A question about the movie and the WGA strike

[Procutus]

In one of the recent articles online, I remember reading that J.J. was frustrated because there were a number of on-set changes he'd like to make, but can't because of the strike.

What I'm curious about is this: If the strike were somehow resolved by the end of this week, does anyone know how soon Abrams would be free to make some of those re-writes? Would it be affective immediately, or would there be a bunch of hoops to jump through?

At least the film is still shooting - I suppose there's a remote chance that if things are resolved before principle photography is done, those changes could still be made.

 

[Akiraprise]

I would think that he could change things immediately in the script. The question is whether or not he has the money to go back and reshoot some of the scenes he wanted changed.

 

[Therin of Andor]

If it was a line of dialogue not working, the director would shoot an extra take, from over the actor's shoulder, so the sentence could be relooped with a new line (in post-production) after the strike ends.

In ST:TMP, every line of dialogue on the bridge had to be relooped - and lip-synced - because the constant chattering noise of the projectors behind the console screens was too loud. (The footage was converted to video for ST II.) So replacing lines of dialogue is tricky but possible.

 

[Kegek]

If the strike ends tomorrow, I'm sure Abrams could do the kind of thing the article referred to immediately - which wasn't so much rewriting the script as thinking of a good line on the spot and then telling the actor to say it.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Kegek said:
If the strike ends tomorrow, I'm sure Abrams could do the kind of thing the article referred to immediately - which wasn't so much rewriting the script as thinking of a good line on the spot and then telling the actor to say it.

Except if the dressed set was no longer available, such as the location work in public buildings that's already wrapped and moved on.

 

[jayrath]

Yes, they can do a lot with looping. But often scenes as written don't play out, or actors "feel the moment" because they know their characters better than the director.

The strike limits all experimentation. The last time this happened to Trek was movie #5. Need I say more?

 

[Kegek]

Therin of Andor said:
Except if the dressed set was no longer available, such as the location work in public buildings that's already wrapped and moved on.

Yes. I didn't mean that specific instance - but hypothetical later instances, like, say, he's shooting a scene the day after and he wants to drop a line in.

As for the moment that was lost, couldn't he green-screen it in post-production? It's amazing what you can fake these days...

 

[trevanian]

Not only that, but if there are any visual effects involved at a location, any at all, there's going to be somebody taking pictures of all angles and making measurements. So recreating the locale for a retake can be done via FP RP process or forced perspective set or matting new live action to a still or a plate. And on something like trek, it'd be odd if there were more than a few sequences totally without fx work (especially given this is a sorta big event film.)

 

[Therin of Andor]

jayrath said:
The strike limits all experimentation. The last time this happened to Trek was movie #5. Need I say more?

ST V's director didn't always know what he was doing.

 

[Procutus]

Kegek said:

It's amazing what you can fake these days...

No kidding, just look at PotC: AWE.

I guess ultimately, it just depends on whether the strike will be settled while principle photography is still in effect. I realize Abrams could still do pick-up shots after the fact (Jackson did with LotR), but I'm guessing that would be far more expensive.