TheAlaskanSandman

vicioust1000 said:

hey! i’d love to know what you’re using to de-age Dooku or what methods you’re using?

He luckily hasn’t changed too much since doing Gremlins 2, the approximate age gap in TPM to AOTC. So i used a couple adjustment layers that are tracked to his face. One of them is just a camera lense blur at 10% applied to his forehead, bags under eyes and cheeks. Layer turned down to 70% opacity. Just enough to soften his features some, while allowing some of the wrinkles to come through.
The other adjustment layer is for the hair. Applying a filter at a moderate percentage of 56% to darken up some of his hair while applying a curve and bringing it down. I also applied a black and white filter. Layer is masked and tracked to his hair. Layer opacity set to 57%.

(was toying with grain levels thru Supercomp, but will probably just use the way i was doing before.)

Eyepainter said:

I’ve got two updates.

First, I decided to PM Schorman13, and I now have the HDTV preservations for all three prequels. Plus, I’m working on editing them on DaVinci Resolve instead of Shotcut. However, like my DVD files, Resolve didn’t accept the HD files. I decided to look some things up, and Resolve doesn’t accept MKV files unless they’re converted to DNxHD ideally (DNxHD 1080p is the best way to preserve the quality). I downloaded a video converter called EaseFab, which I hoped would convert the file for free, but as it turns out, it only converts the first 3 minutes until I pay up. Still, I did get those 3 minutes onto Resolve, and the quality looks identical to the MKV file, so it works. I’m waiting for my paycheck to show up in the next couple of days so that I can buy the full package and convert the whole movie. It’s inconvenient, but it’s temporary.

Which leads me to my second update. Now that I’m working with an HD source, I’ve just found out that I don’t have any way to add in deleted scenes at this moment, or at the very least, ones that look good. I know that other fan edits have found upscaled versions of the deleted scenes, so I know it’s far from impossible. I’m gonna be looking into this and seeing if I can find those over the next few days. For those who want specifics, I’m looking for two deleted scenes: Anakin’s confrontation with Greedo, and Farewell to Jira. If you happen to have upscaled versions of those two scenes, and would like to send me a link, feel free to PM me. I’d be happy to use them.

Hal9000 is the best source for deleted scene atm.
For resolve i just use Handbrake Super HQ 1080p30 Surround MP4 H.264 AAC stereo; Dolby Digital (AC-3). Im not a pro or tech at video stuff, and its also has to work in After Effects for me.

Inside resolve though, make sure you set your composition settings to custom. Or you’ll get black bars

https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/official-presets.html

In the op post i include at the bottom any software i use and a link to a youtube vid about it

Dazman said:

Sure. They are 3 shots, from the Jedi lighting their lighsabers in the end Theed battle to entering the big sliding hangar doors. This part is the worst I think:

So many issues with lighsabers in this movie when you start really paying attention. VC Saber is the Video Copilot Saber blugin right? I have to look into that flicker effect…

Yep. Its got a lot of controls if you prefer it to rotoscoping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reSXGxkyr0k

Dazman said:

You might have fixed this already after the release of the trailer, but Qui Gon’s saber blade has always looked too short to me in the forest after they land on Naboo. I have fixed the shots myself on After Effects, so I can show you what I mean:

This same problem comes up later in the end Theed battle of the movie as well, Obi’s sabre especially looks half the length it should be on some shots. So if you agree I’d like to see these fixed in your edit. I can probably get you my AE files (if you used AE for sabers, can’t remember) to tinker further and speed up the work if you want. =)

If you can just show me which specific scenes, i can fix the rest. Its easiest just to use my pre-exiting ae files. I can just extend my rotoscope. I also use vc saber underneath my rotoscope to allow some of the flicker to come through. So its a mix. On top of that though, there is a saber glow thats been put in on people, various things altered, flares, sparks, insects, and different things depending upon the scene.

Eyepainter said:

Thanks for the advice, Sandman. Unfortunately, I already tried Davinci Resolve, and when I imported the file, the audio became nothing but white noise. All I’m getting is nothing but KRRRRRRRRRRRRR through the whole video. I have no idea what’s going on with that, but it makes editing on Resolve worse than what I’ve got, because at least the audio is crystal clear on Shotcut. If you have a solution for this problem, I’d be happy to hear about it, because Resolve does look pretty good from what I’ve seen.

How old is your dvd rip? It may have problems with old file types, idk. Try something else new in there, if it works, its your file. If a new video doesn’t work, then something with your computer. Davinci Resolve should work just fine though. Ive seen lots of videos of professionals who switched to Resolve. Not needed though, there are other programs if you fancy.

With Vimeo I’m not familiar either, but I think it is no worthy option due to compression of the files and loss of quality. Google drive does have download limits yes, mega sync would be my second recommendation. Resilio sync is widely used over at the forum of team negative 1 - thestarwarstrilogy (4k77-83) and it is working great, people do share files long after they’ve been uploaded, especially star wars related files. It would be an appropriate place your great work.

Thats really good to know, thank you very much!

adywan said:

Something that plagues ROTJ is the fact that so many shots in the film are out of focus. While most aren’t too noticeable, there are two shots at the beginning of the film that have bugged me since 1983.

In the Death Star hangar, when Vader is conversing with Jerjerrod, the focus switches to closeups shot. First shot of Vader is perfectly in focus, then the following 2 shots of Vader are completely out of focus. Lucking this turned out to be a not overly difficult to fix. The lens focus cased the highlights on Vader’s helmet to duplicate, so it was just a case of rotoscoping each detail individually then re-aligning the details to create in-focus shots of Vader and then a little clean up work. This process isn’t likely to work on other out of focus shots though, but at least i’ve been able to fix these the two shots that have bugged me for so long…

https://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/6383

Your knowledge and attention to detail blows me away, and some very neat creative problem solving. Can not wait for these edits, amazing work!

CMMAP said:

TheAlaskanSandman said:

SparkySywer said:

Skybatman said:

Where you will launch these edits ?

Theaters near you!

Lol I wish!! Im not sure yet where ill release the movies tho haha Open to options from those with experience though

If your internet connection is sufficient enough, my recommendation would be „resilio sync“. It is working like torrent sharing with the exception that people do need an key, which is generated by resilio if you share the folder. Popular other options would be mega or google drive.

Good to know. I see some people post on vimeo or something but not familiar with it. For now i just use Google drive but i’ve heard they have download limits

Also, the 4k blurays vs the regular bluray is not alot. The movies were only filmed in 2k other than some of Ep I. The 4k blurays have washed out color though. So if you do use them, may want to use the blurays as a color guide. They fixed most of the pink in TPM and only ATOC really still suffers bad grading. Or just use the regular blurays. Would definitely recommend either though over the dvds.

May want to look into Davinci Resolve. They have a free version that allows you to edit video, sound, and a good color grading section. Very user friendly too and plenty of videos on youtube to explain anything

idir_hh said:

EddieDean said:

Oh, and please tell me you’re cutting the scene in Ep1 when Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon use force speed to escape the Droidekas, which isn’t used again in Star Wars, and especially not used when Obi-Wan needs to move fast through the closing forcefields to get to Qui-Gon to save his life.

Correction: Luke uses it to escape the carbonation shaft in ESB.

Personal note: PLEASE DONT

I could try for the flip side, and try to include more of it. Try and do another jedi or two do a quick dash, Like maybe Mace when he beheads Jango

EddieDean said:

Goddamn. These just get more and more impressive. Seeing this made me think, though - what are you planning to do with the narrative of the films? Whose narrative fanedit might yours be closest to? (I know you specify a lot of changes in your OP but I’m wondering about your narrative approach/goals, etc)

Oh, and please tell me you’re cutting the scene in Ep1 when Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon use force speed to escape the Droidekas, which isn’t used again in Star Wars, and especially not used when Obi-Wan needs to move fast through the closing forcefields to get to Qui-Gon to save his life.

You also mention that your plan for Ep2 is to have Padme remain Queen. I’d vote against this for two reasons - Firstly, that many other sources refer to Padme as a senator, most notably the Clone Wars (which people are especially into since it just had its finale, which works really nicely with Ep3); and Secondly, that Leia being a princess still works because she’s adopted by the royal family of Alderaan, making her legally the daughter of Queen Breha Organa.

Dont know what im doing about the force run. Personally never had a problem with it. Though i wouldn’t say what Luke does is the same. He does a force jump akin to what Obi does while fighting maul to get back on the upper balcony. Though Luke does jump kinda quick. It wouldn’t be hard to cut from the Droids shooting at them to the Alien on command deck announcing they had entered the air ducts, but again. Nothing decided on this yet.

And ill consider the Padame thing. Im not real beholden to the EU as i don’t know much of it. (I only read the Dark Empire series, and one of the Legends of Jedi one. Dark Horse days though). Like Ady, i want the movies to kinda be their own thing, not needing to read books, comics, play games, etc to understand the story. Though where i can, i am adding things like the diff colored sabers. So we’ll see. Thematically i like the idea of Padame being a queen. Making her and Anakins relationship even more forbidden. Queen vs peasant/slave/bastard/jedi. In everyway, it was not meant to be, but they loved each other and fought for that.

I promise i wont go Lucas on this and keep tinkering. Much of this is software i was meaning and hoping to get to make things better and other things is just fixing things suggested to me. 😃

IlFanEditore said:

TheAlaskanSandman said:

Taking my time and going a lil slow but heres an update on one shot (Looks cooler in video with fires glowing and flickering on the right, and shifting light rays through the fog and smoke.) Since i have acquired new tools, it allows me to go more dramatic with the changes i can do. Also means having to completely redo some scenes, but this is ok because it allows me to fix other things and just generally improve the over all quality. Everything is getting faster and easier to manipulate though, so all in all good.

This is a comparison between the original and revised. Revised adding cracks, haze, smoke, depth of field to the buildings past the arches, light wraps, shadows from clouds and such, etc. The idea is the city just got bombed, theres fires and smoke everywhere, and the sun light is not able to cut through as well. A new sky was included to fit the scene. Buildings split into 3 layers foreground, mid, back etc.

I can’t express how much I love this edit. Getting better and better.

Thank you! The criticism has helped a lot and push me to do better, so i appreciate everyone’s input!

EddieDean said:

Goddamn. These just get more and more impressive. Seeing this made me think, though - what are you planning to do with the narrative of the films? Whose narrative fanedit might yours be closest to? (I know you specify a lot of changes in your OP but I’m wondering about your narrative approach/goals, etc)

Thank you! I havn’t seen most edits tho, only a few like the Anti-Cheese edit. I purposefully avoid others edits for now to keep mine original and unique. Somethings may overlap or have had same ideas but generally they’ll be different. Only things ive adopted so far is the inclusion of Dooku into Council and Funeral Pyre. Along with the idea of Mace facing Sidious alone. I take suggestions here to mind but thats about it. So i couldn’t tell you whose its closest to.

The Revised versions will be a more serious, and gritty war story. Ep I will have an actual attack on Theed to demonstrate whats at risk and the loss. Along with what the heroes are fighting for. Dialogues will be trimmed to be less cheesy, or changed outright in the case of the aliens or gunguns. The political stuff will stay but with more of a view of the city watching events play out some, and the viewer seeing the effects of the war in the news, citizens, and city. Less traffic in the sky by Ep III, More destruction like in Ep III from federation attack on city to take Palpatine. More news propaganda reflecting war time life. Tatooine life and slave life will be made to look worse. Anakin gets a broom boy moment and different introduction. A possible dog fight between federation and Theed ships over the city. The escape of Naboo will be more of a fight to get out, as the Queens ship is aided by fellow fighters.

Idk how to answer your question best though.

Taking my time and going a lil slow but heres an update on one shot (Looks cooler in video with fires glowing and flickering on the right, and shifting light rays through the fog and smoke.) Since i have acquired new tools, it allows me to go more dramatic with the changes i can do. Also means having to completely redo some scenes, but this is ok because it allows me to fix other things and just generally improve the over all quality. Everything is getting faster and easier to manipulate though, so all in all good.

This is a comparison between the original and revised. Revised adding cracks, haze, smoke, depth of field to the buildings past the arches, light wraps, shadows from clouds and such, etc. The idea is the city just got bombed, theres fires and smoke everywhere, and the sun light is not able to cut through as well. A new sky was included to fit the scene. Buildings split into 3 layers foreground, mid, back etc.

SparkySywer said:

Skybatman said:

Where you will launch these edits ?

Theaters near you!

Lol I wish!! Im not sure yet where ill release the movies tho haha Open to options from those with experience though

vicioust1000 said:

These look amazing. When do you plan to release?

Thank you! I do wish i could’ve just waited till i was done to release but wanted the input from critical fans 😃 You guys have all helped elevate these edits with your input and criticism.

thebluefrog said:

I’ve been looking forward to this!

I appreciate every ones patients on this project and working hard to get these to the best quality i can! 😃

Skybatman said:

TheAlaskanSandman said:

WHAT IS THAT FINAL SHOT OF ANAKIN ???

Broom boy!! Test shot for Anakin having a sunset moment. Though im thinking of locating it closer to town or in town. Possibly from his back yard while working on podracer.

That is soo cool

Thank you! Hoping the new Anakin scenes will be a fun addition that also expands the world a lil more

CMMAP said:

TheAlaskanSandman said:

Broom boy!! Test shot for Anakin having a sunset moment. Though im thinking of locating it closer to town or in town. Possibly from his back yard while working on podracer.

Nice idea, visually it could be more than pleasing 😃

I think it will be nice, specially with the other sunset moment shared between Obi and Quigon. Like signifying new beginnings. The other planned scenes will be a little trickier. Trying to create a short bit of Anakins hard slave life.

WHAT IS THAT FINAL SHOT OF ANAKIN ???

Broom boy!! Test shot for Anakin having a sunset moment. Though im thinking of locating it closer to town or in town. Possibly from his back yard while working on podracer.

Kell said:

I just discovered this rn, and wow wow does this look amazing. As a hardcore prequel fan this makes me giddy with excitement!

Thank you very much! I share your love of the prequels whole heartily!

IlFanEditore said:

Didn’t mean to ASK you to do it, of course. Just saying I’d love to see what you’d do 😉

Na, your good. I didnt take it that way. Its something i’ve considered on my own since wanting Obiwan to have a green saber and all jedi masters (apprentices would all have blue). Plus i did a slight edit to them the other year snipping Leia and Luke kissing twice, and put back in Yub Nub to ROTJ. I deleted them with the intention of redoing them better, i just havn’t cause i don’t want to get distracted from the Prequels.

The Sequel Trilogy on the other hand, i have never had plans to edit, and still havn’t thought of a way to make them work. Though finishing what i’ve begun gives me time to possibly come up with ideas. Tech has come a long way and there is still lots of tech i havn’t acquired yet. Let alone fully learning how to use what i have even. So the ability to create fully new scenes to fill a narrative you’re trying to tell is getting easier every year.