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Star Wars Episode III gif showing Lucas 'morphing' different takes into 1
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Killing_Joke
Member
If i had to guess, he liked that little grin in the first shot but didn't get the stare he wanted in the second? It's George being George. Not really shocking he's nitpicky about certain shots he wants.
Do we know if this is on all versions or something he changed later on?
Do we know if this is on all versions or something he changed later on?
I'd prefer A GIF showing the Emperor morphing into Lucas!
Kind of crazy but clearly you're unlikely to notice. Without seeing the two takes in full its impossible to say if this was even worth doing or not.
Technically though its not really that different from when a scene might contain a mix of takes via cuts. Only difference here is using tech to allow the mixing of takes in a continuous shot.
Or maybe he's supposed to be literally seething with inner turmoil in a subtle touch?
Kind of crazy but clearly you're unlikely to notice. Without seeing the two takes in full its impossible to say if this was even worth doing or not.
Technically though its not really that different from when a scene might contain a mix of takes via cuts. Only difference here is using tech to allow the mixing of takes in a continuous shot.
Or maybe he's supposed to be literally seething with inner turmoil in a subtle touch?
A Serious Man
Member
I guess this is how he tries to get the performances he wants instead of demanding it from the actors during production? It would explain why everyone in the PT phones it in. It reads to me like he's trying to use technology to make up for some of his deficiencies as a director but it doesn't alter my opinion of the film one way or the other.
It's stylistically designed to be that way and you can't undo that, but we can diminish the effects of it.
you can't write anything neutral on the internet. in fact your entire explanation rankles me to no end
Lights and Waves
Member
I don't see why this is a big deal. I can barely notice it.
Now prosumer NLE software can do these sorts of morph cuts automatically (Premiere), no special effects required, so it's not all that surprising.
The Elite
BOSS
I think the fact that it's making rounds at all is a bit strange. It's two cuts of a performance with a clever trick to bring them together.
I always figured that was meant to be an intentional feature of his lightsaber as it happens right when he turns on the second blade.
You can see how he kinda moves it in a way that it makes it seem it grows but it doesnt, just changes perspective of the lightsaber a little.
Unless this was sarcasm
Spawnofmoose
Neo Member
I remember in the Episode 1 documentary you can see Lucas actually editing a scene with something like this in. It's not exactly the same type of edit but I found it interesting anyway.
That whole documentary is excellent though. It's maybe the best thing to come out of the prequels.
That whole documentary is excellent though. It's maybe the best thing to come out of the prequels.
Count Dookkake
Member
I remember some actors crying about this in the pre-release hype for TPM.
Some said it was "violence" against their craft.
lol.
Some said it was "violence" against their craft.
lol.
This is done in about 90% of all modern movies. (when it's not flat out interrupting takes to switch another one)
Whenever there is movement, they use the blurred frames to blend two takes together. They literally do this in every single movie made the past 10 years.
Big Whoop.
Only thing here is that it's an extreme close up of the actor, that is barely moving. Not exactly the best target. He most likely did that to countless other scenes, but since they have better conditions, it's not something you can see.
And this is extremely subtle, the focus is on Palpatine, you only look at Anakin when he turns his head.
It's like a magician trick. If you are told about it you will see the trick. If not, it's barely noticeable.
No effect is perfect. Ever.
Whenever there is movement, they use the blurred frames to blend two takes together. They literally do this in every single movie made the past 10 years.
Big Whoop.
Only thing here is that it's an extreme close up of the actor, that is barely moving. Not exactly the best target. He most likely did that to countless other scenes, but since they have better conditions, it's not something you can see.
And this is extremely subtle, the focus is on Palpatine, you only look at Anakin when he turns his head.
It's like a magician trick. If you are told about it you will see the trick. If not, it's barely noticeable.
No effect is perfect. Ever.
its an odd thing to see that is interesting and not used often or at all. its not weird at all that once found it would be making the rounds.
Nerdkiller
Membeur
This is basically a technique that's been going on since the '80's. Ever since another Lucasfilm production, Ron Howard's Willow, did it to allow for the transformation of various creatures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKzbsDG58pc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_%28film%29#Visual_effects
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKzbsDG58pc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_%28film%29#Visual_effects
Wikipedia said:
uh no
and certainly not like this
use something obstructing a shot to insert an edit or blur two frames far away or in movement together? sure, and even then not in "90 percent of all modern movies"
but morphing two takes of an actors face in the same shot? in all modern movies? what?
it certainly is a 'big whoop' and worth pointing out. no need to be condescending.
The Elite
BOSS
It doesn't seem all that odd. Instead of cutting away again he simply strings two takes together using morphing tech.
I think a lot of the visual effects on film is stuff you're never really meant to see. This just falls into that category. I am not sure how widely this particular technique is used but I don't find it odd at all.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
That's some Prestige-level misdirection.
We weren't watching closely.
We weren't watching closely.
DoctorFling
Member
From an editing perspective this is really interesting, would like to learn how to do this.
Fincher does this. He will split the actors in the frame enough so that he can use the best takes of both to mix and match.
Ref:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0z1F3qiN6E
Ref:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0z1F3qiN6E
It just screams of NT'ers jumping on the PT for any little thing.
Beardz
Member
show me your skeleton
Member
unfortunately, if my memory serves me correctly, he didn't have the help of the original trilogy's editor, who i feel was strong enough to say no to his crap.
there's a nice scene on the 'beginnings' documentary that follows the making of episode 1 where george and the editor are stitching together three or four takes of a scene, layering individual actors' performances over and compositing it together. i am not sure if this was one of the first films to do this but lucas has always been a trailblazer with this stuff.
ah, spawnofmoose has the example i was talking about.
Sleight of Jam
Banned
Can't believe people actually care about stuff like this. I now need to re-evaluate my life because apparently people care about stupid things like this.
this is a different thing
edit: not knocking. just saying a lot of people here going "this is normal and done all the time!" probably refer to something like this rather than what's happening in the OP gif
The technique is different, the idea is the same.
He's using, what I'm assuming, are the best takes and blending them together so that he gets the performance he wants in the scene.
Yeah, honestly, as a videographer and editor, I don't really mind this. I barely even notice it now when I'm looking for it. Part of editing is making people not notice the bad parts and this is one step removed from that.
But it makes me wonder why george lucas didn't just make animated movies. At a certain point, why are you even bothering with actors? And honestly, the clone wars series proved that he'd probably have done it better. If only because it forces him to work with and defer to other people since it's not his native medium.
It is just another piece of evidence of Lucas's laziness as a director. Why bother trying to get a great scene between two actors when you can have them half ass it a couple of times and fix it in post.
The Elite
BOSS
Well, Star Wars saga films are not intended to be animated.
Also, I don't understand why actors would be so offended by this technique. It's still their performance, for which they probably did multiple takes for anyways. This is imply taking their work and making sure the best of what they did ends up on screen.
It's just a more creative technique to achieve that.
I couldn't imagine someone like Tarantino using it but for someone like Lucas this seems like the thing he loves.
I have no doubt that the work done on set was not the best but it's not like scenes in movies are not comprised of multiple takes.
show me your skeleton
Member
it's not a million miles away from using ADR or over dubbing replacement dialogue when editing or even when narrative ideas change. you see it far more often in TV shows, arrested development features a lot of it.
i feel it's wrong to call this 'lazy'. it's a different style of film making and not inherently worse than any other.
i feel it's wrong to call this 'lazy'. it's a different style of film making and not inherently worse than any other.
There's a part of the making of Episode I featurette where Lucas and editor Ben Burtt discuss a similar technique.
PdotMichael
Banned
I remember the scene and pretty sure I noticed something but thought it was just some change in depth of field because my attention was obviously not directed at Anakin but on Palpatine.
Magnetic_North
Member
There's another shot in one of the films either attack of the clones or ep 3 where you see Anakin and Padame staring out of different windows but Anakins eye movement is revered as in he blinks in reverse
It's really weird I can't remember the video where I saw it though
It's really weird I can't remember the video where I saw it though
I always figured that was meant to be an intentional feature of his lightsaber as it happens right when he turns on the second blade.
... That's just perspective dude
Astral Dog
Member
UI don't like sand. It's coarse and rou
But he was saying the truth
Inferno313
Banned
Yeah, no. I studied film for 4 years, and work as a videographer and editor right now full-time. This is an unusual and uncommon effect. It's definitely not in 90% of films, and it's absolutely not the same thing as hiding a cut during movement.
afternoon delight
Member
NumberThree
Member
That's great. Never noticed that, but then I only pay attention to Batman & Robin when Arnold is on the screen.
OricWindstar
Member
Guys, the prequels blow, but are we really complaining about this?
schumacher really is the worst
you should probably get off the internet then, you know for the sake of your life.
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