’ll upload the Leia line shortly. I just need to access my computer.

Post
#1578482
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

I can get her to whisper it instead to make it completely seamless:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1prxAlqCmTX6gZR2zfD1OTU3HovEkb4sW/view?usp=sharing

I don’t mean to be rude or blunt, but if you seriously don’t think that this sounds 99% natural then you’ve clearly got some sort of preconceived biases going on. There’s a lot of negative discourse around AI in the media, so I understand trying to minimize it so as to not alienate skeptical people (as we just witnessed with bbghost). But this project wants something that could have been released in 2019 with no one the wiser had they never been told the specifics of how things were manufactured. You have to imagine yourself in the shoes of that casual 2019 Star Wars fan who has no idea what AI even is. If that isn’t enough to convince you, then consider this. Going into this movie, nearly everybody was aware of Carrie’s passing, which allows for an abundant amount of grace. I don’t see how this is any different than CGI-ing Grand Moff Tarkin and Leia herself in Rogue One or CGI Luke Skywalker in the TV shows.

Ultimately, this movie is supposed to be respectful of both Carrie Fisher’s legacy as well as Leia Organa’s. I don’t see how the Woody doll treatment (pull the string to see what random archived line comes out!) is in any way respectful to either. I firmly believe that any way to alleviate this issue is worth pursuing. Especially in this scene, since it’s so awkwardly quiet and is lacking that “beat” which would cause Kylo to drop his lightsaber.

Post
#1578414
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

Another thing that should probably be re-instated is everything just after Poe says “This is how he finishes it”. Yes, the planet-killing part 100% needs to go, but there are some other critical parts here.

So the scene immediately after Palpatine’s holo meeting with Pryde would start with Rose saying “Listen, it’s on every channel.” I think the scene is important because it tells us that Leia made Poe acting general. In original Ascendant, it isn’t completely clear why Poe would be next in command. There are technically several others who have more seniority like Commander D’Acy and even those who might be more fit for it like Connix given what we learn about Poe’s background in this movie. I think it’s important to emphasize that he was Leia’s pick despite all of that, kinda like how she still trains Rey despite her dark potential. Furthermore, the scene gives us a better reason for all of the civilian fleet showing up besides Lando knowing trillions of people and Leia negotiating with some planetary leaders. If everybody on the HoloNet hears an ominous message like that, they’d definitely be much more willing to rally together.

Post
#1578406
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

I don’t think the Zorri AI lines are ever going to fully work because of the tests I did earlier this year. Basically, I don’t know what unique voice modulation effect she has, and 11 labs can’t seem to replicate it. So even though the voice sounds like the actress, it’s still off.

In terms of a “replacement”, since you seem fine with adding in at least one more AI line, I seriously think we should consider “Come home” again. I’ve decided to place it right next to the shot of the medallion to make it abundantly clear she’s referring to Han and avoid cluttering the front-end of the audio:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1prxAlqCmTX6gZR2zfD1OTU3HovEkb4sW/view?usp=sharing

To be quite honest, I hate the idea that the best Leia, somebody who has given passionate speeches her whole life, could come up with in the moment is saying his name. It’s ludicrous, and it’s not clear why this would be enough to make Ben drop his lightsaber.

This would also pair nicely with a re-do of the Luke and Leia flashback voiceover to focus more on Leia always choosing love in her life over hatred. This is a lot better than the default, prophetic mumbo-jumbo about somebody taking Leia’s lightsaber later on and finishing her journey. That spoils the idea that Rey won’t take the throne way too early:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SH4R3i8wNuwrP8bN85aLe82Tn5E87vBj/view?usp=sharing

Post
#1578400
Topic
(The Mandalorian+BoBF) The Way of Mandalore | A New Mandalore Movie Saga (Final Update in Progress)
Time

Darth Sadifous said:

You may want to connect with one another, as I think you could maybe use Din in his ship (helmet on obviously) conversing with Boba over the ship’s speaker using an AI convo for both men. You could have Boba saying he can’t make it unfortunately as he has his own problems putting down a gang war in his newly won territory on Tatooine (adding a mini hologram of Boba with helmet on would be even more ideal; think Palpatine during order 66 scenes with Plo Koon). Another more ambitious approach would be adding the Slave I to the fleet the amasses during season three to retake mandalore. The ship with a few Boba lines could really sell he is there helping. However, this may be out of the scope of your project, but I know it could be pulled off with the skills of people within this community. Just my two cents, let me know what you think!

Acbagel, did you already try turning up the “Style Exaggeration” setting to 50 percent? Also try applying the accent:Kiwi tag to the voice (or something similar to that if it doesn’t recognize it by being grayed out). I think doing both of these should make it more accurate.

I know Vader wasn’t working properly unless you had the “Style Exaggeration” setting up really high. Oh, and this goes without saying, but “Clarity and Similarity Enhancement” should always be at 100%. I also always apply speed:Slow to all clones because 11 labs tends to speak way too quickly.

Post
#1578353
Topic
The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

Oh dang I had no idea somebody made a test of Dooku watching from a distance. That’s super cool. Like you said, I think it just needs to serve as a teaser for whats to come, MCU-style. “Who is that guy? Is he the Sith Lord Mace is talking about? Why is he watching Qui-Gon’s funeral, then?”

Honestly, Tales of the Jedi already breaks canon in this way, allowing this idea to be non-contradictory. Yaddle tells Dooku that everybody is headed to Naboo. Instead, he goes to Palpatine, who apparently hasn’t left to Naboo yet for some reason. We know Palpatine shows up with the rest of the Jedi there, so this is kind of canon-breaking. However, we could retcon all this so that Dooku simply leaves for Naboo along with Palpatine after he kills Yaddle. They already stretch the logistics of Palpatine being in two places at once, so I don’t see why we couldn’t do the same for Dooku.

Post
#1578276
Topic
The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

That’s exactly what I was thinking, RL. George makes it so incredibly obvious who the Sith Lord is that it retroactively makes the Jedi seem like idiots. Then again, there is the canon explanation that they were blinded by the dark side of the Force, but that’s kinda a cheap, cop-out explanation.

I don’t think you’d necessarily have to remove all of Sidious’ scenes so much as you’d just have to darken his hooded face and distort his voice in any hologram scenes. The fact he doesn’t do that already as a public figure in canon is kinda strange. The scenes he has in-person could still have the darkened face but his true voice, serving as a subtle hint before we’re even introduced to Palpatine. Ian already does a slightly different voice as Sidious. Plus, we never actually hear Dooku speak until about halfway through AotC.

Do we know if Sir Christopher Lee did some movies in the early 90’s that we could take footage from? That would be a decade before he recorded AotC, which matches the timing properly.

Post
#1578179
Topic
The Prequel Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

I must admit it was a questionable choice on the part of George to have a different villain for each episode. At the very least, it’s a good thing that nobody kills Dooku until Episode 3.

That being said, I do appreciate the original idea that Qui-Gon’s death was what pushed Dooku to the dark side, rather than him being the one to do it. It makes his character far more sympathetic and understandable. Perhaps even a little grey and morally ambiguous. I feel like this concept would just force him into the two-dimensional villain role with no discernable character motivations. To that end, I think I actually prefer Maul being the one to do it.

EDIT: If anybody has the VFX skills, I’d actually much prefer Dooku to be present at Qui-Gon’s funeral, taking the place of the super obvious hint shot of Palpatine after “But which was destroyed, the master, or the apprentice?” I realize this would contradict Tales of the Jedi, but it’s honestly such a missed opportunity. Mace is too foolish to realize that no Sith was destroyed by what occurred, but rather a new apprentice was born.

Post
#1577918
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

The new Leia flashback test is really beautiful, I’ve gotta say. Thanks guys. This is why collaboration is always key in these things. Honestly, I think this should be in Ascendant v5:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SH4R3i8wNuwrP8bN85aLe82Tn5E87vBj/view?usp=sharing

I’m not sure if I’m gonna pursue the idea I had above only because future canon content certainly won’t oblige by it. The requirement of a “chosen one” being born of no father means the Jedi should have recognized that trend occurring in every generation at some point. But it was a fun thought experiment nonetheless.

Post
#1577753
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

Lmao, I just realized that the answer is right in front of me.

“I’m starting to think it’s impossible. To hear the voices of the Jedi who came before.”

“A thousand generations live in you now. [Each had one chosen to restore balance].”

And of course the voices that reach out to her later. If those could be replaced with Anakin and random people’s voices instead of fan-servicey cameos, it would actually make sense. Each one could be a “chosen one” from a past generation. I think Luke and Leia could be included too since they’re the offspring of the chosen one.

Post
#1577752
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

That is a completely fair criticism, and exactly what the hardcore fan sentiment would have been had they gone with the Rey backstory I’m pursuing in the other thread. I can already hear the raging YouTubers saying: “They really just brought Palpatine back so a girl could do a better job at being the chosen one.”

With the new Avatar: The Last Airbender remake coming out soon, I think there’s a very good analogy to put here to clear this up. Like you said, we don’t know exactly how often the Force has created these “chosen one” beings. Perhaps, just like the Avatar, there is a long line of succession here. And the chosen one is continually reincarnated into a new person whenever the will of the Force is violated too much. Anakin destroyed the Jedi and the Sith because both orders just wanted to control the Force. To go back to our analogy here, Aang is to Korra as Anakin is to Rey.

Under this new thinking, I suppose it would be okay for this process to continue on and on. Because, from a certain point of view, it’s the same essence maintaining that ultimate balance in the Force every time. It’s a retcon of the chosen one prophecy, but satisfactory enough to justify continually creating new content. And as Yoda says, they could have misread the prophecy. Perhaps what I’m describing could be the true meaning of it all.

I just wouldn’t even know where to begin with all this in an actual edit lmao.

Post
#1577742
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

I don’t disagree with the idea that there needs to be conflict again. But the Skywalker saga sets up in Episode 1 that the main character is meant to bring “ultimate balance” to the Force. The fact that only 20-30 years pass before that balance is lost and a pseudo-Empire reigns again is insulting. The only way any of this makes sense to me is that something “unnatural” happened which caused this ultimate balance to be delayed. Which we of course know is what happened when Palpatine returned. And this is why I think Rey needs to be equivalent to Anakin in terms of being the chosen one reincarnate, and not really a Palpatine.

In my opinion, future conflicts, specifically the Rey movie, should take a page out of George Lucas’ sequel trilogy scripts. They need to be fighting crime syndicates and street-level foes, not people with the potential to destroy the universe. Sure, there can be dark-side users, but they shouldn’t be Sith and they shouldn’t have grand ambitions to snuff out the light side of the Force. They should be like Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. I think George was going to give a similar treatment to Maul and Talon. Neither of them would be Sith, but they’d be interested in making as good a life for themselves as possible at the expense of others.

Think of it like the difference between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hobbit (if you ignore the movies) is a simple tale with excellent stakes and interesting developments. However, the fate of Middle-Earth is never at stake. Then you get to Lord of the Rings, which is comparable to the Skywalker saga in that if the heroes fail, all will be lost.

TL;DR - We need only Hobbit-like stories post sequel trilogy. Or, in Star Wars terms, conflicts in the same style as the TV shows like Mando and Boba Fett. If a writer wants to do one where the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance, they DESPERATELY need to go back in time to the Old Republic. It’s such an untapped goldmine that they refuse to touch.

Post
#1577727
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

“He’s too dangerous” definitely sticks out, but that’s already been corrected for a potential v5.

Poe’s stuff sounds excellent. As does the rest of Leia’s stuff. Likewise, Jannah sounds virtually flawless with headphones on. Kylo’s unmasked line sounds 95% identical with headphones, to the point where I could definitely improve it but it isn’t necessary imo. 3PO’s lines definitely can be upgraded as well as both of Kylo’s masked lines for v5, as those were generated with the older method of using outside-the-movie dialogue (Lego games). I’d still love to hear feedback concerning Palpatine going after Rey’s father instead of Rey from the beginning, as I think this new masked Kylo voice is excellent.

The only line I think there is an argument could be reverted is Rey’s “from the ancient texts”. Mostly because that implication is already there for viewers that pay attention. But also because it is noticeably quieter. It doesn’t feel like AI, but rather like a different set of recording equipment was used to capture Daisy’s voice. It feels similar to Holdo’s ADR dialogue from TLJ. But to a greater degree like in the case of Luke’s “We’ll always be with you”.

Post
#1577705
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

The Rey Nobody edit does not use any AI voices as I understand it. They are all spliced lines from the movie itself.

I use 11 labs, but take the center channel from when the characters are speaking in the scenes I want to modify, and then run it through voice isolation software provided by RogueLeader, another member of this forum. The result is a nearly perfect voice clone.

I’m assuming Hal uses Adobe Premiere, but I could be wrong about that.

Post
#1577666
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

Yup, you were probably using the wrong method of making the AI lines. You can thank RL again for discovering the proper way.

In my opinion, the flaw with the idea of “cycles” is that there should really be another sequel trilogy if that is the case, and on and on into infinity. I don’t think anybody genuinely wants that. TROS ends with the return of the Jedi for a second time, with no discernable difference from the first go around. Which to me suggests that the uniting tissue between each trilogy ought to be the Jedi and Sith trying to control the will of the Force. And finally coming to terms with the fact that the Force cannot be controlled, and it is up to the galaxy to let it and its avatars do only what it wants. Otherwise, everything is thrown out of balance. In the case of the sequel trilogy, the only reason things repeated themselves is because Palpatine was supposed to die in ROTJ, but he cheated the will of the Force in a way even it couldn’t forsee, causing all the events from the OT to essentially play out again. Except this time he actually stays dead thanks to the intervention of the Force ghosts.

Post
#1577656
Topic
The Rise of Skywalker: Ascendant (Released)
Time

I disagree 100%. In fact, if you showed this to somebody who had no idea what an AI line even is, like a mother, they should be none the wiser unless they happen to be an audio engineer. I am almost certain you pointed them out to her as they happened, which obviously isn’t fair. My dad couldn’t even tell Tarkin was CGI in Rogue One until I told him after the movie. And for me, somebody who is very attuned to these things, when I watch this edit on a TV speaker instead of headphones, the lines blend in perfectly. There are indeed a couple of lines in v4 of this edit that are outdated (using an older method of voice synthesis which isn’t realistic) so that could be part of your issue. The new method sounds 99% like the person. To the point where I’m not sure why Hal applied certain transitional audio effects to them, as I think this made them stand out slightly more with headphones. The voice clones already try to replicate the EQ and background noise of what you give it.

I think that pruning and trimming is actually the laziest possible approach you can take in fan editing. It requires no creativity and little thought process. It’s a “hurr-durr, I don’t like this moment, so I want it gone.” Granted, it is certainly a necessary evil in a lot of cases to achieve a larger goal. If AI lines aren’t for you, that’s fine, but don’t try to turn this into a universal fact, because it certainly isn’t. Especially in a sandbox as barebones as the one TROS gives us, your ideology just doesn’t work. Not unless you condense everything into a duology. But that’s a whole different project than this one’s stated goals.

Post
#1577549
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

I’m only “aggro” about it because, for me, that’s the only thing others can do to me that will wake me up from a stupor and obsession with any particular idea I have. Which is usually helpful so I can consider things from different perspectives. If people don’t say anything in an upfront way, then I’m likely going to miss something, and whatever I’m working on isn’t going to be as good as it should be.

Granted, I do appreciate it much more when criticisms come with their own recommendations. The reason I don’t have any recommendations for you is because, from my perspective at least, I’m already pursuing all these ideas in a much more attainable way in my own thread.

Post
#1577541
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

Darth Raditz said:

Granted, these lines tend to be AI-generated anyway, but ideally, I’d want to use a Leia soundalike. Usually, I’m fine with AI for fanedits since they’re non-profit anyway, but I just grow more & more uncomfortable with it every day.

Then why keep bringing up ideas that would require AI line replacements to nearly every other aspect of the film in order to make any sense? I think the mark of a good alternative take for TROS is that you only really have to change what Kylo tells Rey in the dyad duel and hangar scene, specifically. If you have to start fundamentally changing all the conversations outside of that one to accommodate your idea, that just means you’re fighting a losing battle to change the crux of this movie.

Ultimately, this movie IS about being confronted with an uncomfortable statement concerning your heritage/origin, and then trying to reconcile that with the idea that your origin shouldn’t matter, because your choices and relationships with others matter more in life. And in Kylo’s case, it’s moreso about domination and power leading to ruin regardless of trying to disassociate them from the Sith or his own destiny, and that choosing love is the ultimate form of empowerment.

I do think this new Luke voiceover line can work in my own edit, however. It would bring Luke’s whole lesson full circle when combined with him telling Ben on Exegol: “Choose love, Ben. Choose power.” And that, of course, would be a culmination to their previous conversation:

“The dark side has failed you, Ben. Like it failed my father.”

“Anakin was weak”

“His love for his family saved him. I wish it could save you, too.”

“I only did what I had to do.”

“You chose hate.”

“I chose power.”

Here’s how I could see the Luke and Leia flashback line going:

“She was quick to learn in our training. But Leia feared giving in to hatred like our father, and chose to follow our mother’s path, instead. Throughout her life, Leia lost everything, and everyone. But in the end, she still chose love.”

As I’ve given this idea more thought, I’ve come to realize that I do appreciate detaching Rey receiving Leia’s lightsaber and overcoming her darkness as something she prophesied would happen to Luke. I think things are already confusing enough in this movie with one vision that is supposedly fated to happen, introducing yet another one - a seemingly contradictory one to the initial vision, at that - seems no bueno. Plus, this ties beautifully with Rey’s later line to Palpatine: “All you want is for me to hate, but I won’t.”

Post
#1577465
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

Yeah, I feel like yours would work best from a thematic point of view. Especially for a classic Rey Palpatine edit. Luke’s basically telling her, “Leia lost everything, she had every reason to turn to the dark side, or run away and hide like both of us tried to, but she chose to keep on fighting for what she loved instead.”

But there are people who appreciate the fan-servicey bit of mentioning Padme. Plus, what I was shooting for with my own was the implication that Leia literally struggled with the exact same darkness as Rey, as in my hypothetical edit Palpatine may have done that to both the Skywalker bloodline and Rey’s own.

Post
#1577448
Topic
Unusual <strong>Sequel Trilogy</strong> Radical Redux Ideas Thread
Time

That is indeed some pretty powerful dialogue, RL. The only trouble is that the line there has to explain whether Leia stopped her Jedi training or not, and it’s kinda ambiguous at the moment. Having enough space is also a concern.

The way I currently have it in my thread is (roughly) as follows: “But Leia feared the darkness in our father, choosing instead to follow our mother’s path. She surrendered her saber to me, and said it would be picked up again, by someone with the spirit to overcome that darkness.”

I’m not sure how that could be altered any more seeing as how there are time limitations. Although I do like the idea that it was a decision of possibly choosing hate or guaranteed love. I think that implication is already present, but maybe it’s not clear enough.