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Trooperman

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15-Feb-2005
Last activity
15-Jun-2015
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Post
#253984
Topic
Star Wars: REBORN - The Complete Saga (* unfinished project *)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/253984/action/topic#253984
Time
Unfortunately being a full-time student and working a part-time job doesn't allow for as much Star Wars as it used to, so that project is on an indefinite hiatus as far as I go. I think we all bit off more than we could chew with the Ranch; this project seems to be much more managable.

This is a shame CC- I wasn't aware of this. Hopefully after SOTDS is released, some other adventurous person with some spare time will want to continue the series. As for myself, after realizing how much effort and time has to go into redoing a movie like this, there's no way I'll be able to do all three prequels. THAT would be biting off more than I can chew. Later I'll get into more details about my personal situation.

But after SOTDS (which will be out this year), it'd be great if someone else could pick it up. It's a great character building experience, there are times when you want to put your fist through the monitor... but it's all worth it in the end.


As for the topic at hand, I think it's interesting how the Ewoks are being dealt with. How did you figure out their spoken language?
Post
#253981
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/253981/action/topic#253981
Time
It's definitely true that they butchered the music in the film (hacked it up, dialed the volume down too low, etc.), but the music wasn't up to OT quality to begin with. This was probably partly George Lucas' fault in his direction of Williams (or lack thereof). But come on- we have two of the most climactic sequences in the movie, the arena battle and the lightsaber fight. Instead of getting brilliant, exciting action music and soaring melodies played by the LSO, we get a guy on a drumset. Give me a break.

Another example- the asteroid chase. No music until the end, and once it does come in, it's mixed too low.

The chase through Coruscant- the same blasted measure of music over and over again. In this case, I'm actually glad the editors intervened, because I personally didn't think the electric guitar fit in at all.

All in all, you'll be able to see immediately how much better the movie becomes simlpy with more realistic colors, better framing, and a soundtrack that actually has something to say (especially during the action sequences).

On the instances where I thought the music was doing its job, though, I kept it (and probably turned up the volume). For instance, I actually kept the "Force theme seguing into Duel of the Fates" cue, when Anakin goes out to search for his mother. I made a couple of video changes, raised the music volume, and restored the ending to William's original, but this sequence actually resembles the original cut, which couldn't be said about most of the others...
Post
#253843
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/253843/action/topic#253843
Time
I look forward to seeing what other film scores will do for this film.

A TON. Honestly, this edit wouldn't be half of what it is without the redone soundtrack.

TJDavis from the "Godfather II" SW edit (with InfoDroid) is giving us all a major surprise on this movie, which I'm not going to tell you about (ha ha) It'll be done in a couple weeks. Thank you TJ!

On my end, work continues, of course. I have all of the character voices except the second version of Jar-Jar, which isn't hairy_hen's fault because I only recently gave him the lines.

That's all I can say for now- work continues....

-TM
Post
#253049
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/253049/action/topic#253049
Time
SPOILER WARNING

This is just a list of cues used from the beginning until the beginning of the Jedi Council meeting…


-Fox logo recording from Empire
-Star Wars theme
-Ep. II underscore
-Underscore from Raiders
-Original underscore
-Cue from ROTJ to signal Palpatine’s first appearance
-Mystery theme from Ep. II
-Vertigo brooding music, segueing into
-Mystery theme
-“Medal of Honor” cue (really fits the scene)
-Anakin’s theme from Ep. I
-Tension building cue from Raiders (which I’m worried folks might recognize)
-“Mine Car Chase” from Temple of Doom
-Gong crash at Zam’s appearance, then a short cue from Ep. I
-Original Ep. II underscore, which segues into
-“Asteriod Field” from ESB
-More music from Ep. II, but cut in different spots, louder, and actually builds on the same motif without the electric guitar business in-between
-End of “Droid Factory” cue is actually used for the crash which goes seamlessly into…
-Cue from “Temple of Doom”
-Henry Mancini cue in the nightclub, which ends in coincidence with a critical shot
-Cue from Raiders as Obi-Wan pulls his saber, which continues during the interrogation. I was going to replace it with the mystery motif, but people heard it in a video clip and really liked the effect, so I kept it.


You might be scared at all of the different sources this is coming from, and think that it will sound disjointed and choppy, which it certainly has the potential to do. But keep in mind that I am from a musical background, and I do understand what works and what doesn’t, and oftentimes when I have joined two cues, one leads directly to the next, and makes sense in terms of the key signature and so forth.

Hope that helped
Post
#253020
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/253020/action/topic#253020
Time
Hi guys- I just wanted to pop in...

Trooperman, how do THX's stormie voices sounding? Are you using both his and mine?

I am using both of you for the clone war. There will actually be a third voice in the background as well, because hairy_hen recorded some alternate dialogue during the Mas Amedda recording "session".

As for Jango, I used your recordings. For Uncle Owen, I used Sluggo's recordings.

Understand that the other ADR people that got the lines to me didn't do a bad job at all. Far from it. I made the decision based solely on who sounded most like Jason Wingreen, and who sounded most like Phil Brown. Looking at it from that perspective, the choices were easy.

If anyone's confused, I can definitely post clip comparisons so you can hear the difference in the voices and understand how I came to my decision.

But regardless, thank you to all of you who recorded voices for this thing- I really appreciate it and I couldn't have done it without you.

------------

I think it was Magfan or you, Trooperman, who said there are just some things that are so wrong, no amount of editing will fix them and that's what I think this is. ie: all jedi must wear tatooine farmer garb.

That was me- I think I was referring to Ep. III. Editing that movie is a depressing prospect because so many basic plot points were butchered and are irreversible. I thought it was a good movie when I first saw it, but on later viewings I realized what had gone wrong.

The really neat thing about Ep. II is that I actually believe that the finished film will be good. Not complete greatness (which would require a different plot/production design), but a very good movie, not a piece of garbage. Something that isn't just watchable but is actually really good. As I've said before, one of my really strong suits is synchronizing music with film to create impact, and there's a lot of that. Obviously the weaker scenes are the ones with Anakin and Padme- they slow things down and Portman does an awful job. However, I think people might buy these scenes with the new voice and personality for Anakin. He basically doesn't put up with a lot of garbage in this movie (contrary to the PC original cut), and he gets really angry in three scenes- the rejection scene by the fireplace, the garage scene, and the argument with Obi-Wan after Padme falls.

Regarding the arena sequences, I think I am leaning on the side of not explaining the handcuffs. Also, the fact that this issue wasn't caught until you looked for it is also worth considering. Personally, with the new cutting, colors and music, I get so caught up in it that I don't even notice that stuff anymore. The opening of the scene really has the tone of the Rancor scene in ROTJ now, and I think it's very, very exciting now.

I think (or hope) that when this comes out, it will make you excited about Star Wars all over again. There is action, great music, a lack of overdone CGI, some humour (especially with 3po and Owen)- but not over the top, there's a great villain in Christopher Lee and a great moment at the end of the film when Dooku realizes he's in over his head....

I mean, the voices are very exciting of course, but I think the biggest thing this has going for it is the general change in tone and design of the movie. A more muted color palette and great music really leaves you with a whole different taste in your mouth.

I'm just as excited as all of you are to watch this all the way through for the first time. I really can't wait
Post
#252115
Topic
Star Wars prequel film noir (* unfinished project *)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/252115/action/topic#252115
Time
Great! Thanks so much, and I think I'll really start diving into the idea after SOTDS is done.

"On the "Noooo!", I actually thought it worked a bit better with the narration and new music, it came off less silly and a little more dramatic. The No! makes sense if he tells you why he's yelling it. "

Good point. It definitely works a lot better with narration- maybe it's just the memories from the original cut

The neat thing about this scene is that it comes off as almost one of the Tone Poems- starting and ending with "This is what it feels like to be Anakin Skywalker."
Post
#252109
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/252109/action/topic#252109
Time

I haven't been saying much lately, but at this stage, what is there left to say? It's been well over a year (heck, a year and a half!), and I can't wait to finally see the end result after all this time. Just wanted to let you know I'm still following and supporting "Shroud of the Dark Side"!

(No pressure, but after waiting this long, I'm expecting something amazing.)

"Well that's the real trick, isn't it?" Ha ha! I hope I meet expectations. It's kind of hard because you all know a lot of the surprises beforehand....

Actually, MagnoliaFan himself took a couple years on "Balance of the Force." It's just that it didn't bother anybody because nobody knew about it until it was complete and out in the open. The nature of this project (lots of fan help and input) made that impossible. Also, I didn't actually start editing on the software I'm using now until July/August of last year. And on top of that, last year was a very busy time for me and the amount of time I had to work on this was very, very limited.

However, I believe that this will be successful. If there are technical glitches, then I will fix them for Version 2.0 (which will include a dual-layer release). But I think that even if there are a couple aspects that are technically lacking, the actual content of this movie is gold. The acting is for the most part wonderful, which is pretty amazing because none of us are professional actors that I know of. You'll be suprised, I think, about how much it does NOT sound like an amateur "fan-film". Pacing-wise, music wise, and acting-wise, I think it's great. Technically, there are some dodgy moments that hopefully will be corrected in time for release.

Right now, I'm working on completing the whole Anakin/Dooku/Obi-Wan/Yoda sequence, the Clone War, and Uncle Owen. I actually had two auditions for Uncle Owen, one from "THX" and one from Sluggo. I want to thank you both tremendously for filling the void that the original actor left behind. I ultimately chose Sluggo's recording because it sounded the most similar to Phil Brown. I get tickled to pieces watching this scene (between Anakin, Owen, and 3po), knowing that the entire conversation is newly created. My only issue is a bit of lip synch difficulty, but I will get around that.

Originally posted by: PaulisDead2221


(1 year later)
Trooperman: Oh they laughed at me, but who's laughing now?! Muahahahah!

Just something funny I thought I'd bring up. One year and of course I'm still skeptical, but optimistically skepetical of course


Ha ha! I'll save the gloating until SOTDS is in my DVD player and fully functioning without any glitches. But yeah, I remember posting that- that was a while ago. I think it was more irritation that I wasn't getting good, intelligent feedback like I'm getting with you guys. This thread was originally in General Discussion, and I didn't feel like people were taking me seriously. And they weren't, of course
Post
#252105
Topic
Star Wars prequel film noir (* unfinished project *)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/252105/action/topic#252105
Time
Your voice IS great! Neat clip! Our voices are really very different. I would have done it a little differently, of course (I don't know if I would even have kept that scene, for instance, or Darth's "No!" at the end.) But very good.

I was actually wanting to work on a test clip myself, but it's all about SOTDS until November/December. Since you obviously have video editing capabilities, how would you feel about possibly helping me out with either this project or Ep. III in the new series? You obviously have a drive to do great things with this stuff.

The issue is always...time. That's the issue I'm facing, because I've had to sink a lot of time into SOTDS, and while the result will be worth it, I don't know if I want to lose that much of my life again. I have other things in life

Anyway, great work. I knew that turning Ep. III into a BW noir would work, just based on the cinematography, which was a LOT better than Ep. I and II. Lots of contrast, shadows, camera movement, etc.

I like the narration you wrote, too!
Post
#251448
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251448/action/topic#251448
Time
Some more good news- you all remember the discussion about getting the mix to sound authentic even though it's being dubbed? Well, adding ambience, music, and redoing the reverb on my dubbed lines made a little better, but what really made it click is the foaley sound effects. The rustle as someone moves, or the clatter as they sit down or stood up. I got some of this from the ADR recordings (noise in between takes), but I got a lot of it from the Star Wars mono mix, which I believe has a lot more production audio than the other mixes. Suddenly, when I added this stuff in (to the garage scene, specifically) everything clicked and the illusion was complete.

So just adding "production noise" and clatter on the "set" is really going to save this mix.
Post
#251333
Topic
Feedback Wanted: ROTS - The narration cut
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251333/action/topic#251333
Time
That isn't a bad idea. Record all of the Ep. III dialogue in one shot, before any kind of editing, for safety's sake. And burn hard copies. That way, should anything happen with me personally, or if I become disinterested in doing any more Star Wars editing for the time being, then the material will be there to create a compatible film. I can't do this until SOTDS is completely wrapped up, though.

On the same note, Sluggo's team of ADR actors might record all of the planned dialogue for Ep. I and III in the series as well, just for safety's sake. They did really a very good job, and it'd be a shame if anything happened before all the dialogue was recorded.

Sorry for the off-topic conversation, Spence!
Post
#251330
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251330/action/topic#251330
Time
Nope. Ha ha!- I've learned my lesson from this. Since nobody asked, the reason I have to push this project back a couple weeks and not just one is because about a week before the HD disaster, I lost a TON of work on the Obi-Wan/Jango fist fight sequence. To make up what I had done, I need more time. I didn't post this particular incident on the forum when it happened.

And obviously I need a little time for DVD backup purposes! This is 60 GB of stuff. This WILL NOT happen again

Sorry for the wait, guys. I'm swamped with "real life" work through this month and November, but I'm working overtime on this because I really want you to see this as soon as possible, and you've waited a long time. Many of you have only been following the project for a relatively short time, but people like CC, Preston, MTHaslett, Sluggo, etc. have been waiting a heck of a long time. I also want to be done with it and move on So please pardon the time it's taking- if not in November, this movie will certainly be out for Christmas. You do what you can do...
Post
#251285
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251285/action/topic#251285
Time
Let us hope that it is smooth sailing from here on out!

Yes, let's hope. (*gulp*)

In response to a couple previous questions, I do want to do a new trailer after I get all of my new voices. The sound and color will be much more polished at that point.

http://ia331340.us.archive.org/1/items/wqqwqweweqqwe/test1.jpg

This is EXACTLY the type of thing I had in mind, darth_newmacer!

Maybe Lucas will implement some of Trooperman's ideas for AOTC!

Ha ha! He wouldn't be able to do that without replacing about half of the music score, which he can't do. (And also recognizing that there was any problem in the first place).

Seriously, though, I would be absolutely ecstatic if anyone at Lucasfilm got their hands on this. I know Rick McCallum has seen more than one edit of Ep. I. I just would be really curious as to what their reaction would be- if they would admit it was a superior movie, or laugh about it and make fun of it (as Rick has done in the past).
Post
#251284
Topic
Star Wars prequel film noir (* unfinished project *)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251284/action/topic#251284
Time
This point I was also a little unsure on. Obviously there's a lot of directions one could take this in, but I don't know about making the Jedi bad guys. Certainly they can be portrayed that way by Anakin (and Palpatine, of course). But listening to the narration, by the end we should know that Anakin's thinking is off base.

This goes back to the point of... is Anakin the victim? I don't think so, and I don't think his turn needs to be justified by his love for his wife, or the evil corrupt Jedi. If it was built on such a foundation, we wonder why he is so devoted to the Dark Side twenty years later, throughout the OT. Personally, I would like to portray that Anakin learned the Dark Side because of 1. Palpatine, whom he trusts very much, 2. Power unlike any he had ever seen, and 3.

"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will."
-Yoda, TESB

The dark path is like a drug- you don't turn around and go back to how you were before you started. Kind of like the Mafia. It is compulsive, he is drawn into it, and he is unable to get out, partly because Palpatine wouldn't let him, and partly because he doesn't want to, because it's fun and he's becoming extremely powerful.

Remember that quote in ROTJ? "You don't know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master." Now we know what that means. After giving Darth all of his secrets, there's no way Palpatine's going to let him defect to the Jedi, or change his mind. He'd kill him in some cruel and unusual way, which he has the power to do. Or at least he could make that threat. Who knows- we could even have a short scene with closeups of Palpatine doing his electricity routine (maybe from ROTJ) as Anakin explains: "He got angry sometimes. I didn't do some things the way he liked. But I learned. I learned how to do what he wanted. "

These are angles I'd personally like to see explored in this type of movie. I don't know what other people's thoughts are.

So a neat thing that could be included (but I don't know if it's even possible) is Palpatine teaching Anakin. One such scene could involve Palpatine bringing in various men and women into his room and having Vader practice killing them without touching them. Obviously this would be difficult logistically, but I have a few shots in mind.

Because if at all possible, it's true that we don't want to show the children slaughter. It's true- never would have been done in this era.

Of course, this will only be poignant when we establish during Part 1 that Anakin was a good person to begin with. I can explain my viewpoint further....

-----------------------

I really like the script so far, though. These are my favorite lines:

No one else saw
what I saw. How I got here is a
long story, but it's one worth
telling. And it's looking like I
got all the time in the world.

AND

Shots of Anakin fighting various bad guys, and various
villainous looking guys getting slammed behind bars.

ANAKIN (VO)
I police the city, take down the
criminals, the low lives, lock 'em
up in the joint. Protect the
citizens, preserve the peace.
----------------

This is perfect because it cancels out the whiny, effeminate image of Anakin we all have from the prequels. Straight and to the point, which I like. Keep up the great work, if you don't mind Also looking forward to what you do with your own version of the narration.

-TM


Post
#251066
Topic
MOVED THREAD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/251066/action/topic#251066
Time
The fact that you live a better life than most Christians does not lower the Christian ideal of how one should behave. The faith of a lot of Christians is really weak. That's why it's really not enough to say you believe in God- you have to act on it, and act like Christ did.

"I meant if I would find out before I die."

Gotcha (but it won't happen)

"No you don't know he exists. You think you know he does. It's a purpose you think you know you have.
Number 2 is a very strange arguement... Besides I'm not trying to disprove. And you can't prove he does exist. So it's useless."


If this argument is to try to prove or disprove that God exists, it is of course pointless. We're never going to prove that one way or another. Again, if God could be scientifically proved, everyone would believe in Him.

In regard to my question about macro evolution...


"It's not scientifically impossible. And you laughing at the theory isn't very mature. I'm not laughing at your believe now am I? If it seems so strange to you then where does your God come from. You don't believe that life could have happened on itself but you do believe a God came out of nowhere and magically made everything."

Sorry, didn't mean to "laugh". But I still have not been told how it's not scientifically impossible, or how this is any more credible than the existence of God. Instead, you've pointed the finger at the belief in God. The point is that this isn't science vs. religion, because the theory of macro evolution is not science.

We're going in circles here! This type of argument goes nowhere....

Seriously, though, I respect your opinion and hope that someday you will realize the existence of God. If not, that's OK too. Either way, it's nice that you are a good person either way.
Post
#250954
Topic
MOVED THREAD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/250954/action/topic#250954
Time
Just to clarify, I didn't use that logic as a reason why I believe in God personally. That's an entirely different thing. But it's just something for others to think about. I know there's a God, but if for some reason there wasn't one, what do I have to lose? I was a better person for believing in God anyhow, and affected those around me.

If on the other hand, you are an atheist and there does turn out to be heaven and hell... then boy, you screwed up.

Makes sense to me.

Another thing- I don't care how far you take the macro evolution theory. There has to have been a point where there was a jump from no life to life. It is scientically impossible to have happened by itself. People will sidestep this question and other questions, but how on Earth was life created? I've heard so many "the lightning struck the primordial sea and caused the amino acids to...." etc. etc. I just have to laugh now. I won't even get into what a stretch it is that humans, animals and plants all come from a common ancestor. This is not science, and it's far more improbable than the existence of God. Seriously.

"It seems to me if you felt your whole life you were being guided by God and then you find out he doesn't exist you seriously doubt yourself. Away is your purpose you thought you had."

OK, now I'm really confused.

1. If there isn't God (and afterlife), then how would you find out he doesn't exist? You'd be nothingness.
2. Nobody's ever going to prove that God doesn't exist. Because he does exist.
3. It's not a purpose I think I have, it's a purpose I know I have. I know that God exists, partly due to personal experience. And that's something you can't understand without living it.



"I don't believe in God but if for some reason I change my mind I loose everything? I think most Christians will say I've finally seen the light. So I'm not loosing anything. I'm gaining a whole lot!"

Life is a very quick thing. You could be killed tomorrow, or the next day, or next week. You have absolutely no clue. And if you "change your mind" just to cover yourself, and not because you believe, then you might not be gaining as much as you think.


(I should've known better than to post in a religion thread)
Post
#250839
Topic
MOVED THREAD
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/250839/action/topic#250839
Time
Just want to add my two cents to this.

As has been said, Christianity (and believe in God) is not something that can be proved. It is a matter of faith. What has also been brought up is that it takes even more faith to believe that we came to be on this Earth by a series of coincidences, and that life on Earth began with a lightning bolt hitting the “primordial soup of life.” This is simply not any more plausible than the existence of God, even less so. I’m sure there’s a good chance there are historical inaccuracies in the Bible. Even the four Gospels contradict themselves in the details. To draw the conclusion that this means there is no God is ludicrous. And I do believe that Genesis is more symbolic in the 6 day creation than factual.

For me, being a Christian is pretty much summed up by the fact that life has a purpose, it has a meaning. I know God, he guides me. A series of personal situations I went through only strengthened my faith. On the occasions I had the humility to realize that I need God’s help, it was amazing to me how quickly things unraveled themselves. The difference between asking for help and not asking for help was actually really hilarious. This is not something that can be proved, and people may laugh, but it can only be know from personal experience.

Another thing to keep in mind:

1. What do the Christians lose if God doesn’t exist? Nothing.
2. What do the atheists lose if God does exist?

Everything.




But the atheists are the brilliant, enlightened ones…