TTT Extras 5: Screencaps from the extras compared to final film versions.

[mechtild]

~*~

As was the case for the FotR bonus materials, the extras for TTT contain bits of footage from the films that looks different from the way it appears in the final cuts. Sometimes it is because the sequence shown in a “making of” segment or in a trailer has not yet been digitally graded (changing the colour), or has been graded differently.

Comments

[mechtild]

Isn't that a great shot that wasn't used? He looks very mature in it, and very much a thinking person. I wonder what he was actually playing in the scene? Having seen how shots got shuffled around according to changing script needs, maybe it was his reaction to some line that got struck!

The colours on the Arwen and Aragorn scenes are exquisite, aren't they? The focus is crisper, too. Yes, I can see how the mood of "end of an era" was enhanced by the grading, but how I'd love to see the whole film ungraded! (ESPECIALLY all the Frodo stuff, yes!)

If you are looking for good quality ungraded shots, it's been my experience that the best place to find them is in the theatrical trailers (or "teasers"). The stuff from the films in the documentaries is sometimes of a lesser visual quality, made from lower resolution or something. But the material in the trailers, meant to be scene in the theatre, to entice prospective audiences, is always very good. Also, because the trailers were made before each film was actually finished, it has been the case that some footage is included that has not yet been digitally graded, or has been graded differently.

For an example, I'll use some Frodo screencaps.

Here’s a link to a post with caps from the final “blue” version of the Lorien scene. Below, there are caps made from a teaser for FotR, caps of the same scene, but *before* the footage had been digitally graded at all. The colours are natural (and GORGEOUS).

http://mechtild.livejournal.com/62249.html

But here’s a link to another LJ entry, this time featuring close-ups of Frodo-in the scene in Lorien on Galadriel’s flet-but in a *lilac*-coloured grading. These caps were made from an FotR teaser, too, but a different one:

http://mechtild.livejournal.com/11405.html

I remember in the FotR EE extras that there was a discussion about how originally they were thinking of grading Lorien in purple tones. Thus, I am sure this lilac-Frodo sequence was the result of that early grading.

Looking at all three versions, I think it’s interesting how very differently the same scene “feels”, just based on colour: the warm-toned natural version, the lilac, or the blue.

[mechtild]

Thanks so much for the links to those earlier entries, Mechtild. I'm sure I saw them first time around, but I enjoyed browsing through them again, and made sure to save
them all too.

The lilac 'eyelashes' screencaps are simply gorgeous ~ again, that specific shot didn't appear in either the theatrical or extended FOTR films, though how it didn't make the final edit I will never know. I can see I'm going to have to find time to trawl through those teaser trailers and extras yet again. Such a chore!

~ Blossom.