So I am currently converting it to an mpeg. As the source material is low quality, I couldn't seem to improve the detail, but it looks a lot better, particularly the colors.
So I'm finally getting around to interpreting the votes and updating the script. A couple of things did not pass the vote except through the maybes. The way of interpreting maybe votes is that they count as 1/2 a yes vote. If there are more no than yes votes, the maybes may tip the vote, not so that it becomes a yes, but that it is up for further discussion. Here are the raw results again.
So up for further debate is the Bothan thing. The nays outweigh the yeas, but the maybes bring it up for further debate. I personally think the idea needs to go. This edit will be radical in some regards, and perhaps a leter edit can expand upon this, but I personally feel that the Bothan thing can go, and if anything needs to be changed to avoid this issue, we can simply remove the Bothans line from Mon Mothma. That means even that we don't have to show any spy stuff or information transmission. Again, I want to emphasize that I like Ronsters alternative opening, and I hope he doesn't give up on it, as I'm sure he can learn the skills needed to make it reality if he wants to. But I think for this edit it might be best to keep it simple.
This of course means we don't have to debate the appearance of the Bothans. But we're still very unsure of what they look like, though overall the maybes tipped it to be more like the EU canon (and the maybes did not tip it towards simply being human).
At a tie (or the simpler version slightly lost), but both winning with the maybe votes is the extended Dagobah opening with Yoda giving Luke a green crystal for his lightsaber and Luke also constructing the lightsaber with the Force. I really like these ideas, believe me, but again I'm concerned about the possibility of doing it. I really think reused footage should be used cautiously, probably not involving characters, and altered to the point that it's not obvious. Any reused footage would be too obvious in this scenario I fear. The crystal thing might be possible alone without this problem, but can it be done with our special effects crew? And if so, is it too distracting from the important emotional and expository aspects of the scene where Yoda dies? Do we need it? I'm not sure.
I forgot to include Sluggo's idea about the droids landing on the skiff in the last vote. I will try to do so in the next round, but I'm going to go ahead and add it to the script, because I think it would be worthwhile. If no one opposes, I'll write it in (I was sold on it, if that's not clear).
I'll talk more about results later.
Another note is the matter of efficiency. Let me precede that thought by something said in another thread. This edit was called "darth_ender's edit." I don't feel this is fair, because while I am clearly the one who made the first post and I'm clearly quite passionate about it, I am not the one doing any editing at all. At best, I could be credited for the screenplay or something. I don't want to be like George, taking all the glory for ideas, while others do the hard work. The big downfall of his recent works is that he does not allow for enough of others' input. I encourage it. When it comes down to it, I want this edit to simply be subtitled, "The Collaborative Edit." And I am being completely honest when I say that I wouldn't even be offended if my name never ended up in the credits. I want no glory for my part in this edit. I simply want to see it done.
With that preface, I think that once the third vote is over, I will be taking a more executive role, if that's okay with you guys. This has become quite a task to keep track of everyone's ideas, and I'm sure we could come up with more and more till the end of time. But this project is losing its steam, and unless I provide assignments, I fear it will never get done. This of course would require the willingness of the editing team. But what I propose is that when I've completed the final script, I will start delegating tasks to the editors. They will still provide me with what they think is a reasonable timeframe, or perhaps an alternate preferred assignment if the one I've given is not up their alley. That way we can see things getting done.
"I love democracy. I love the Republic."
Okay, no, I'm not Palpatine. I really don't want to be pushy, it's truly not in my nature. But I believe if we convert this project into a machine rather than an idea pool, then it will actually get completed. A collaborative edit is an ambitious thing, but if I continue to coordinate efforts, I'm positive it can be done.
