Episode IV Trailer... as if it were the fourth movie released...

ok im all bummed now, none of those 2 links will work....anyone have any suggestions?

 

Wait until the morning so the bandwith can go away for a while. You should also try to make trailers for Episode I, Episode II, and Episode III as if they came out first and we had no idea what to expect. Episode V and Episode VI trailers would be cool also. The Son of Suns trailer was boss.

 

I actually think the saga as a whole would have been better recieved had the PT been the OT, and the OT been the, um ST (sequel trilogy).

1: There wouldn't be anything to compare Ep 1 to, so it would have been as well recieved as ANH had been. Same deal with Ep 2, except of course the comparison to TPM. Instead of TPM seeming minor compared to Ep 4-6, the audience sees a gradual upping of the scope of the saga.

2: ROTS-not knowing about the next three movies, the audience is expecting Anakin to conquer his inner-demons and defeat the Bad Guys, because that's what heroes always do. Instead, the Saga delivers a curve-ball that far out-weighs the one lost in Empire Strikes Back. Instead of being just a 'Space Opera,' SW becomes a 'Space Tradegy'-a sci-fi retelling of the Oedipus Cycle, Hamlet, Ring of the Nimbullum, and other theatrical classics.

3: From what I've read, the time period between ROTS and ANH is about 17 years. This would have almost perfectly matched the time between the end of the old trilogy and the beginning of the new...to the audience, the Galaxy Far, Far, away seems to have aged right along-side them.

4: Unlike what actually happened, there won't be any of the plot-disconnect between the old and new trilogy. Instead, GL picks up right where he left off. Most importantly, the audience won't have prior knowledge of what must happen in the new trilogy. After the shocker pulled in ROTS, nothing can be taken for granted. As a result, when ROTJ is released, it will bear the anticipation of five movies instead of two.

5: The symbolic ties will make more sense as they play out in numberic order, as well as have a greater pay-off when presented. Take, for example, Qui-gon's funeral pyre in TPM and Anakin's funeral pyre in ROTJ. Watching the movies in order of release instead of numeric order dimishes the emotional impact of the one in TPM, because we're all thinking "Hey, clever way to tie the end of the saga with the beginning, GL!" Seen in numeric order, we appreciate the messages conveyed by the symbolic tie instead of focusing on the use of the symbolic tie itself.

Hmm...an episode 3 trailer for an audience that doesn't know the end result...I guess that means we wouldn't be hearing any heaving mechanical breathing

 

Wow, all I can say is wow. All I watched was the A trailer because I am avoiding all ep III footage (thanks for the heads up). A wonderful job.

I know we all know the outcome and story of the movie but just imagine the crazy rumors and stupid story lines that would be flying around based solely on the footage from that trailer, oh the fun.....

 

Thanks again for the comments, guys! Due to bandwidth issues I wasn't going to release the third trailer, but I definitely will now... I just need to figure out a place to host them, otherwise, it'll be offline half the time! I just hope I'm not getting in trouble with AOL The people I've shown at work (I work at a visual effects company in LA) all agree my third one is the best one, but I just dont know where to put it online.

I might tackle ESB next... preserving the twist... and I like the idea of a SW1 trailer... that would take some brain power to really get a trailer that conveys the story and gets people amped. The reason the teaser worked in the first place is because you KNEW about Star Wars and could get goosebumps when Qui Gon says "Anakin Skywalker, meet Obi-Wan Kenobi"... thats a line that probably wouldn't be in a fresh trailer... we'd be like... 'uh... who cares?"

FIND ME A HOST! Or as Takin would say... "Would you prefer a new trailer, an episode 5 trailer, than NAME me a HOST!"

~Kayd

 

Awesome trailers! I'm really looking forward to #3.

 

The trick with making a ROTJ trailer is that it will have to tie in all 5 previous episodes, especially Eps 1, 2, and 3-which is a problem because ROTS isn't out yet. This also has to happen at the beginning.

Here's how I would lay out the trailer for ROTJ (at least parts of it)

*Lucasfilms logo appears, Force theme enters softly*

Luke VO: Did you know your mother? Your real mother?*logo fades*

*shot of Padme* Leia VO: Just barely, she died when I was very young.

*3 shots of Padme and Anakin-One from TPM on Tatooine, one from Coroscant in AOTC, and a sad shot from ROTS* Leia VO: She was...beautiful...kind, but..sad. Why are you asking me this?

*Luke watches twin sunset, ANH* Luke VO: I never knew my mother...

...not sure what I want to show next, except pick up the action a little before the cuts that I have
.
.
.
*Yoda's hut. Starwars fanfare fading* Luke: I've come back to complete the training.

Yoda: One test remains: Vader. *cut to Vader exiting shuttle. Imperial March comes in* Yoda VO: You must confront Vader

*Quick shot of new Death Star before cutting to the Emperor's arrival*

Mon Mothma VO: The Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final construction of this new Death Star.

Sidious: Rise, my friend. *cut to Mon Mothma*

Mon Mothma: Many Bothans died...to bring you this information...

Some more random shots...then

*Yoda's hut.* Luke: Is Darth Vader my Father?

Yoda: Your father is.

*Shield Generator. Mix of Force theme, duel of the fates, and Sidious theme come in* Vader: So...you finally know the truth.

Luke: I know that you were once a Jedi name Anakin Skywalker *scene of Anakin fighting in AOTC*

*Shot of Anakin/Vader's duel with Obi-wan, ROTS* Vader OV: That name means nothing to me now!

*Shield Generator* Luke: Come with me, father.

Vader: Obi-wan...once thought like you do *shot of Obi-wan in ROTS*

*Shots now become a rapid progression of scenes from all six movies. Mostly from ROTJ, but with references to previous episodes when relevant*

Sidious VO: Use your agressive feelings, boy. Let the hate flow through you!

Luke VO: I feel the struggle in you, father. The conflict.

Vader VO: There is no conflict

*Finale kicks in. Scene of Luke igniting his lightsaber on Speeder Skiff*

*Falcon enters Reactor Chamber*

*Ewok blowing shofar-like horn*

*Sidious using Force Lightning*

*Jabba laughing*

*Shots of Endor Space-Battle*

*Han at Endor Bunker*

*Luke pulls back hood in Jabba's Palace*

*Leia on Speeder Bike*

*Vader ignites Lightsaber in Throne room*

*Title Appears*

*Luke in Throne room, smiling and breathing heavily*

Sidious: So be it....Jedi!

*Coming this Summer*

 

If you do this, I have a suggestion for the start.

Over a pure black screen we hear breathing (thus evoking the AOTC teasers.) Still on a black screen we hear, "I sense something, a presence I have not felt since..."

Then bang! Launch into quick shots of visually exciting imagery (X-Wings flying by, gun turrets firing, stormtroopers shooting, explosions, etc.)

The logic here is that if IV were made after III, what everyone would want to know is what happens between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader so many years later? For someone coming out of III, that would be the central plot issue and something viewers would want wrapped up or addressed, despite the fact that it really turns out to be a subplot in the context of ANH.

Also, I would keep visuals of Vader to a minimum, hinting at what this bad guy we've only just met will be doing. The big surprise for people going to IV would be just how much Darth Vader is capable of.

 

Just a few random thoughts of a trailer I would put together (if I had the time or inclination). I would make it more focused on Luke and on the Ben/Vader relationship It's a pretty rough concept, but I think you'll get the idea.



CU Leia hologram: "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."

Shot of Ben pulling back his hood.

VO: "I was once a Jedi knight, the same as your father."

Ben with saber in the bar.

VO: "You must learn the ways of the force."

CU of Luke watching the homestead burn.

VO: "He has too much of his father in him."

Uncle Owen: "That's what I'm afraid of."

Luke running; Ben: "No, wait! Luke! It's too dangerous!"

Luke being attacked by tusken raider.

Various shots of the Death Star.

VO: "This battle station is now the ultimate power in the universe! I suggest we use it."

Alderaan explodes.

Ben: "We can't win, but there are alternatives."

Vader: "Obi-Wan is here."

Tarkin: "He must not be allowed to escape!"

Luke: "But I want to come with you."

Ben: "Your destiny lies along a different path than mine."

Various shots of action scenes.

Text: "Episode IV: A New Hope"

End with Vader approaching Ben Kenobi.

Vader: "You should not have come back."

Sabers clash.

Text: "Coming Fall 2005"

 

If I get more time, I'll try out some of your ideas, guys... I'm sure it would be cool to outline something only to see it come out a few days later. Anyway, still working on getting the third trailer to y'all...

 

I'm trying to think of a good way to do the Ep 1 trailer on its own merit. There are a few thing that the trailer has to address:

1: Show what the Jedi are. Basically, the Jedi are a monastic/chivalric order that fight for Justice using a mixture of magic (the Force) and laser swords. This has to be conveyed by the trailer in a visual format, as the audience won't understand Star Wars terminology.

2: The epic scope of Star Wars must be conveyed. This is critical, as the scale is what distinguished Star Wars from the 'Planet of the Week' formula mastered by the Star Trek Series. Coroscant. The Imperial Senate. Mos Espa. The Trade Federation Blockade and the subsequent Battle of Naboo.

3: The trailer should focus on Obi-wan and Qui-gon, with secondary emphasis on Anakin and Queen Amidala.

4: Only the slightest hint of the Sith should be given-after all, they're the 'Phantom Menace'. Mabye a shot of Qui-gon and Maul clashing on Tatooine, the Sith Infiltrator, and Sidious saying "Wipe them out...all of them!"

 

An Episode IV version of the AOTC breathing teaser would be perfect.

Vaders breathing being intercut with silent shots of the characters faces and a few action seens, finishing off with a short clip of Vader vs Obi-Wan.

 

Awesome trailers. I really like the beginning of ANH; I hadn't thought at all how major the change to the Empire would be in saga order, but that sequence really brought forth the power of the Empire and how different from the Republic times the OT is.

The slo-mo sequence to Binary Sunset Mk. II in Trailer B is fantastic. I've always loved that shot where Obi-Wan first reveals himself, and I'm getting chills when it's set to that powerful rendition of the Force theme. Nice juxtaposition in both trailers of "I want to learn the ways of the Force, and become a Jedi like my father" with Obi-Wan and his lightsaber.

Some minor quibbles in music editing: the rendition of Duel of the Fates in both is from Return to Tatooine, which means it has that drop at the end; this loses the momentum, IMO, and a version from TPM (or the movie version of that same track, incidentally) where it kicks into high gear at that point would transition better and keep up the pace. The second, the main theme (especially including the introductory fanfare) feels somewhat out of place coming near the end of Trailer B. But that's really all. The rest is great. It sure makes me want to watch the movie.

Assorted ESB ideas:

For the beginning:

Emperor's Theme starts at the Lucasfilm logo. Shot of Vader walking up to the communication pad. "What is thy bidding, my master?" Palpatine's hologram: "We have a new enemy..." V.O. over shot of Luke looking up at Vader in carbonite chamber: "Luke Skywalker". Vader: "He will join us or die." The dramatic music can kick in here.

For the middle:

Think Episode I trailer, namely the part where Palpatine, Panaka, et al explain to Padme that the situation is hopeless and she should give up. I really like this approach: it's a nice montage to set up the idea of, "What a dire predicament! How can our heroes escape that?" In this case, it's a bunch of clips and lines involving Luke slipping towards the Dark Side. As examples:

Yoda: Much anger in him, like his father.
Yoda (V.O) over shot of Luke attacking Vader: You are reckless!
Vader: I can feel your anger, now release your hatred!

The music for this would need to be dark and build up over the course of the sequence. The track from the garbage compactor scene of ANH would work well, I think.

 

I agree that the ESB trailer needs to convey a proper sense of Doom...after all, it's The Empire Strikes Back we're talking about. Its also important that the subtle hints of Luke's connection to Vader. After all, the audience will be curious as to why Obi-Wan wasn't straight to Luke about what happened, and if Luke will find out the truth or not. Lines such as 'like his father,' 'young Skywalker,' and 'Son of Skywalker' make excellent references to their relation.

 

I know its bad form to keep double-posting like this, but an idea just hit me so we can keep this thread alive while webspace is located for the trailers.

What would your concept be for a Teaser Poster for ANH be if it had been the fourth movie released?

Mine's based on the assumption that somewhere near the end of ROTS, we'll have a shot of the Lars family, with Beru cradling an infant Luke Skywalker in her arms, watching Obi-Wan disappear into the Tatooine double-sunset. (Given how GL has made a number of cross-trilogy connections so far, I'm guessing that this will be from the same camera-angle we see Luke watching the sunset from in ANH). Such a shot, had ROTS been the 3rd movie released, would probably be as well ingrained in the fanbase's collective memory as the shot of Luke watching the double-sunset is for us. The teaser poster for Episode 4-the first new Star Wars movie in 20 years-would tie right into one of the final moments of the first trilogy.

My teaser poster, then, would be a somewhat stylistic shot of Luke Skywalker-the infant now grown to manhood-staring off into the sunset, just as he is seen in the movie. Faintly superimposed over the red sun is a portrait of Anakin from early in ROTS (before he goes postal), while superimposed over the white sun is a portrait of Padme, also from ROTS. In faint print above the sun-portraits are the words "Son of the Suns" (allusion to Journal of Whillis, for those of you who don't know). The bottom of the poster simply states "EPISODE IV".

 

I was thinking about teaser posters as well. For TPM there was a poster series with the theme "One _____", like this Anakin one, for example. I had an idea for a similar one for ANH, except instead of "One _____", it would be "A New _____". Ideas I had:

Tarkin in front, Motti and Tagge behind: "A New Order"
Luke: "A New Jedi"
Vader: "A New Danger"
Han and Chewie: "A New Ally"
Leia: "A New Heroine"
Obi-Wan: "A New Master"
3PO and R2: "A New Mission"
The Death Star: "A New Threat"

I'll have to try making some of these.

 

I just finished watching Trailer A (twice ) Kaydon and all I can say is WOW! I absolutely love how you did the beginning. "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope" then fading in to Ben... amazing. It immediately gave me a sense of connection to the PT and also let us know how much time had passed.

Then having the talk about the Senate Council being disolved, the Old Republic being swept away, was awesome. And when DotF kicked in, I got chills again. Very exciting I'm like "Hey, I wanna see this movie! When's it come out?"

The only complaints I have are with showing the Death Star exploding and perhaps the opening ship thing. Gotta save a few things. But all in all, I thought it was *brilliant*. I'm loading trailer B right now. I do hope you do more of these!

EDIT: Ok, I just watched trailer B. First of all, I love the way this one begins too! Definite Saga feel to it. The whole Vader montage and then "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope"... and the tone completely changes, with the Force theme kicking in. And all the stuff with Luke. It really gives you a sense of this being a dark time but of there being A New Hope

And I have to agree with pretty much everyone else- I *loved* the ending of this trailer Makes me want to see RotS more too But mostly, it makes me want to see all 6 in order. It's really been amazing watching the OT more recently how much more meaning it has.

Hooray for the SW Saga!

-sj loves kevin spacey

 

Great news! Solo jones will be hosting the two trailers on his significantly superior webspace! Expect trailer C sometime today or tomorrow!

 

And there was much rejoicing

 

Cool!

 

Can't wait to see trailer C. I absolutely love the end of trailer B ... "you should not have come back..."

 

Any news on the new trailer hosting?

 

Hey, can this person host the Kill Bill vid too??? !!!

Face Drools

 

if fans were watching in order, they would be extremely disapointed by the final duel between Obi-Wan & Vader. As the duel in Ep III is amazing.

 

I'm still waiting for confirmation by solojones about his host. He left me a PM a few days ago asking for the files to be emailed to him, but I haven't heard anything yet... keep an eye on this thread...