Star Wars: Revelations (and the Raiders of the Lost Franchise)

**miker** · April 19th, 2005, 04:09 PM

Depends if you're a push-button editor or an editor editor.

The editor (in theory) can re-arrange the actual scenes, just as a writer re-arranges his scenecards (or whatever). He would obviously do this under direction in normal circumstances.

I'm not saying that's par for the course, just that it's possible to edit footage sideways and find a whole new angle.

And as an editor, once you get into rearranging scenes you do have to pay close attention to structure etc. If you're not open to challenging the structure then you are just pressing buttons for the director/producer.

Of course, storyboarding and pre-vis takes a lot of that away, but the day you believe your story is set in stone is the day you prove that your first idea was not your best (unless you happen to be genuis).

The whole point of NLE is it makes it easy to try out different things quickly and cheaply, and that includes restructuring the entire movie.

And I'm not trying to devalue the writer's worth - frankly I think they are the bedrock of a good film. But I do believe every movie deviates from the script, whether it be a deleted scene (usually for pacing admittedly) or running out of money, or losing that special prop, or having that supporting actor die during production, not getting the right weather ...

**m0d** · April 19th, 2005, 04:13 PM

Wow, some of you get so worked up about so little. That's not necessarily a bad thing, afterall, contentment is the enemy of inspiration - but still - chill out!

I'll address this fan-film issue for the simple fact I'm

A

Making an Indiana Jones adventure game
(http://www.barnettcollege.com)
and

B

Making an Indiana Jones fan film
(http://www.treasureofthetemplars.com)

Just so you know, the FIRST - the game, is one of the, if not the most highly anticipated point and click adventures since Fate of Atlantis. I know of a lot of magazines that are going to cover our production, the only worry is that LucasArts/Film etc will shut us down, but hey, they doesn't necessarily STOP us.

I think a lot of people here work with a view that what they're making (film wise) is for no-other purpose than that of an audience. What about yourselves? What about self-satisfaction and reaching personal goals?

Before you ask - I'm no Indy buff. I like the movies. What I get from them most is the way they're shot, rather than generally loving what Indy wears and how he handles situations. The movies are engrossing and they still seem "new" and "fresh" every time you watch them.

The fan FILM isn't mine. I'm just shooting for it. But it really does look great, and if it doesn't get some recognition then I'd be surprised.

Also to be fair, Star Wars is a very big franchise and theres what, a hundred different SW fan films, whereas Indy has about, 3? And they're all low-budget not so well shot ones. TotT I assure you will be far from that. It has a professional director from the US on board and... well, just you wait!

you're working with established characters/worlds so there is less development on your behalf, but why not develop YOUR OWN IDEAS?

Because we do that all the time, duh. Sometimes it's nice to do something different. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Finally when it comes to fan-films, I just want to leave my legacy behind. No matter how shit, small, big or whatever that legacy is. When I worked on Tremors - On New Ground, the only reason I wanted to make that was to homage the original movies and to give my spin on the Tremors world. Thats all. In fact, I probably would never have loved that film if it wasn't for their low across the ground camera shots. THEY'RE the reason I wanted to make a fan-film! LOL [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ April 19, 2005 01:16 PM: Message edited by: m0d ]

**ray_bog** · April 19th, 2005, 10:37 PM

JB. -- I can't fathom why you're getting so worked up.

Your silly rant was just plain uncalled for...

If you think your film is better or more "worthwhile" then make the bastard thing and blow the fan films out of the water.

Why are you getting personal?

I haven't said my original work is any better than the average fan film.

What all of this comes down to is money. A few people around here seem to be a bit jealous that some guy got funded for a fan film.

What are you talking about?

What fan film got funded??

Why d'you think I'd be jealous of that fact anyway?

Here's the thing. NOBODY OWES YOU ANYTHING. People don't HAVE to make films at all and if they do, THEY own them, not the audience, not the public, and not you. So let these guys just do their thing, it doesn't harm you or the industry in any way, shape, or form. If that's how they choose to learn or work, so be it. Either get in the game and prove yourself or shut up.

Braveheart

Sometimes it's nice to do something different.

Sure it is!

**jb_617** · April 20th, 2005, 07:13 AM

Well, Ray. Let's take this point by point.

Firstly, I wasn't ranting. I was making my point very strongly. Ranting is unfocused, I was addressing specific things. Don't try to dismiss me as "silly", I'm not.

Secondly, I was not talking to anyone specific. To have the blind arrogance to assume that a post on a public board was directed toward you when your name wasn't mentioned is stupifying to say the least. I was addressing the second person in general, not you. It was not personal so don't accuse me of that.

Thirdly, while I agree that you didn't take the position that your work was better than a fan-film, you did state that:

"If anything, fan films are creatively restrictive!"

"No-one has been dismissive towards the quality of any fans films, just their worth. That's the (my) point."

Which seems, to me at least, like an attack on fan-films. To counter that point which was one of the main themes of this thread, I stated my position that people are entitled to make whatever film they like. If it's not your thing and you want to crowd them out of the market then make your own film.

The film I was talking about was the one that Miker started this thread with. "Star Wars : Revelations". Now, while I admit that I'm not familiar with this work, I believe Miker when he writes that the people making it had:

"...access to a team of professionals, a few buckets of money..."

Which is clearly his (and other people's) problem with the film, otherwise money wouldn't have been mentioned. I re-state my position. This is jealousy.

Your post seems to breakdown at that point and descends into gibberish. There's a block quote of my text with no rebuttle, then a picture of Mel Gibson, then a quote from someone who is not me with no attributed author. I'm not really sure what point you are trying to make with this. It's either something very esoteric, or just plain moronic. I think you know which side of that particular fence I'm falling. Although I haven't discounted the possibility that it could be both.

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

"I'm done with this guy."

[ April 20, 2005 02:27 PM: Message edited by: jb. ]

**miker** · April 20th, 2005, 04:24 PM

"...access to a team of professionals, a few buckets of money..."

Actually, the money part is implied ... it looks like what they did cost money, though they don't state a budget (that I could see). They did take their time (three years) putting on par with a certain Faustian tale I can think of in that respect.

I guess it is jealousy to a point. I look at the production values on my movie and think "fuck, the script and performances and humour had better carry this off or I'm fucked". A fan-film will have a built-in audience no matter what. (I watched "Revelations", it's actually OK but eminently forgetable IMO)

But one way or another my bastard movie will make it ... um, somewhere. Maybe if I lower the bar again ...

Another fart joke anybody?

**jb_617** · April 20th, 2005, 05:31 PM

So, essentially you're telling me that you object to, or "Don't get", this guy's project because it had a built-in fanbase and good production values?

Jesus, I hope you don't own a television. You'd have an embolism every night if you did.

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

Fanbase: Someone's parents basement.

**miker** · April 20th, 2005, 06:01 PM

Let's just say I prefer a good challenge to bubblegum for the eyes. Unfortunately I am very much in the minority on this planet.

Television. I've heard of it.

**ray_bog** · April 20th, 2005, 06:25 PM

Firstly, I wasn't ranting. I was making my point very strongly. Ranting is unfocused, I was addressing specific things. Don't try to dismiss me as "silly", I'm not.

No, you're "nobody owes you anything" crap was a silly rant that went beyond off topic.

...I stated my position that people are entitled to make whatever film they like. If it's not your thing and you want to crowd them out of the market then make your own film.

Of course ANYONE is entitled to make ANYTHING they like, I haven't said otherwise...

I re-state my position. This is jealousy.

How, um, moronic...

[ April 20, 2005 03:43 PM: Message edited by: ray_bog ]