Fan edit
Encyclopedia
A fan edit is a version of a film modified
by a viewer, that removes, reorders, or adds material in order to create a new interpretation of the source material. This includes the removal of scenes or dialogue, replacement of audio and/or visual elements, and adding material from sources such as deleted scenes or even other films.
The field was popularized by an individual calling himself the "Phantom Editor" (later revealed as professional editor Mike J. Nichols
). He removed elements from George Lucas
' Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
that he felt detracted from the film, and made minor changes in dialogue, languages and subtitles to give the film's villains a more menacing tone. The end result became known as The Phantom Edit
, which was distributed on VHS
and later online.
The second major edit was done with Spielberg's AI. However, as the edit was not released by the author, it has not affected the field (it was only mentioned in one article).
The idea of fanediting became popular with the second public release - the "Purist Edit", which changed the LOTR: The Two Towers to more closely follow Tolkien
's books. The edit was distributed through P2P and has led many other aspiring editors to creation of their fanedits. Due to extensive changes required to change the story, LOTR edits are among the most challenging. There are at least two full LOTR fan edits available.
After that the trend started to gain popularity and spread to other films in the same fashion, such as the Matrix series
, Pearl Harbor
, Dune
, Superman II
, and others. In addition to re-editing films, some fan edits feature basic corrections, such as colors or framing, that maintain or restore consistency within the film.
Before the term "fan edit" was coined, many "alternate versions" of films edited by other fans or professional editors where simply known as a "Cut". In the late 1970s, many alternate "cuts" of films were released in the United States, and foreign films (such as those from Europe
or Japan
) deemed unsuitable for American audiences underwent further alterations, score changes and re-titlings. Also fan translation (fandubs) of Japanese Anime
is similar in spirit to fanedits.
, their creators emphasize the use of the final product should only be for those who own the source material (often commercial DVDs), and are not to be distributed for profit or other personal gain. Lucasfilm
is aware of the existence of Star Wars fan edits, and has stated they will take action when they believe copyright
infringement has taken place.
In July 2007, Lucasfilm took action against fan editor "daveytod" after taking issue with his fan edit documentary, The Clones Revealed. It is unclear exactly why Lucasfilm took this action against "daveytod". Their email to him cited the possibility of 'consumer confusion', that The Clones Revealed might be mistaken for an official Lucasfilm product. The email was sent to several active members of the fan editing community and resulted in the short down time of FanEdit.org until it was made clear which film was being cited with a cease and desist. The reasoning given by Lucasfilm's anti-piracy team during communications with http://fanedit.org moderators seemed to display the mistaken impression that 'The Clones Revealed' was an Episode II bootleg.
In November 2008, http://fanedit.org was briefly closed after receiving a complaint from the MPAA regarding the use of links to its copyrights appearing on the site. After a three day downtime, the website reopened without any links to potentially infringing files.
Fanedit.org has a policy to not allow fanedits made from pirated versions of films to be listed in its database. One notable victim of this policy is The Purist Edit, made from the leaked DVD screener of the theatrical version of the film. Despite being the second major fanedit available and its historical importance, it's not listed on fanedit.org
Film editing
Film editing is part of the creative post-production process of filmmaking. It involves the selection and combining of shots into sequences, and ultimately creating a finished motion picture. It is an art of storytelling...
by a viewer, that removes, reorders, or adds material in order to create a new interpretation of the source material. This includes the removal of scenes or dialogue, replacement of audio and/or visual elements, and adding material from sources such as deleted scenes or even other films.
The field was popularized by an individual calling himself the "Phantom Editor" (later revealed as professional editor Mike J. Nichols
Mike J. Nichols
Mike J. Nichols is an American film editor originally from Illinois.Nichols created a re-cut of George Lucas' Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace known as The Phantom Edit...
). He removed elements from George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
' Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, as well as the first film in the saga in terms...
that he felt detracted from the film, and made minor changes in dialogue, languages and subtitles to give the film's villains a more menacing tone. The end result became known as The Phantom Edit
The Phantom Edit
Star Wars Episode I.I: The Phantom Edit is a fan edit of the movie Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, removing many elements of the original film. The purpose of the edit, according to creator Mike J. Nichols, was to make a much stronger version of The Phantom Menace based on the previous...
, which was distributed on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and later online.
The second major edit was done with Spielberg's AI. However, as the edit was not released by the author, it has not affected the field (it was only mentioned in one article).
The idea of fanediting became popular with the second public release - the "Purist Edit", which changed the LOTR: The Two Towers to more closely follow Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's books. The edit was distributed through P2P and has led many other aspiring editors to creation of their fanedits. Due to extensive changes required to change the story, LOTR edits are among the most challenging. There are at least two full LOTR fan edits available.
After that the trend started to gain popularity and spread to other films in the same fashion, such as the Matrix series
The Matrix series
The Matrix is a science fiction action franchise created by Andy and Larry Wachowski and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The series began with the 1999 film The Matrix and later spawned two sequels; The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both released in 2003, thus forming a trilogy...
, Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor (film)
Pearl Harbor is a 2001 American action drama war film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Randall Wallace, who wrote the screenplay...
, Dune
Dune (film)
Dune is a 1984 science fiction film written and directed by David Lynch, based on the 1965 Frank Herbert novel of the same name. The film stars Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides, and includes an ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the Churubusco...
, Superman II
Superman II
Superman II is the 1980 sequel to the 1978 superhero film Superman and stars Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, and Jack O'Halloran. It was the only Superman film to be filmed by two directors...
, and others. In addition to re-editing films, some fan edits feature basic corrections, such as colors or framing, that maintain or restore consistency within the film.
Before the term "fan edit" was coined, many "alternate versions" of films edited by other fans or professional editors where simply known as a "Cut". In the late 1970s, many alternate "cuts" of films were released in the United States, and foreign films (such as those from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
or Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) deemed unsuitable for American audiences underwent further alterations, score changes and re-titlings. Also fan translation (fandubs) of Japanese Anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
is similar in spirit to fanedits.
Fair use issues
While fan edits skirt the lines of fair useFair use
Fair use is a limitation and exception to the exclusive right granted by copyright law to the author of a creative work. In United States copyright law, fair use is a doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders...
, their creators emphasize the use of the final product should only be for those who own the source material (often commercial DVDs), and are not to be distributed for profit or other personal gain. Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
is aware of the existence of Star Wars fan edits, and has stated they will take action when they believe copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
infringement has taken place.
In July 2007, Lucasfilm took action against fan editor "daveytod" after taking issue with his fan edit documentary, The Clones Revealed. It is unclear exactly why Lucasfilm took this action against "daveytod". Their email to him cited the possibility of 'consumer confusion', that The Clones Revealed might be mistaken for an official Lucasfilm product. The email was sent to several active members of the fan editing community and resulted in the short down time of FanEdit.org until it was made clear which film was being cited with a cease and desist. The reasoning given by Lucasfilm's anti-piracy team during communications with http://fanedit.org moderators seemed to display the mistaken impression that 'The Clones Revealed' was an Episode II bootleg.
In November 2008, http://fanedit.org was briefly closed after receiving a complaint from the MPAA regarding the use of links to its copyrights appearing on the site. After a three day downtime, the website reopened without any links to potentially infringing files.
Fanedit.org has a policy to not allow fanedits made from pirated versions of films to be listed in its database. One notable victim of this policy is The Purist Edit, made from the leaked DVD screener of the theatrical version of the film. Despite being the second major fanedit available and its historical importance, it's not listed on fanedit.org
External links
- Fanedits.com – A wiki-style site dedicated to fan edits and other fan projects (merged with originaltrilogy.com).
- Foster on Film - Fan Edits
- Fanedit.org – A site for fan edit information.