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September 29, 2012 5:38 PM

Earlier this year, the people behind Star Wars Uncut presented a "final" version of their crowdsourced feature-length fan film, comprised of a continuous series of 15-second clips. After much anticipation, the Empire Strikes Back version is officially underway.

Previously
Previous Previously

The movie is sliced up into fixed 15-second scenes. Fans pick a scene, reenact it in any way imaginable (low-tech live-action, high-tech animation, action figures, Legos, sock puppets, puppies, and kitties).

Each scene can only be claimed once at any time (with a 30-day deadline), and after all are claimed, the entire movie is freed up to start things over. In the current cycle, about half the scenes are available, and previously completed submissions are available for viewing.

While Lucasfilm gave its seal of approval to the previous project (even helping it win an Emmy), this time around it's more directly involved. Which means it may get more promotion before and after, but it'll also mean a lot more competition, and it arguably takes away from the whole "unofficial" appeal.

The FAQ says there's no official deadline for the entire project, but it'll run for at least another 6 months.

"Everyone to your stations. Let's go!"

posted by TheSecretDecoderRing (23 comments total)

I don't know if I have the endurance to watch the whole thing, but five minutes in I am already laughing uncontrollably. This is fantastic!
posted by Forktine at 6:07 PM on September 29, 2012

Oooh, this is fantastic. Too bad it won't snow here within the 30 day deadline...
posted by xorry at 6:07 PM on September 29, 2012

Oh, I love Star Wars Uncut. Earlier this year (On May 25) I gave out burned DVDs of it to all my coworkers as an observance of the 35th Anniversary. I have no idea how many of them watched it, but I know at least one did, and he was pretty excited when I talked to him after his viewing.

It seems like it should be utterly unwatchable, but it follows this curve:

1) Utter hilarity
2) Slight boredom
3) Moments of fascination
4) Declaration of it as masterful

I'm not sure how I feel about Lucasfilm's involvement this time around. It seems like there's potential there for them to stick their thumb in and ruin the amateur genius that was so wonderfully present in the first film.

But, if all things follow What Has Gone Before, this one will be utterly fantastic, and the next one will suck, and despite rumors of three more having been made, many will refuse to believe they ever came into existence.
posted by hippybear at 6:17 PM on September 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

"Which means it may get more promotion before and after, but it'll also mean a lot more competition, and it arguably takes away from the whole "unofficial" appeal."

Ugh, this makes me sad.
posted by bleep at 6:19 PM on September 29, 2012

Holy mackeral, some of that stuff is great.
posted by jquinby at 6:25 PM on September 29, 2012

It seems like there's potential there for them to stick their thumb in and ruin the amateur genius that was so wonderfully present in the first film.

I do wonder how much editorial control they'll have. In the final edit for SW, I don't think there's anything they would've objected to, except maybe for those that were a little too adult (and frankly, I'd agree since these should probably be just as PG as the originals).

One of the submissions up now for the taun-taun slicing scene is a cartoon where the taun-taun is a giant, pale, bloated Lucas. And instead of guts, it's a bunch of merchandise. I'm guessing his people will probably make sure he doesn't see that one.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 6:27 PM on September 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

In places I was reminded of some of the TV parodies Adam and Joe used to make with their childhood Star Wars toys.

The Imperial Family, Chew Wants to Be a Millionaire, Star Wars in Their Eyes and so on....
posted by howfar at 6:39 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh my God, this is awesome. It's like an endless buffet.
posted by the sobsister at 7:04 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

The first one was fine and all but, Jesus, are they milking it.
posted by George Lucas at 7:05 PM on September 29, 2012 [11 favorites]

all the scenes with Luke running around with Yoda on his back are taken, by other nerds with little kids I assume.
posted by daisystomper at 7:17 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

all the scenes with Luke running around with Yoda on his back are taken, by other nerds with little kids I assume.

Who got the somersault?!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:27 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

I submitted two clips for the first one, and it appears neither made it to the final version linked above.
posted by RobotHero at 7:30 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm a little disappointed by the number of people who thought how novel it would be to use action figures. Really enjoying the animated scenes, however.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:11 PM on September 29, 2012

Yes! Grover as Yoda! Yay!!!
posted by Sys Rq at 8:14 PM on September 29, 2012

This is amazing.
posted by arnicae at 9:04 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Please don't mention this again until I have a couple of hours to kill, okay? Thanks.
posted by Curious Artificer at 9:11 PM on September 29, 2012

You know, I would never want MetaFilter to be overtaken by funny sockpuppets but I always love it when George Lucas shows up.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:12 PM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Now I have two reasons to buy a brick of hash.
posted by CynicalKnight at 1:33 AM on September 30, 2012

so do i
posted by This, of course, alludes to you at 2:23 AM on September 30, 2012

This is the perfect excuse to relate my favorite moments (that is to say, the ones I remember) from the original Star Wars Uncut:

• Darth Vader's initial appearance with a troop of dryer-wielding hair stylists.
• In the animated Cantina scene, amidst the many multicolor aliens, is Moe, from The Simspons, tending bar. There's a couple of other Simpsons references in there, including a view of the back of Homer's 3D-modelled head.
• Most scenes done in hand-drawn animation, just for going way beyond the requirements of the assignment.
• When Leia leans over R2D2 to record her message, you can faintly hear the sound of a USB drive being inserted into a PC. When she stands up again, you can hear it being removed.
• The scene where the Jawas are just a bunch of signs reading JAWA, who then encounter signs reading C3PO, R2D2 and LUKE.
• The text adventure scene. The Sierra adventure scene. The Lucasfilm adventure scene (if I remember correctly, it was the one with Han and Greedo).
• Along those lines, the scene that's just a bunch of green typewriter text explaining the action.
• Cowboy Luke, Han and Obi-Wan sitting around a campfire.
• The hovering hamburger on a plate substituting for the Millennium Falcon taking off.
• Any place there are kids acting as kids have after seeing Star Wars ever since the movie came out.
• There are these reoccurring people throughout the movie who are hamming it up tremendously. You can recognize them by their wonderfully goofy Luke overselling his lines.
• The various appearances by real cats and dogs. One appears in the outside-the-cantina scene where Lucas slotted in one of his CGI effects in Special Edition, and it looks exactly as out of place as that creature did.
• The various places where people snuck in Star Trek references, like a Starfleet symbol on a wall or people wearing Next Generation uniforms.
• At the end, the unexpected Ewoks in the ceremony holding up signs reading SEE YOU IN JEDI.

posted by JHarris at 5:15 AM on September 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Are you serious?! All that time I spent painting X-Wings chasing Tie Fighters on my childhood bedroom walls is, after long last, going to come in handy? /me reaches for the bedside first-edition Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook and starts maniacally humming John Williams...
posted by ariel_caliban at 6:12 AM on September 30, 2012

I hope the folks behind wampug decide to get involved.
posted by mcmile at 6:27 AM on September 30, 2012

After much anticipation, the Empire Strikes Back version is officially underway.


Impressive. Most impressive.
posted by Darth George Lucas at 9:09 AM on September 30, 2012 [1 favorite]