How Star Wars was saved by editing.

[JoMamma_Smurf]

As I'm sure most of you know, the original Star Wars was plagued with production problems of literally every type and is hailed as a huge triumph in film making. But some people may not know that one of the biggest pieces of the film making puzzle to clinch this films success was the editing. I thought I knew a lot on this subject as it relates to Star Wars but this video that literally just popped up in my sub box on youtube really breaks it down and I'm blown away even more by the talent of the editing crew. No matter how much you think you know about the subject, I promise you will enjoy this and learn even more about one of the best films of all time.

 

[Mr Webber]

Remarkable. TFS

 

[Inquisitor Peregrinus]

I really want to see the workprint. Done by a staff editor at Elstree. Lots of full takes dropped in, so it's much slower in its pacing. Leisurely shots across scenery and characters. Feels more like a war documentary in tone than a taut adventure.

This, incidentally, is what slowed down Star Trek: The Motion(less) Picture. The VFX people took so long the director pretty much had no choice but to drop in entire sequences untrimmed or intercut, in order to make the hard deadline Paramount had locked in months prior.

 

[Scott Graham]

There have been good online articles about Marcia Lucas' importance as editor:

http://fd.noneinc.com/secrethistoryofstarwarscom/secrethistoryofstarwars.com/marcialucas.html

http://www.syfy.co.uk/news/3-ways-which-marcia-lucas-helped-save-star-wars-0

 

[Toadmeister]

Tagged to watch later tonight.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[The Wook]

Fascinating stuff. Thanks, JoMamma, for posting!

The Wook

 

[Greenie]

That was cool. Thanks

 

[Halliwax]

This was a excellent watch!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[roygilsing]

Great video! Thanks.

 

[3DImpact]

Neat - I just got done reading the Rinzler book a few days ago, so this was a fun little summary of some of the wonderful detail that's in that book.

Dan

 

[JediMichael]

I had known that the editing saved it, but not exactly what they did to save it. Very nice watch.

 

[The Wook]

It should be noted here that *every* film is only as good as its editing.

The Wook

 

[SethS]

More proof Jabba need not be in ANH

 

[SethS]

Also-- there's BTS footage of George and crew after watching the rough cut of TPM and basically had the same result. Only that time, he was surrounded by yes-men. Too bad DePalma wasn't there.

 

[veektohr]

Also-- there's BTS footage of George and crew after watching the rough cut of TPM and basically had the same result. Only that time, he was surrounded by yes-men. Too bad DePalma wasn't there.

“I think I may have gone too far in some places” or something to that effect lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SethS]

That’s the one!

 

[Treadwell]

Great video, thanks for posting the link!

I have only one beef, which I did respectfully post in the comments section, is that it is not clear that most of the adjustments he mentions took place BEFORE that screening for DePalma, Spielberg, etc. It was not an early cut they saw, and certainly not the British assembly. They were approaching the finishing line at that point.

 

[Apollo]

She whos name is forbidden to be spoken.... :unsure

There have been good online articles about Marcia Lucas' importance as editor:

 

[modelcitizen]

what seems to have been forgotten is she was one in a team of editors

 

[SethS]

Despite how they might be as people, and how they acted after the fact, Lucas making Star Wars without Marcia Lucas and Gary Kurtz makes for a very different animal.