Mark’s Down On Your Syntax said:
JoyOfEditing said:
Yo! New RECUT is now live for Watto’s Shop: https://youtu.be/PEOioLEokYs
I’ll be covering this sequence in Episode 5 of the Joy of Editing. In the meantime, lemme know what y’all think and Enjoy the Edit!
I like it, I like the pacing and the presentation - it both looks and feels better. Though there is one small thing I’d change if it were my edit. I’d remove the shot of the group exiting the shop, where Jar Jar is flopsying about in the doorway. Not because of any anti-Gungan sentiments, because mesa liken the Gungans, but when Padme says goodbye and smiles at Ani he doesn’t verbally respond, and we don’t see that it’s because he’s giving a little social smile back at her until after that shot of them all leaving. Ani mightn’t have had time to say anything because Watto flew in right behind Qui-Gon. So, if their exit is removed, we can go right from Padme’s face to Ani’s reaction, to him turning to look at Watto. It’s clear that they’re all leaving because of Qui-Gon speeding through and Padme turns to leave as she says goodbye so nothing important would be lost. To me, the rhythm is better and bringing those two shots together ends Padme and Ani’s first meeting on a connection rather than a separation, which is, I think, the point of that interaction.
Just my thoughts. But great work as usual, I love everything you’re doing here.
Yo! Glad you’ve been enjoying the recuts!
To your point, that would be an excellent way to cut the sequence! In fact I’d say George Lucas agrees with you, because the original way that scene runs is this: Padme says, “I’m glad to have met you Anakin.” - Anakin calls back, “It was good to meet you too!” (This is the shot I cut) - The crew exits and Jar Jar get confused - Cut Back to Anakin smiling after Padme and Watto complaining.
But. . . There is a overly-complex reason why I changed that wee little cut. Frankly, it’s hard to explain without writing a novel, so I’ll try to break it down into pieces.
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Technically: The cut on action of Natalie turning to leave improves the rhythm and feels super natural.
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The in-scene flow/humor is easier to follow for the audience. The original cut is this: Jar Jar is dropping a bunch of crap - Qui-Gon is annoyed with him/Watto for not taking the credits - Jar Jar drops the crap - Padme says goodbye - Annie Says goodbye - Padme is actually leaving this time - Jar Jar is confused - Annie smiles - Watto Complains.
Here’s what the focus of the original sequence looks like if I assign numbers to the characters (Qui-Gon = 1, Padme = 2, Jar-Jar = 3, Annie = 4, Watto = 5): 3 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 5
And here’s the flow of my cut: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
By reworking the flow that way, the logic/humor of the scene is changed to this: Qui-Gon is JUST ticked with Watto and ready to get out of there. His brisk departure breaks up the meet cute between Anakin/Padme, so the cares of the world are breaking them up, not a juggling Gungan. If you don’t cut back to Annie, saying goodbye, Jar Jar’s confusion acts a “back to reality” beat - The “Angel” has left the building taking the magic with her. The transition from Anakin’s theme to street noises also helps to sell this effect. The cut back to Watto, completes the “Tone Sandwich”: Qui-Gon is worried about paying for the parts - Padme flashes Anakin a warm and beautiful smile - Watto dismisses the “Outlanders” for not paying properly.
- The META reason that I made that change has to do with how Watto’s Shop is a inverse mirror of Luke’s introduction in Episode IV, specifically the scene in Obi-Wan’s house. In that scene Obi-Wan tells Luke he needs to go save the Princess and freely gives Luke his fathers’ lightsaber. In the Phantom Menace, there is no way for Anakin to be close to Padme, because she is a Queen and he is a Slave, BUT he follows her anyway - at least in my cut. . .
Originally, we cut from Watto’s shop to Qui-Gon chatting with Obi-Wan about the money situation, then to Jar Jar getting into a fight with Sebulba, then to Obi-Wan fretting about the Sandstorm, and then to Annie inviting his new friends to ride out the storm at his place.
In my cut we go straight from Anakin being sent home by Watto to Obi-Wan fretting about the Sandstorm, which means that we then cut back directly to Anakin tugging on Qui-Gon’s tunic trying to get his attention. In that exchange Qui-Gon lifts his robe to reveal his “laser sword” which Anakin’s looks at with longing. This change makes it feel like Anakin intentionally followed Padme and Qui-Gon, because they both have the two things he wants, but can’t have - Love and Power. Anakin’s lust for forbidden love and power will lead to his downfall, and so in this little sequence you have the foreshadowing of Anakin’s entire journey. Luke is called to save a Princess and become a Jedi, whereas Anakin will find a way to achieve his desires, because he’s afraid of missing out.
So! To finally answer your original point, that is why I cut Padme leaving the shop focusing on the separation rather than the connection, so that their initial meeting foreshadows their inevitable separation at the end Revenge of the Sith.
. . . And this is why editing is hard, lol!
