Hi friends, apologies for the lack of updates, progress has been slower, with FX work being done and some ideas needing to be given up. I'll explain...
My big mental hurdle that has slowed my progress had to do with the Bruce and Barry Introduction scene. The was another case of getting the audio right, then trying to make the visuals work. I had a similar problem in the Victor and Silas intro scene, where I tried to keep the best of the JWSL and the ZSJL but I couldn't keep continuity in regards to the character's position in the room. However, in the Barry/Bruce intro, these guys are in the right place. Specifically, I had removed the brunch lines but was able to keep Barry's remarks about people having a "rhythm" that he couldn't quite get, and that people are slow. (This inability to connect with people is something I struggle with a lot, so this line means a lot to me.) But wow, as much as I tried, and I wasted weeks on this now, I have finally admitted I cannot make the reshot JWJL footage work here. Lighting is just so drastically different, colors, camera angles, and any remedy I tried never was satisfactory enough for me. So I am letting it go. We still get the "railroad" lines from the JWJL Barry in this scene, but Barry's talk about his need for friends is all ZSJL. Bummer, as I feel Barry being slightly on the spectrum is such a great nod.
Other work I spent time on but with more success is some FX work. In this edit, we get some backstory for Barry and Victor from Alfred in the plane briefing with Bruce, so I wanted to remove some exposition from Barry's first chat with his dad. I could have cut broadly and saved myself some work, but I wanted to keep the "exhausted by his son's persistence when he sighs" about why Barry is doing all of that. So I ended up doing some heavy roto work to the one camera shot when Barry explains why he is pursuing Criminal Justice, rotoing his dad from the end of the shot, with Barry from the beginning of the shot. It took quite a bit of work to mask the slight window angle changes but I'm very happy with the result. Its so quick that no one will probably notice anythign was even done, considering the work required. This is such a stupid hobby - I think if all the productive things I could accomplish if I could focus this OCD in other ways. LOL
Other FX work done was a lot of work for a little extra juice. I want to end with Clark in the color suit, but I am unhappy with how short the footage of the shirt rip is in JWJL compared to the ZSJL, with is actually extends a little too long IMO. But in order to have as much footage as possible to start with, I colorized all of the ZSJL final shirt rip footage. I was worried at first that the lack of texture in the yellow parts compared to the rest would make the effort futile, but the more I work, The better it gets, and I'll keep working till it looks perfect on my living room big screen too. Here's the current version:
Other work was on the artwork. I had a week away from the editing computer so I started trying to make a poster from scratch. I cut out my players, but my result felt more like a book cover than the Epic movie poster feel I was looking for.
So I looked to other poster already made. I found this one I liked:
But in my Edit, Clark is not a major player, just a Last Act addition. So I worked on replacing Clark with Steppenwolf, and freshened up Barry and Cyborg. Also, since the Atlantean suits conflict with the future aesthetics of the following Aquaman movie, I didn't want to highlight that.
So with some work, I ended up with this:
As for the progress on the edit, things are again moving along well. I am currently outputting v1.13, which might be the first full rough cut I am willing to share. The first half is pretty solid except for more delicate color work, which I will do after I am happy with everything else. Rough color work has been done for now, and I think its almost watchable. Clocking it at 3hr4min currently.
But I am always making edits at this point. For instance, I was keeping "Hippolyta's whisper just before she shoots the arrow for Diana to come home" in the movie, as it seems that WW3 might make use of that line and Diana holding the arrow and looking across the sea in the final ZSJL shots. But now with the possible news concerning WW3, I'm deciding to just avoid it altogether.
If you are interested in looking at a rough cut and giving feedback on how the second half narrative plays out, PM me. I should have a file in the next couple days, and am still somewhat unsure about a placement of a few of the final scenes. I know after I watch a few times I will have them worked out, but when edits are this long, reviews take even longer for me, and outside input is always welcome.
Anyways, thanks for reading. And for those reaching out through PM to check on my progress, thank you. A few times I wonder why I am wasting so much time on yet another JL edit, but your are motivation to complete my vision, and that at least a few people will enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, I edit these movies for myself, but I like to think that if I like them, others will too.
