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Trooperman

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15-Feb-2005
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15-Jun-2015
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Post
#98708
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98708/action/topic#98708
Time
Yes, indeed. His arrival is meant to be a surprise, but we already see C-3PO and R2 leave the ship to follow Padme and Anakin. I've used as much establishing footage of R2 as possible on the ramp, starting just after he lands from his flight. I don't need to explain how he got to that point; the shot of him about to follow them into the factory is enough. We also don't see how they get out, but I don't think you really care or are thinking about that as the audience at that point. They aren't really main characters in this one.

But yes, there are several shots establishing R2's presence in the factory. While I'm at it, another change I've made is that I've cut out the Prime Minister's dialogue about Boba Fett being a clone "Curious, isn't it?" on Kamino. I liked the idea that Boba was Jango's natural son (brings up the question of who his mother was). It makes Boba Fett special and distinguishes him from all the clones. It also makes this film compatible with the original and 1997 special edition of Empire, with Boba's original voice. The difference makes perfect sense if he is not an unaltered clone.
Post
#98687
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98687/action/topic#98687
Time
I've watched and analyzed the Droid Factory scene, and I am pleased to announce that part of it will be included in my cut; all of the Anakin footage and some of the Padme footage will be left in. 3PO's incident with the exchanged heads and R2's ability to fly have all been cut (didn't make sense). This also means that 3PO's footage in the arena will be cut as well, which I think is for the better. The jokes seemed contrived and corny to me, and you don't need humour in the middle of a battle anyway.

I was going back and forth about whether to cut the droid factory sequence altogether, but decided that Anakin's action is just too good to be cut, and there's no reason to do it. However, I'm going to try and mute the over-vibrant colors.
Post
#98533
Topic
Video Editing: Where Do I Start?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98533/action/topic#98533
Time
I'm pretty much set with video editing; it's getting to the point where I can do that that I'm having trouble with. Do any of you know the best tool (freeware) for converting .vob's to MPEG2 with no noticeable loss of picture quality? Nero can convert them, but the quality is not satisfactory. I don't need copyright protection removed (DVD shrink does the job) but I do need a very high-quality MPEG file so I can edit it with Roxio and VideoWave instead of Nero.

Thanks!
Post
#98497
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98497/action/topic#98497
Time
Can't you filter that specific range of color (the light sky) to be darker, and the tree to remain as it is?

And I am trying some different things in an attempt to darken only the sky and nothing else in the couple shots that show the sky. I'll see what I can do.


But, play around with the filter some more as there is one screen there where both ANakin & Padme are almost completely blue. Reminds me of the fat girl from "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory".


Are you referring to the "I was afraid to tell you before" shot, Klokwerk? Because that stands out as the most blue to me.


You should play the Willy Wonka theme when 3PO enters the droid factory!


Ha ha! That would be funny. However, that's not possible in my version because the droids never enter the factory. This also means 3-P0's head does not get exchanged for the battle droid's, and his antics in the arena are no longer present. It's just a bad subplot, in my opinion. I'm not even sure if I'm going to include the droid factory at all; I'll have to think about it and see if I can mute the unrealistically bright colors somewhat.

Replacing music, however, is going to be a big priority, since I don't think John William's work on this one was up to his usual caliber. I'm a huge fan of his and feel gyped somewhat. Therefore, I will use not only music from the previous movies, I'm going to use a couple clips from outside sources. For example, I'm using Richard Strauss' "Space Odyssey" theme when Dooku turns to confront Obi-Wan and Anakin near the end. Also, I using some Les Brown swing music for the nightclub scene.

Post
#98389
Topic
Question on DVDs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98389/action/topic#98389
Time
Thanks! I just download BeSweet (seemed like the best idea for what I was doing), and after downloading the GUI and the VOB input .dll, I was set to go! I tested it on a key scene that I will be redoing, and it split the .vob in 6 mono .wav's splendidly. I had never realized before how different all of the surround channels were (the voices were all relegated to one speaker, and didn't leak into any of the other channels.

Dubbing Anakin's voice is going to be a lot easier than I expected, especially with DVD Shrink and Sound Forge.

Thanks again for the help!

EDIT: One more quick question. The finished audio mix for my film will not be 5.1 surround; I simply have too many non-surround sources I'm splicing in, and I'm not able to create 5.1 right now. I'd like your advice, though:
Should I use a stereo downmix of the DVD 5.1 track for the base, or if I should use the VHS stereo track, which might be Pro-Logic compatible?
Post
#98306
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98306/action/topic#98306
Time
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I actually did notice the lighter sky before, but decided to put the shots up anyhow. I've also been playing with different filters and settings, and I cannot darken the sky sufficiently no matter what I do. Looking at it now, it seems obvious why: the bright sky (filmed during daytime) is standing out against the dark silhouette of the tree. It was focused upon in the original version. What I'm probably going to have to do is crop those two particular shots, as nicely framed as they are already, so as to omit the sky. It kills me to do it, but it appears to be the only option.

And as for the dialogue about keeping the love secret, I'm trying to think of a way to incorporate it gracefully and in context with this scene. I just don't know if it can be done. Perhaps I could try and insert it into the scene after the nightmare, when Anakin and Padme talk the next morning.
Post
#98263
Topic
Question on DVDs
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98263/action/topic#98263
Time
General question: I'm re-edititing AOTC and will have to be rebuilding the sound mix for many of the scenes from scratch (since I'm dubbing a main character). This would be relatively easy, but I have to snatch Padme’s lines from the original film, and beneath her lines is music, some of which is unreleased on the soundtrack. Does anyone know the easiest way to split a 5.1 surround track into its constituent parts (maybe in the form of five mono .wav’s), to make it possible to extract some elements without taking all the others with it? Maybe some freeware would do the job?
Post
#98194
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/98194/action/topic#98194
Time
This is my rough outline for my revamped “forbidden kiss” scene. This replaces the “fireplace” scene and comes immediately after the “floating fruit” dinner scene on Naboo. The scene with Padme’s family will be inserted in the space previously occupied by the original version of this one.



Padme has been talking as they’ve been walking along.

http://img8.exs.cx/img8/3214/scene10ua.jpg

Padme: We would swim to that island every day. I love the water. (her other dialogue has been cut and this earlier dialogue has been replaced here). Several seconds of silence. They both gaze at the water

Anakin: Padme…(a bit nervously) CUT:

http://img87.exs.cx/img87/5544/scene27xm.jpg

Anakin: I love you (completely off-topic)

http://img218.exs.cx/img218/6041/scene37ju.jpg

Padme turns in surprise.
Anakin: I’ve loved you ever since I first saw you, ten years ago. (he has put a lot of thought into this previously).

http://img65.exs.cx/img65/2627/scene49ed.jpg

Anakin: I was afraid to tell you before…

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/3103/scene57wj.jpg

Anakin: …but it’s true.

He touches hand, touches back, etc. until he gets some sugar (as shown in film, only color corrected).

http://img175.exs.cx/img175/1179/scene65xf.jpg

Until…
http://img165.exs.cx/img165/6901/scene73av.jpg


Padme: No. I can’t. (pulling away). I shouldn’t have done it. (extra dialogue looped from previously).

Anakin: What’s wrong?

http://img44.exs.cx/img44/5002/scene84tz.jpg

Padme: That was forbidden for a Jedi. (dialogue from elsewhere).

http://img40.exs.cx/img40/1276/scene93ze.jpg

Anakin: I know. (replacing “I’m sorry”. CUT quickly to…

http://img198.exs.cx/img198/6593/scene104qo.jpg

Anakin smiling. Slowly, his smile disappears. CUT to

http://img81.exs.cx/img81/90/scene113hf.jpg

Anakin turning away in confusion and guilt.

http://img226.exs.cx/img226/8682/scene125xm.jpg


I might actually make it so Anakin just says, “I know,” and immediately turns away in confusion. I thought it would be neat, though, if he smiled in between. Kind of makes him more Darth Vader-like and makes it clear that he knows he shouldn’t have kissed Padme but he did it anyway. I was trying to incorporate some information from the fireplace scene into this one, so that it covers more ground.

1. Their love is forbidden
2. Anakin knows this and wants to continue anyway.
3. Padme knows the rules, too. She gives into temptation anyway.

What we haven’t got is Anakin suggesting “We could keep it a secret.” It just doesn’t get to that point in my version. Hopefully, it will be understood that they will have to keep it secret because it is forbidden. I trust the audience on that one. Or, it could set up the question at the end: will they get in trouble? Will he turn bad immediately, or keep it a secret? I.e. cliffhanger; find out in Episode III.

The benefits of this is that we haven’t got:

1. “I don’t like sand. It’s coarse and rough and irritating…” etc.
2. The awful melodramatic fireplace scene. “…hoping that that kiss will not become a scar,” etc. etc. You don’t need to spell everything out! Film is about asking questions, not giving answers. However, we have still got a dimly lit, dramatic scene which means something. In the original film, after they kissed, the rest of Padme and Anakin’s scenes together got long and I was kind of thinking, “Let’s get this over with,” as I watched it. Also, why was Padme so eager to be with Anakin after admitting, “I shouldn’t have done that?” Why does she continue with him? And why, when he had several scenes available to him, did Lucas make them kiss on the VERY FIRST ONE in Naboo? It ruins the sequence, in my opinion. My answer is that now, after the kiss, she realizes that the affair has gone too far and tries to break it off. Up until that point, she wasn’t really as alarmed. This way, the family scene, dinner scene, and maybe part of the scene in the grassy field come first, gradually building up to the kiss scene, which I’d like to think packs a lot more punch and is more meaningful now.

The color correction is still in test stages; I’m having the hardest time eliminating the bright green of the sun hitting a couple of small plants in some shots. I am not able to turn those into silhouettes. I’ll keep working on it. I have to color-correct each shot individually (I can’t just crank the brightness down for the whole scene), because the intended settings and atmospheres are like night and day (literally)!

Just my rough outline for this scene! I welcome comments or suggestions, as long as it’s not a sarcastic, “Who do you think you are, George Lucas?” or something like that (like I got from a friend of mine). That tends to discourage me!


Post
#97926
Topic
BIG BIG question - Episode I; what was the trailer shown before the film at the cinema?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97926/action/topic#97926
Time
That's an interesting prospect. So I could just be remembering a preview for the "Titan" film before the Star Wars film.

I could've sworn, though, that it blended together with the film, misleading me to think that it was a prologue to the film. It didn't look like a preview, more like a prologue. And the twentieth-century thing came immediately afterwards.
Post
#97923
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97923/action/topic#97923
Time
Is Anakin the only one you are redubbing?


I think so. I know he's the only main character I'm going to redub. I'm probably also going to wind up dubbing the analysis robot from the deleted scene, so I'll be able to omit the "diner scene".

Actually, now that I think of it, it would be a lot easier to redub Natalie Portman, too. But there are two problems with that: 1. I would have to go back to Episode I (and Episode III) to do the same thing. 2. I know of no woman on the planet that would do that for me.

I'll be posting screenshots eventually!
Post
#97919
Topic
BIG BIG question - Episode I; what was the trailer shown before the film at the cinema?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97919/action/topic#97919
Time

This has been driving me nuts ever since the original home video release of Episode I: TPM came out.

Does anyone remember a prologue before the actual film that went something like this:

It showed the planet Earth hanging in space.

NARRATOR: At first, we all thought Earth would always be the perfect home for us. But then…

Then a bunch of little spaceships zipped into frame, started shooting lasers at Earth, and blasted it to pieces (Star Wars ships). If I remember correctly, at least one ship escaped Earth; I can’t remember, though. I only saw Episode I once in the theatre.

Did ANYONE else see this scene in the theatre? My brother remembered this scene distinctly. He went to the same showing that I did. Everyone else I have asked has NO memory of this.

Please help? Have I gone mad? Has anyone else seen this scene? Is it available on any prints anywhere?

Post
#97913
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97913/action/topic#97913
Time
Yeah! Anyone who's interested can post a MP3 sample of their voice, and then I'll pick the most appropriate!

Unless you want to fly over here, though, you would need to record yourself in synch with Hayden's lines, and then somehow get it to me so that I can mix them with the music and the other actor's voices. If any good actor is crazy enough (besides me) to actually put in the time in front of the monitor with a microphone and dub the lines, I would almost definitely use it for my edit.

What I'm working on now is modifying the color timing of the "forbidden kiss" scene (for starters) to make it a dark moonlit scene. This will be inserted where the awful "fireplace" scene used to be. Going where the "forbidden kiss' scene used to be will be the deleted scene with Padme's family. Therefore, the kiss is the culmination of the Naboo love thing, which I thought to be a good thing. And you wouldn't believe how convincing the scene looks, considering the huge colour changes it has gone through. I can post some test screenshots if you want.

The dialogue changes I'm making are all considering the former lines and what words and syllables are similar to the former lines (so as not to seem out of place. I don't want to give it away yet, but I think you guys will be surprised in the end.

BTW, when I'm finished with my edit (hopefully some time this year), would Rikter be the guy to send a disc to? I know he puts up a lot of the Star Wars torrents. I also don't want to give out contact info because I don't know what kind of trouble you can get into with this type of thing.
Post
#97927
Topic
How bad can it get? (The changes to the films)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97927/action/topic#97927
Time
They're using Kenny Baker for the rap "artist".

And Lucas has also announced that since it was part of his original vision (and to tie the trilogies together), he will be inserting rap soundtracks into the original trilogy. "I talked to Rick about it and he gave me the thumbs up," says Lucas. "I don't know about Johnny, though. I haven't talked with him in awhile."
Post
#97693
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97693/action/topic#97693
Time
..sooo, we're going to have lip-flap and words that don't match the main characters mouth now? Throughout the entire movie?


No. Dialogue will only be changed during long shots, back shots, and other shots where you can't see the mouth moving.

I sense an air of skepticism here; you probably won't believe this until you see it. Everyone else I talked to about it laughed at me (including my relatives), so I don't know why I expected this to be different.

As for an actor, Chaltab, you're in the right age bracket, aren't you? Five grand to fly over here and do Anakin's voice

Just kidding.

And I won't chat about this any more until I have some actual stuff available for download. Just wanted to let you know what I was doing.
Post
#97690
Topic
How bad can it get? (The changes to the films)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97690/action/topic#97690
Time
More news: Lucas has decided not to go with John Williams' orchestral score for Episode III. Instead, the film will be accompanied by a rap soundtrack, to keep things fresh and to appeal to the masses.

"I really enjoy Johnny's work," says Lucas, "but I just think that the orchestral thing has been done to death in the last five movies. It's time to adapt the movie to changing times."
Post
#97545
Topic
Episode II: Shroud of the Dark Side (the TM edit) (Released)
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/97545/action/topic#97545
Time
I know. But I'm not joking! I seriously have the technology to pull this off and possibly make the prequels a lot better then they are now.

Like MagnoliaFan's subtitles, only a lot better. Perhaps if I decide to do this, I can create an alternate audio track for Episode II (and someday Episode III) that could be synched with the actual unedited film. only with Anakin's voice dubbed (and improved when possible, during long shots or when his back is turned to the camera). I could post it on the web as a torrent when I'm done, perhaps.

If I could, I would digitally erase Hayden's ponytail, too!