That’s interesting, thank you for noting these issues. I wonder if the whole film shares these issues, or if it’s constrained to certain sections.
Thanks, I’ll definitely list it when I get the cover done. I believe Hal has already offered to review it, but thank you for the kind offer 😃
Yeah it’s definitely there. It’s just a couple of frame, so Nev, if you can patch it up, great, but if not I can fix that sometime in the next few days. Can you let me know which version of the shot you used, the main or the alt?
It was the shorter one, the main one I’m pretty sure.
It may be that the directional blur isn’t applied until it enters the frame, so there’s a partial section unblurred for a frame or two.
PM Sent!
PM Sent!
And funny you should mention that, I’m working on a painting for the cover and right now it’s at the sketch phase.
I managed to make the shot work with the ESB footage, actually:
Password: fanedit
It’s in the released project 😃
Of course, if anyone wants to precisely match the perspective and angles of the shot then they’re welcome to redo it with a digital model, but I’m happy with the result.
I did add a sound, but it’s not too noticeable. Having it blink would be good, maybe a small light inside the device.
Thanks, and PM sent!
Well this is still all preliminary, since I haven’t actually done any editing on this. You may recall I had some crazy ideas for TFA that ultimately didn’t pan out when put into effect, but even if they don’t work at least everything will have been considered. My guess is that neither scene will be cut, ultimately, but cutting them at the outset will make their absence known, and more importantly illuminate exactly what is important about those scenes.
For example, in TFA I originally cut the throwaway line about the trash compactor, but later it became apparent that the line was necessary in explaining Phasma’s fate in the film in a way that couldn’t be ignored.
PM Sent!
May I ask for a link?
You may. PM Sent!
PM Sent!
PM’s sent!
Thank you hinvention for your thoughts! The Kylo voice cutoff was - I’m pretty sure - part of the original, though with how much cutting and moving things around I’ve done, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that it was a mistake. I’d have to compare them to see.
A couple more loose thoughts, and responses to other feedback in this thread:
- In TLJ, can we also please get a flash of sith eyes when Rey on Ach-To “goes straight to the dark”, to tie back to this?
That’s a nice idea!
- Regarding the tracking device, could we maybe have a cutaway shot of the light turning on (maybe with a ‘turning on’ sound effect), and then when Han’s disabling it, can we do that as a cutaway too (with a ‘turning off’ effect), just to make that point last a little longer?
I’d have to find a view/shot of that area of the ship, and off the top of my head I’m not sure where that could be found. If that were to be found, we’d be in business.
- On BMadden’s idea to retain the shot of the gang member being punched into the rathtar’s mouth: While I do enjoy that shot, I’d argue that the way the scene is cut now, with far less visible rathtars, still works better, to emphasise the ‘unknown fear’ aspect. They’re scarier in your imagination, and them being scary makes this scene more tense (and valuable) than if it’s more of an ‘adventure’ scene evading a clear creature.
That’s where I am on the shot - the longer we linger on/interact with the creatures, the less scary they are.
- On the Jakku colouring, as I said previously I absolutely think that this current version of the film should be considered ‘complete’ and cinema-worthy. It’s certainly not broken anywhere, and the existing grade is fantastic. But if we are thinking about potential tweaks to the Jakku regrade, I’d perhaps retain more blueness in the sky so it’s less blown out, tone the white sand down just a little (so there’s just a hint of yellow-brown), and bring some of the remaining yellow-brown sand shots closer to the new white.
Definitely something to consider for the future, and I agree.
- Counter to hinvention’s opinion, I thought that the changes to the dialogue about the Senate/Hosnian system being targeted really worked.
I agree that it’s not perfect, and if anyone else wants to try to improve the flow of those lines they are welcome to it, but I’ve reached the end of my abilities in that area.
Thanks BMadden, that’s high praise.
The color of Jakku is definitely tricky, and I agree it’s on the blown-out side. Perhaps it will be toned down.
The Rathtar bit I’m fairly happy with, but maybe another look at some point.
@bob_downunder, PM Sent!
Not the worst idea, actually.
I hope people don’t find it strange when they find out I have a framed printout of a review on my wall…
But seriously, thank you for the review! It means just so much.
On to your comments!
TR-8R was dubbed by the wonderful Axlanian, who also did the replacement for ‘Ship’s clear’ in the Kylo Falcon scene. My voice is much less commanding, alas.
I hadn’t deeply inspected the original transitions, so you’re probably correct that they take too long. I’ve also been struggling to find a good way to do the wipes since Premiere often throws weird glitches my way. It could stand another look.
The score for this film is noticeably buried in the mix. I haven’t tried specifically to bring it out, though that is a good suggestion.
Color will always be a moving target, so it’s inevitable that I will be tinkering with that later.
The Falcon tracking device idea is one that I’m not sure how to implement effectively, other than putting an obvious audio announcement or sign on the device that says “TRACKING DEVICE” which rather defeats the purpose. Any more thoughts would help here.
The mind trick scene originally had an escalation as you describe. My intention was to have his idle threats give way to a tension-filled silence when he approaches as if his intentions are unclear. I’m pretty happy with how it works, though opinions differ I’m sure.
I’ll have to check the celebration shot again for Chewie removal.
The binary beacon was originally supposed to be on the bed beside Finn’s head - very prominently placed - but upon inspecting the scene we see that the bed is just below shot. I put the beacon off on a table beside the bed which quickly pans out of shot, so it’s something that you have to really look for. I’m fine with this, honestly, since it’s technically there but doesn’t draw attention to itself or distract from the scene.
The etching was done in Photoshop with a brush I created to replicate the effect of scraping on metal.
Again, thank you for the kind words and good criticism, it made my day!
Oh no need to feel bad, thanks for the feedback! I will take it all into account for the eventual v2 😉
I have a VFX suggestion. The last shot of the ties flying over we see red and yellow laser shooting below??? I know it may sound a little silly but its an idea that popped in my head.
A good idea…for someone other than me to achieve 😉
You’re welcome, Atom. Also, PM Sent!
There’s a slight zoom in the previous renders (to fix some strangeness and better frame the forest) which has been carried over to this one, but there’s no additional zoom from the old versions.
No, that may go in some later version but I’m happy with the vision as-is for now.
How’s the progress on Rey’s eyes?
Haven’t had the chance to work on them yet, since I’m still trying to figure out the Mustafar intro.
Speaking of, I realized that the light source in the pan-down is coming from the left while our other shots have the light coming from the right. Also in the pan-down, the TIEs are on the left of the screen which would imply that they enter from frame left in any subsequent shot. Keeping these things in mind, here’s my take on the opening:
password: fanedit
I also put some lava in what looked like a river in the forest flyover.
Since we know that the RO shot is very similar in its opening to this one, I don’t think anyone should mind if the beginning of the biomes shot is cut. This way the back of the shot is emphasized, a part that wasn’t in RO.
But the Biomes shot now has TIEs flying over the forest as well (or would be if it was extended to cover the whole shot). Or are you saying that the forest is more apparent in the flyover, therefore that shot is more necessary?
Thanks for watching! And notes are welcome, whenever you’d like to post them 😃 I’m sure there are the inevitable errors, oversights, and changes promised but forgotten (hell, I remember one already!), but it will probably be a while yet before they are addressed unless there’s something egregious.