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Trooperman

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15-Feb-2005
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15-Jun-2015
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Post
#294336
Topic
The legendary "Starkiller Ranch" Thread
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/294336/action/topic#294336
Time
It's great to see things going on in here again And thank you for posting all of those clips, Commander Couarage! They are a really good start.

I was impressed by the Dooku sequence in the theatre - I agree that it doesn't need much work to be good. If there's a way to cut out Dooku's backflip and have him walk down the stairs instead (I think footsteps in the sound mix were mentioned in another thread), then that would be great.


I'm running out of time to edit Star Wars, but I think finishing the Ranch saga is very possible. I think Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back are wonderful as is, but a viewer could swap in any number of the OT.com edits in their place (especially Adywan's).

Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side is finished in content. Adywan and I will are working on the audio, and when that's done the film is done. I'm very excited about that.

Episode III: Just thinking about fixing the whole Grievous section of the movie gives me a headache, but I'm thinking that the scenes featuring Anakin would be too much fun not to do it myself. I'll probably finish those scenes myself and then send them to another editor who takes them and puts them into a final cut. This other editor will figure out the whole "Does Grievous=Maul" issue. Or maybe there's a way to cut him out completely, I don't know (although that would make an extremely short movie). It's a big pain and I think I'm already burnt out on that problem. But I'd really like to do the dramatic scenes with Anakin.

Figuring out if Maul=Grievous clears the way for Episode I. By then MagnoliaFan's new version of Balance of the Force will be out, and I think that perhaps for time's sake we should use this as a starting point (with his permission) and get the SOTDS voice actors back to do the Nemoidians. 3PO can't be introduced (he first appears in Ep. II). Something must be done about Jar-Jar. Really, though, you can do almost anything with this movie because it's not really tied in to the others much at all.

All that's left at that point is a non-mandatory edit of ROTJ and the saga is complete.

So there are two movies left that will require a lot of work, one of which I will be helping with. And the remaining movie (ROTJ) should be a much quicker job.....
Post
#294335
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/294335/action/topic#294335
Time
Hi everyone.

I'm trying a different approach. The approach is to sound as boyish as possible for this rerecording. Because I've been thinking about the comments here, and I think it is true that at least for Episode II there are certain things you can't do taking the image onto the screen- they don't go together and I guess you can't stretch it that far. I think that for Episode III, a lower, more powerful voice would work much better- in fact Hayden's own voice is much better. But with Hayden in Episode II with the dumb smile and the pigtails...maybe I've been going overboard.

This hasn't been touched by Adywan yet, but please tell me if this is any better:

club1

club2

at your service
Post
#294329
Topic
STAR WARS: EP IV 2004 <strong>REVISITED</strong> ADYWAN *<em>1080p HD VERSION NOW IN PRODUCTION</em>
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/294329/action/topic#294329
Time
Wow...

Wow...

wow.

Incredible work Ady. This puts Lucasfilm to shame.

Originally posted by: GoodMusician
just wanted to say it looks great...and...

Goodluck


we're all counting on you.


:-P

Anyways, It looks fantastic... I really am anxious to see it finished... I was curious however why your trailer had a cue in it at the incorrect pitch lol drive me crazy you people do with your pitch shifting! lol

it's cool :-p just thought I'd tease



Ha ha!- Do you have perfect pitch, Goodmusician? It's a blessing and a curse, isn't it I can't even watch PAL movies because of the pitch alteration- it's so darn distracting.
Post
#293738
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293738/action/topic#293738
Time
Originally posted by: Saintheart
Apologies for the bombast ... next time I'll read through the whole thread before posting (or post earlier )

As for the New Voice: I was only able to listen to the YouTube versions, so I'm missing the rework that's been done, but they sound good to me. With greatest, greatest respect I'd enunciate a little more clearly and pull back the volume just a tad, but otherwise I *like* the sound of these things. I look forward to the more completed version!

Ha-ha... shame on you for not reading through all 88 pages before posting

Thanks. Yeah, I know. I'm almost embarrassed of the nightclub video on Youtube now, because not only was the mike way too close, but I was mumbling and did a bad job with that scene. That's fixed now.

Also keep in mind that the original line was not "At your service". Also, it looks a little weird when Anakin says "I think he is a she" because in that shot, Hayden didn't actually say that. It was the shot with the line about the changleling, which I had to use from an editing standpoint.

I really do think that in the context of the film, it will not be jarring after the first few lines. And probably not even then when you re-watch the film and stop watching AOTC. Heh.. I've worked so long on this film that now HAYDEN is jarring. Although he was jarring to begin with (to me).

I think that like watching a black and white or letterboxed movie, the fact that Anakin has a different voice will distract you for about five minutes and then you'll get into the film and it won't matter. I think the new recordings are good as-is, but after Adywan is done with them (if he is able to do that) I really think you all will enjoy it.

Originally posted by: Dantha Fodder
Originally posted by: Marvolo
This does sound somewhat better than the first time, but I still prefer Hayden's audio. This just sticks out, because the voice is too deep. It doesn't sound natural. It sounds like you are intentionaly deepening your voice. If you are doing it to make him sound tougher then it isn't a good thing. People with voices that naturally deep are usually thicker built and stockier. Hayden is not built this way, and this new voice stands out. I don't take a person more serious just, because their voice is extremely deep.


I completely agree.

I personally don't dig the new voice. It is too deep, generally lacking in emotion and it still sounds dubbed, like a bad Japanese to American translated samari flick (something unavoidable, no matter no what ADR effect you tack on it).

I guess if this makes EpII more watchable for you Trooperman, then that's what counts, I just don't think a lot of people will take it seriously. Sorry.


See, I really don't believe it's unavoidable. There is a history of dubbed voices throughout Star Wars. Darth Vader, Aunt Beru, all of the creatures... I really think it's possible. I also don't believe that to have a deep voice you must be stocky in build. I'm pretty middle-of-the-road myself.

I think you all need some context on Anakin's personality. I really need to get this thing done....
Post
#293711
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293711/action/topic#293711
Time
I've put too much work into this for people to not take it seriously. Firstly, there will be a mix with Hayden, the epitome of the emotional actor

Secondly, I repeat that I have not naturally or artificially stretched my voice. It is what it is. And if it makes Anakin seem tougher, is that such a bad thing? We are talking about the future DARTH VADER here. Hayden portrayed him as a complete whimp. I think that was a mistake.

Thirdly, if this really doesn't work for people after release, if someone else wants to step forward and play Anakin, it would be very easy at that point to drop them into the mix and release another version.

Any way you look at it, this WILL be enjoyed by Star Wars fans in one form or another.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from a PM I received today from a certain very very helpful member of the OT.com community...

Hi Trooperman.

i've just taken a look at your new clips and i have to say the voice is much better. I thought i'd send you a PM about it instead of clogging up you thread with a few ideas i have.

I think this is very relevant, so I'm posting.

Ater watching the new clips i'm pretty sure why people have been unsure about the new anakin voice. it has nothing to do with the acting side of things at all. you're voice is actually sounding as if it has been slowed down in pitch slightly which gives it this effect. i was playing about with the audio [...] and i think i have nailed it. I'd love to show you what results i have gotten [...] If you liked it then i wouldn't mind doing the complete Anakin dialogue for SOTDS for you. It wouldn't take me more than a few days to do this with all the tools i have.

let me know, i'd be more than willing to help

ady


I'm too tired now, but tomorrow I'll talk specifics with him. I guess the moral is...

Please don't completely dismiss SOTDS on the basis of an unfinished dub. I really think you will like the film once this issue is straightened out.

TM
Post
#293671
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293671/action/topic#293671
Time
Oh, I'm sorry Saintheart, I forgot to reply. That is a good breakdown of that scene- thanks However, I've already locked the picture. What I did was started the scene with Obi-Wan and Yoda walking side by side. The first line is Yoda's "The data must have been erased". This may not seem like it works as well, but it works really well in context. First I have Obi-Wan go to the computer, who tells him the dart is from Kamino. The very next scene is the library, where he goes to find the planet and discovers it isn't in the archive. The next scene is the one with Yoda. It's a more linear way of doing it and I think it works really well.

Thanks a lot though!

TM
Post
#293666
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293666/action/topic#293666
Time
Here are a few quick tests (not necessarily final):

At your service
Club1
Club2

I picked those because the earlier versions have been put on Youtube and you can compare them.

Early trailer
Nightclub

I like the new comments on Youtube, by the way. Zebonka and company strike again! Ha ha...

This just shows that not everyone looks at things the same way. Not everyone will like this project, and that's OK. Some people will prefer Hayden's rendition rather than my "comedic" voice. Maybe I'll put together an alternate track with Hayden, because it is fun to compare.

Post
#293505
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293505/action/topic#293505
Time
Thanks for the encouragement, guys. Very good news:

Remember all the trouble I’ve been having trying to make Anakin’s voice sound natural, as though it was part of the movie to begin with? No matter what I did, it still had a flat, voice-over quality. I even rerecorded most of the lines, and although they were better, it still had that voice-over feeling.

Well, I just figured it out on accident. It’ll mean recording all of Anakin’s lines again, but this will be the last time.

What I did was run the mic to a Marantz unit for recording (then I can get it onto the PC via USB). But rather than setting a constant recording level, I found a setting where the unit automatically responds to changes in the recording input level. Why this changes the sound of the recordings so dramatically, I don’t know. But it definitely has that on-set movie sound. I’ve just run through a few scenes using this setting and dropped them into the movie and the improvement is ridiculous. It sounds absolutely natural and I didn’t even have to do anything to the recordings other than an occasional high-pass using the parametric filter.

I think that all the people who complained about the voice when the teaser trailer and the nightclub clip came out are going to be very pleasantly surprised. I’m 100% sure I did it this time.

Obviously it’s going to take a little longer to rerecord the lines and put them into the mix, but I think it’s absolutely worth it. This was the factor that this whole project depended on, and I’ve finally figured it out

If only I known before….

I’ll try and post a clip or two in the next few days to show you.
Post
#293079
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293079/action/topic#293079
Time
Problem solved Adywan bails me out of a major problem once again. Thank you very, very much.

I'm currently doing lightsabers and credits while waiting for some new footage to cut into the Clone War sequence. I've also started the final mix. I'm very happy right now because there are no major obstacles to completing this now, besides time. And I think I'll have enough of that to finish this very soon.

The other piece of news is that I've done the math and the running time is currently 108 to 109 minutes, which is kind of short for a Star Wars film. But I think it'll be all right- there was just a lot of footage that was just too bad to use...
Post
#293078
Topic
The legendary &quot;Starkiller Ranch&quot; Thread
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/293078/action/topic#293078
Time
Originally posted by: Guy Caballero
Just my opinion, maybe the Ranch should be scaled back to focus all the big changes on 2 movies: Episode 2 and Return of the Jedi. They seem to be the ones that could stand to benefit the most, and the heavy lifting on 2 seems to be already done.


The heavy lifting is very much done. The video is almost completely encoded and final sound mixing has already begun. Expect to see SOTDS in the very near future.
Post
#292660
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/292660/action/topic#292660
Time
I definitely think this could work. In fact, I think it's the only way it could work, short of giving Dooku force lightning again, which would ruin the logic of the rest of the sequence as I've cut it.

I really hope either Adywan or TJDavis is able to create the two FX shots that would be required to make this work. It's very much over my head.

Well, I'm back from the trip and back to work on this monster. I have from the arena to the end of the film to encode, which will require only three things- new end credits, the redone lightsaber shots, and a solution to the problem of section 19. Then it's just audio work.

Thanks for following,

TM
Post
#291126
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/291126/action/topic#291126
Time
Originally posted by: WESHALLPRESERVE
Oooo...Been Following this for so long! I'm wild with anticipation



I know you have. Everyone has. It's been a long time. But this is definitely the final stretch. Within the next day or two, all of the video will be encoded and locked from the beginning of the film to the arena on Geonosis. Then, the only hurdles to completing all of the video are finishing rotoscoping Mace’s saber and altering the end credits to remove certain names (like “Eli Sleazabaggano”) and add names from OT.com. Also there is the problem of eliminating Anakin from the Dooku duel in a convincing way without using force lightning. If I can solve that problem, then the entire video track is good to go.

I’ve encoded for double-layer. I will probably shrink it down to single layer size without too many problems because the double layer movie will not be THAT much larger than the single layer size- the real advantage will be in room for the uncompressed audio and possible alternate audio tracks, probably including a commentary track.

I have this film in 20 sections. What I’ve done is encoded each section separately, oftentimes in more than one piece, and then stitched the MPEGs into one using Womble. When I have solved the three issues above and I have the complete, locked video file for SOTDS, I will create a new master file, drop all the audio tracks from the 20 sections into this master file, and then go through the audio with a fine-toothed comb, piece by piece, until I am happy with it. When I’m finally happy with all (nearly 2 hours) of it, I’ll simply render it out, synch it with the MPEG, and burn the first disc.

Basically, if I can figure out the Anakin/Dooku problem, then there are no further issues with the video and I can put full attention into the audio and then finally be done with this monster! Also, I should mention I’m going out of state in a couple of days and won’t be back for 2 or 3 weeks. If any of you could brainstorm on the Anakin/Dooku problem, or if one of the effects people would be kind enough to take a stab at erasing the lightning from the frame or something like that, I’d be very, very, very, very grateful.

Thanks for following!

TM
Post
#290761
Topic
So...today I bought Attack of the clones just to have a complete collection
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/290761/action/topic#290761
Time
Originally posted by: Erikstormtrooper
Episode II was a major improvement over Episode I for me. The tone was a bit more mature. But like any other Star Wars movie, this was "based on my previous Star Wars movies", as George might say. (Ever notice how all the Star Wars movies seem to take place in a parallel Star Wars universe, where things are just slightly different?)

No question that the romance aspect was botched. Padme is a strong, likable character, but she is lessened by falling in love with Anakin for seemingly no reason. If only we had some kind of reason. Something?!?

Seeing Yoda fight Dooku was painful for me, and it ruined any suspense we might have had about Yoda's big fight with Sidious in Ep III.

Inconsistencies (more to do with Ep III, but they still spoil my enjoyment of Ep II):
1) Anakin starts down the dark path in Ep II, only to again be Mr. squeaky clean at the beginning of Ep III. WTF?
2) Palpatine is starting to age and show signs of the Dark Side's influence. However, he is miraculously rejuvenated again in Ep III. Super WTF?



Inconsistency 2 is definitely a major problem. He looks much younger in Ep. III than his pale, wrinkled self from Episode II.