The reason it's important is because the show is so incredibly immersive - the writing, acting and direction are so good that you actually forget you are watching a show. What this edit does is completely break that carefully crafted spell and makes you feel like you've been pulled out of the matrix.
This show is seriously like a fever dream. There’s so many little scenes throughout the show like this that are unintentionally terrifying. This show has so many surrealist scenes I feel like I’m watching a David Lynch production at times. I’m still deeply unsettled by Hesh floating by the window.
Actually Kubrick and David Lynch have been cited to be great influences on the directing of the show because of the the utter state of cinematographie of TV Shows at the time I mean compare it to anything else on at the time it has literally revolutionized what a TV Show can and could do (at the time)
I’m a writer by trade, not an editor. I’ve always assumed that awkward cut was a fix for lacking coverage. The entire point of the scene is her conflicted expression upon exiting… I bet the scene played too quick and unreadable in first assembly. Without a close up, they manufactured the moment so the overall story played clearly. Just speculating.
My father Richard Rossi is the unnamed assistant editor mentioned in this video (he was Sidney's assistant on the Sopranos seasons 4-6). When I asked him about this cut a long time ago he says he saw it for the first time on air when it originally premiered and immediately called Sidney to ask what the hell was going on with it to which Sidney replied that he had no idea why it was there!
My guess is Figgis cut the shot too early and didn't get Carmela's reaction of either disappointment, embarrassment, or the dread of returning to Tony (or all three). The scene didn't fully serve its purpose so Chase and the editors scrambled and this was their best (albeit imperfect) solution. Why does everyone involved now have amnesia? Probably to avoid embarrassing Figgis who dropped the ball. It happens.
_My guess is Figgis cut the shot too early_ - either that or she walked off frame just a moment too soon to allow the audience to properly register her facial expression. You actually offered the best hypothesis, IMHO.
Its a "cold cut". Cut in the scene. You're completely not paying attention to the context of the shot... She just blurts that shes going back with her husband.. its her realizing what she just said.. that it was her true feeling.. and that scared her. My opinion is that it has everything to do with context.
I know the edit is bad because it's out of place but I can't help loving it more each time I see it. Yes, it breaks the audience's immersion. Yes, it's incredibly jarring when you first see it. But to me, it's beautiful. Rubenesque. There's something so amusing about how overdramatic the slow-mo into freeze frame of Carmela's anxious expression is. The ominous 'whoosh'ing sound effect? Priceless. You showed the clip several times during the video and by the end my grin was several times wider. I hope one day someone finds the person responsible for the edit so I can give them my sincere thanks.
A meta-aspect of this is that it occurs in the episode titled "Cold Cuts". Sopranos episode titles very often have more than one meaning (in reference to different storylines/themes), and I can't help but suspect that there's something intentional in putting this overtly weird cut in an episode in which the title refers to "cuts". Coincidence? Not sure what to make of it.
to me, it looks like a mistake that slipped thru the cracks and then was assumed to be on purpose and didn't get any notes so it got approved and moved along. maybe somebody caught it later and realized the only fix would impact too much other work so they left it.
@@miles6910 David Chase personally does the editing of every episode, and has stated that it's the part of the film-making process he enjoys most and loves to spend time on. There is no slipping through the cracks. There's no way it's not intentional.
I remember being shocked by this scene when I first saw it too and shaking my head in confusion. After some reflection, I think they wished to heighten the emotional intensity of Carmela realizing she was going back to Tony. The slow-motion is the weight of the realization hitting her and making her dissociate a little. Then we get the freeze frame, to heighten the fact that she is shocked and unsettled, even afraid of herself for her decision. Then we get the wipe to completely erase that moment, wiping it away to show Tony just chilling with his friends with no care or concern about Carmella's inner life. The jarringness of the transition works to convey how Carmella is feeling. It made a moment the viewer may have otherwise glossed over become this memorable incident inspiring deeper reflection. Makes sense to me.
I'm thinking the reason "they" decided to do that transition was explained when you thought you were having a stroke - or your brain blew up. Carm was feeling the way we feel when we see the edit. She said goodbye to the guy she had an affair with - Tony's coming back to the house - Meadow is at college - AJ is a mess . . .I don't know for sure (seems like NO ONE knows) but that would make sense.
From The Sopranos Scriptbook, quoting Chase talking about the editing process (not _Cold Cuts_ specifically): "The film editor assembles an episode and it then goes to the director who makes his cut. This is his opportunity to replace angles with a different camera angle or performance, but, in general, the director doesn't change the order of scenes or omit scenes that were in the script. After the director's cut is made, the film comes to me and I generate many cuts, all the way to the final - which could include reordering and omitting scenes. This process can take months, and I always, selfishly, use as much time as the schedule allows. I firmly believe that the more time a filmmaker has to edit, the better a piece will be."
@@NotQuiteFirst favorite recent quote from him was from one of the sopranos 25th interviews and they asked what did the ending mean and he said “………… that life is precious” I think I get it
@@couchbumkino5423 I always took it that way, too. Like it's meant to convey how fast life can suddenly be over. Just cut to black and that's it. "You probably don't even know when it happens, right?" Tony got shot, he can't perceive anything now, so the story cut to black with him.
Just got recommended this video and I'm blown away with your channel. Your videos are so casual and fun, yet informative. Easiest subscribe ever. Keep up the good work!
Watching The Sopranos for the first time and just finished this episode before coming to this video by coincidence. I feel like I live in a simulation. First the jarring transition, then people talking about it online.
@@genjio this comment is so weird to me because I feel like Ive been getting that synchronicity feeling a lot lately as well. Maybe you were meant to see this video lol 🤷🏼♂️
Is this not really obvious, they needed to make sure the audience saw her reaction but didn't catch it on the day. Normally in tv you would shoot a super close insert to get that moment but they didn't have it so slowing her in the shot they did have was the solution. Her reaction is the only thing that would be lost if you run that at normal speed so that makes the most sense as the thing they chose to break edit rules for.
I always thought it was to give the impression of Carmela's inner panic upon accepting that she's going back to Tony. Makes sense why they'd put reverb on it, as she's definitely lost in her head in that moment.
Hi there! As a big fan of The Sopranos and a fan of the things you did with the "Strangest Edits of the Sopranos", I've got something for you! -The Shootout in "The Blue Comet" between Patsy & Sylvio VS NY Thugs has one of the strangest edits ever. First of all it's very choppy to the point of being confusing. There are some strange zoomed shots (post edit close ups), the moment when Sylvio is shot is played in a similar slow motion as the Cold Cuts cut (and Sylvio makes a silly UGH sound after getting shot), then when Patsy opens the door you see a hilarious close up at his polished shoe kicking the door, and after he runs away the shots look like they've been zoomed in very badly - take a look! -S03E01 When Tony talks with Patsy about putting the grief behind you can clearly see that they've made the close up on Patsy by placing the camera closer, and they made a close up to Tony by zooming it in post. -Same episode, maybe it's not a bad edit per se, but the mix of Every Breath You Take with Peter Gunn theme is just horrendous. ugh -Same episode, maybe not a bad edit... but the polish maid and her husband in the park talk total gibberish in polish (I'm from Poland, these scenes are total cringe). I've read that the actress was actually Hungarian, lol. Two totally different languages! (next paragraph is correcting this scene, you can copy what they are saying and my translations to google speech) -"What is this?" - he said "Tso to jest?" which is the most correct but he should pronounce it "co to jest?". -"F*ck his whore of a mother" - he said "Kur*a Twoja mać" which means "your mother is a whore" lolz should have just said "a jebać go" or if being 100% correct "Kur*a Jego Mać" but it wouldn't make sense for a polish person to say, so I would totally be on board with the first one. -"This hostility of yours. Why do we bother having our picnics together." and she says "Wrogo jesteś nastawiony, po co ten trud? ażeby razem zjeść lunch." which is like woah, so incorrect it's hilarious. It should be "Czemu jesteś tak wrogo nastawiony? Po co w ogóle robimy te spotkania?" -"Are you so bitter about driving a cab, you have to ruin a beautiful day?" and she says... "Ty se prowadząc taksórke musisz być taki ostry zrujnować nas piekny dzen" and it should be "Czy prowadzenie taksówki jest aż tak frustrujące, że musisz psuć taki piękny dzień?" or better "Czy musisz nam psuć tak piękny dzień? Prowadzenie taksówki aż tak Cię frustruje?". -"This belongs to Mrs. Soprano" like "je należy tu man panyi soprano" and should be "To własność pani Soprano" or "To należy do pani Soprano". -"They have so much stuff. Tomorrow I'm taking some champagne glasses." said like "Oni majo wszystkeigo za dużo jutro zaberam keliszki do szapana" and should be "Oni mają za dużo rzeczy! Zabiorę im jutro kieliszki do szampana.". Seriously - hard to watch, lol. -The Whole scene of Vito killing Jackie Jr is just... I think it deserves a separate episode like this it's so bad. From the weird angles, Vito appearing out of nowhere, the unidentified toy gun he shoots Jackie with, Jackie falling face flat in a pile of snow that's randomly there and Vito getting stuck when getting into his car. It's just absurd. -There are only two moments in the show, when you can hear a characters inner monologue. One is in the Pilot episode when Tony talks that he "came in at the end" (which is understandable, because it's the pilot), and the second one is Vito in S06E10 during his "work". I don't know why they did it, maybe the actor couldn't sell the performance so they had to help the viewer know what's happening? -I forgot the episode but there is a strange cut where Phil Leotardo is doing a 360 spin after talking to someone. Keep up the great work dude! Cheers
@maromaro1337 You & Pure Kino mention Tony's monologue in the Pilot as the one other example of an inner monologue on the show but I always thought it was framed like Tony talking to Dr. Melfi while detailing his day & feelings in the lead-up to collapse. She even interjects after the "I came in at the end. The best over." with "Many Americans feel this way nowadays, I think". Also it's mildly intriguing to see the vastly different views on the "Every Breath You Take/Peter Gunn theme" mash-up, from people who thought it was gold to a terrible musical choice that makes S3 Ep 1 even more of a less favorable episode for many.
My theory: when they finished shooting, the episode was ten seconds too short, so they did slo-mo, but they only had two seconds of Edie Falco walking, and if they stretched that out to 10 seconds, the editing bay would have caught on fire. So they just fucking did a freeze frame, and it would have been weird just to cut to the next scene, so they did a Star Wars wipe. The alternate option was doing a 1960s Batman transition with Tony’s face, but that might’ve taken it a little too far.
I actually think this is a wonderfully executed stylization choice. The final shot of the sopranos is also a "bad" editing decision if you are more concerned with logic and cohesion, over art.
I don't think it's quite the same as once one gets over the shock of the abrupt ending, it works well to serve the idea of our insight to the story of these characters just ending. Chase said that to him, it's not even a cut to black, it's just the last shot. This one just feels like a random & out of left field editing choice poorly communicating an idea.
I think this really reveals how the people at the top always do the least amount of actual work. These people have no idea how their own show got made.
Yeah anytime. I've read a review of the episode. Cold cuts they spend like four paragraphs talking about that edit. Lol. It's also considered one of the better episodes ever. Mostly just bc the amazing stuff and footage up at Uncle Pat's farm
I absolutely remember thinking "What the hell? Why did they do that?" years ago when i first saw the episode, but i havent thought about it again since then. Hilarious to see an actual articule and video talking about it again all this time later.
I really wish I could remember the source for this, but I swear I saw an interview or podcast where someone said that David Chase himself suggested it. It might have been on the Talking Sopranos episode for Cold Cuts, I might go back and watch that to confirm. Chase says in this article that he doesn't know, but Sopranos fans know that he is extremely unreliable when trying to confirm facts or theories. He seems to deliberately contradict or obfuscate things for some reason.
great video. As an editor myself, this cut has always bothered me. I bet it was the AE who was trying to be 'experimental' since he/she was working on an episode by first-time Sopranos director Mike Figgis (I love 'Leaving Las Vegas'). The episode had interesting visual techniques going on that separated it from other Sopranos episodes (for example, when Johnny Sack drives off in the Maserati, the camera quickly pulls back from the car and moves in to a close-up of Tony. The backyard scene in which Tony and Carmela are arguing, there's a shot where the camera is placed inside the empty pool, look up to them. And finally, the therapy scene with Melfi and Tony. When Melfi says, "Depression is rage turned inward" This is the ONLY TIME we see a profile shot of Mefli and then one of Tony cut back-to-back. Very different). So, maybe, the editing needed to push some boundaries?
I'm currently watching the series for the first time (early into season six), and that edit was hilarious. There are quite a few strange edits, visual fx, and also sporadically these high framed shots that appear intended for slow motion, but in post I guess deciding on no slow motion. I'd like to suggest a movie with some of the most questionable editing ever, The Snowman (2017) Starring Michael Fassbender. The production of the film is legendary, and the final product is a sight to behold. I'd LOVE to watch a video breaking down those edits lol
@couchbumkino5423 It's my favorite "so bad it's good" movie. I've seen it three times so far, shown it to friends, and each time just gets better and better. The star power in front and behind the camera is what makes everything so baffling, cause on paper the movie should've been a homerun.
I just recently watched The Sopranos because i was far too young to understand the show when it was on. I was more perplexed by this edit than I was with Livia’s CGI.
I like to imagine they edited that as the mock up, but forgot to change it before the final cut was released. Probably never said anything so noone knew it was unintentional
The first time I saw it, I had a similar reaction. I was doing a lot of psychedelics at the time, so I really thought I was tripping when I saw that. I was so confused 🤣 when I realised it was an intentional part of the show, I just busted out laughing tho LMAO I really thought David was just trolling us 😂
There are some framed shots of certain scenes like when Vito confronts Finn outside the portapotty where the background looks like the geonisis arena battle scene from attack of the clones
It’s obvious that this was a decision made in the edit. Her expression is integral to the scene, but if the clip was played normally it might only have barely been visible before she walks out of the 4:3 safe area. The speed ramping was probably the least jarring way to do it, even though it’s still jarring. The sound effects could be a way to sort of sell that we’re getting a glimpse of what’s going on inside her mind and to integrate the ending of the shot with the start of the shot and probably also to give an indication that it’s actually an intended effect and not a technical issue.
Good points. I feel like if the clip was played normal speed, Carm's expression would have been much more subtle. Subtlety is something this show is normally good at, but this edit anything but subtle.
I always thought it would be a really artsy visual reference to some deep psychological aspect of Abelard and Heloise, that the guy used to attract Carmela. Made by a really dedicated intern, last minute, and that prob got him fired.
The more I think about it is that David Chase did it and remembers doing it and he just doesn't want to tell anyone. He likes driving everyone crazy. That might have been the only reason he decided to do it. David Chase sort of has contempt for his own audience! I'm sure it's part of what makes him a genius, but it can be frustrating
People, this episode was shot and edited 20 years ago, it's completely believable that not one of them today remembers who took this small but shitty decision that day, and which didn't affect the episode or the whole series that much.
For me the cut seems to visualize some kind of threat, urgency or realization. I haven't seen the show but thats how it feels for me. And the look on her face kind of supports that. So my guess would be they tried to visualize an emotion and feeling of the character.
Most likely just a fuck up, like when a photoshop artist leaves a layer on or off. In this case I would guess the wipe was suppose to come a few frames sooner, they still wanted to see movement but the camera may well have cut there, so they slowed the frames down, the freeze frame would not have mattered at that point the transition would have already passed over Carmella.
Honestly what probably happened is that for the specific episode an amateur editor was brought into the crew due to someone introducing him as a sort of "opportunity" thing and they did this. It's not an uncommon thing but usually the actual usual people involved in the department stop those people from doing things that are obviously dumb. Idk what happened here
Right before it slows down, they could have cut to Carmela in her car, the sound of her car door slamming shut (maybe heightened to sound like a cell door shutting) and then making that horrified realization face to camera, would have worked better. Easy to shoot. Same amount of time as the slow mo. But I suspect they just ran out of time.
I watched this show for the first time earlier this year, and I don't remember thinking anything of this transition. But now that it's been pointed out, yeah it's odd. Especially the Star Wars wipe 🤣
I wonder if it was just some bizarre technical glitch, like whatever they were using to do that wipe screwed up. Like, the animation curve for the cross-wipe got applied to the wrong data source (the speed of the video?) somehow, either in software or if they were editing in hardware at the time, like a motor got undervolted for a couple seconds somehow. And then nobody noticed or everybody assumed that somebody else had done it intentionally...
I might be reaching because it is weird and doesn’t really work, but I’ve always read it as Carmela feeling sick or woozy from bumping into her fling that dumped her brutally despite trying to play it cool. Like a head swell as it slows down, with the swipe being a metaphorical cleanse of the relationship? But it is a stretch and it is a weird transition 😂
It's so funny that you thought you were having a medical issue. My mom died of an aneurysm and i get bad migraines, so I've always been worried that would happen to me. When I first saw this my stomach dropped and i felt actual, cold fear for a second, then it wiped and went to normal. Such a weird choice.
There is also another transition where the footage flips to go to yhe new scene. I am not sure what episode it was, but it is just a diffult flip footage transition
It feels like this was a prank done by the creators of the show, seeing the success of the show they felt they can just pass this on due to the shows excellence.
wasn't it basically just a scorsese style edit? they did that in goodfellas and i think in casino too. alot of other movies do it too, i just rewatched buffalo 66 and they do it in that
5:36 I think even BEFORE reading this, i THOUGHT exactly, that the edit was to show Camila's facial expressions. Without context, the shot is strange. Given her reluctance, it makes sense..... ONLY the swiping to the fishing area was terrible ...... Heads up. Is it possible, that Cold Cut s was Cold cuts 9:54
Of course the Sopranos creator's official response was, "I do not recall." He'd probably say the same thing if you ask him his middle name. Because he's a stand-up guy. And stand-up guys know the first and most important rule of the game is: *Keep your mouth shut.*
Link to article: www.vulture.com/article/the-most-perplexing-moment-in-sopranos-history-explained.html
I'm no closer to having any idea why this happened than I was before, this video is useless. At least you got it over ten minutes to tellus nothing
@@hillbillypowpow I'm happy you chose to waste your time with me. Thank you for the view and comment.
Did any of the editors respond yet?
@@frenandin Sadly no, but a son of one of the editors commented on this video saying his dad was confused as everyone else to see it on tv.
The reason it's important is because the show is so incredibly immersive - the writing, acting and direction are so good that you actually forget you are watching a show. What this edit does is completely break that carefully crafted spell and makes you feel like you've been pulled out of the matrix.
very good point. This edit is worth talking about and discussing but its really not that bad. I like sopranos because they make creative decisions.
Wasn't expecting a star wars transition in the sopranos
It's a subtle callback on behalf of the editors to that scene where Vito intimated Finn and it looked like Attack of the Clones
@@SpongeBobaFettFinn Detrolio, my arch nemesis
"I dont recall" sounds like a real life testimony on the stand by a wise guy
This show is seriously like a fever dream. There’s so many little scenes throughout the show like this that are unintentionally terrifying. This show has so many surrealist scenes I feel like I’m watching a David Lynch production at times. I’m still deeply unsettled by Hesh floating by the window.
For me it's the shadow woman on the staircase
Virgin Mary Paulie sees legit makes my skin crawl
Actually Kubrick and David Lynch have been cited to be great influences on the directing of the show because of the the utter state of cinematographie of TV Shows at the time I mean compare it to anything else on at the time it has literally revolutionized what a TV Show can and could do (at the time)
Fran singing Happy Birthday, Mr. President really felt Lynchian
I’m a writer by trade, not an editor. I’ve always assumed that awkward cut was a fix for lacking coverage. The entire point of the scene is her conflicted expression upon exiting… I bet the scene played too quick and unreadable in first assembly. Without a close up, they manufactured the moment so the overall story played clearly. Just speculating.
That's what I thought too. They just needed that extra beat.
I think you guys nailed it with this explanation. It's definitely NOT an artistic choice 🙂
hm, i could see this being an 11th hour edit to cover for a missing close up on carmela's face
My father Richard Rossi is the unnamed assistant editor mentioned in this video (he was Sidney's assistant on the Sopranos seasons 4-6). When I asked him about this cut a long time ago he says he saw it for the first time on air when it originally premiered and immediately called Sidney to ask what the hell was going on with it to which Sidney replied that he had no idea why it was there!
@@HarryDRossi this is an amazing comment thank you
Would your dad be willing to share his story via zoom interview?
hehehe
@@couchbumkino5423 I asked my father about this, he just laughed and didn't say anything else. Sorry hahaha
@@HarryDRossibummer but please let him know there are a lot of people who would love to hear what he has to say
My guess is Figgis cut the shot too early and didn't get Carmela's reaction of either disappointment, embarrassment, or the dread of returning to Tony (or all three). The scene didn't fully serve its purpose so Chase and the editors scrambled and this was their best (albeit imperfect) solution. Why does everyone involved now have amnesia? Probably to avoid embarrassing Figgis who dropped the ball. It happens.
_My guess is Figgis cut the shot too early_ - either that or she walked off frame just a moment too soon to allow the audience to properly register her facial expression.
You actually offered the best hypothesis, IMHO.
I am impressed by your commitment to finding the decision-makers.
Its a "cold cut". Cut in the scene. You're completely not paying attention to the context of the shot... She just blurts that shes going back with her husband.. its her realizing what she just said.. that it was her true feeling.. and that scared her.
My opinion is that it has everything to do with context.
She just saved his life
But a swipe? Not a cut, a freeze then a cut?
@@Ccarnage8 I have literally no idea what this comment means
To swipe like a woman? It's unconscionable
I know the edit is bad because it's out of place but I can't help loving it more each time I see it. Yes, it breaks the audience's immersion. Yes, it's incredibly jarring when you first see it. But to me, it's beautiful. Rubenesque. There's something so amusing about how overdramatic the slow-mo into freeze frame of Carmela's anxious expression is. The ominous 'whoosh'ing sound effect? Priceless. You showed the clip several times during the video and by the end my grin was several times wider. I hope one day someone finds the person responsible for the edit so I can give them my sincere thanks.
pretentious and annoying you are
No more edit jokes laithalabri, they're hurtful and destructive
A meta-aspect of this is that it occurs in the episode titled "Cold Cuts". Sopranos episode titles very often have more than one meaning (in reference to different storylines/themes), and I can't help but suspect that there's something intentional in putting this overtly weird cut in an episode in which the title refers to "cuts". Coincidence? Not sure what to make of it.
@@VarsityEditor I like where you’re going, but I’m still leaning into the confusion theory
$4 a pound
to me, it looks like a mistake that slipped thru the cracks and then was assumed to be on purpose and didn't get any notes so it got approved and moved along. maybe somebody caught it later and realized the only fix would impact too much other work so they left it.
@@miles6910 David Chase personally does the editing of every episode, and has stated that it's the part of the film-making process he enjoys most and loves to spend time on. There is no slipping through the cracks. There's no way it's not intentional.
@@miles6910 I don't think David Chase would put reverb on a mistake.
I remember being shocked by this scene when I first saw it too and shaking my head in confusion. After some reflection, I think they wished to heighten the emotional intensity of Carmela realizing she was going back to Tony. The slow-motion is the weight of the realization hitting her and making her dissociate a little. Then we get the freeze frame, to heighten the fact that she is shocked and unsettled, even afraid of herself for her decision. Then we get the wipe to completely erase that moment, wiping it away to show Tony just chilling with his friends with no care or concern about Carmella's inner life. The jarringness of the transition works to convey how Carmella is feeling. It made a moment the viewer may have otherwise glossed over become this memorable incident inspiring deeper reflection. Makes sense to me.
I'm calling bs. They know. They're just embarrassed. They were doing coke and got all hyped, thinking it'd be awesome 😂
Source?
@@EnjoySackLunchI ain’t sayin nuttin
@@monsieurcondottiero2685 you aint even op💀
He was a funny fuck that editor, his Star Wars fixation..
I'm thinking the reason "they" decided to do that transition was explained when you thought you were having a stroke - or your brain blew up. Carm was feeling the way we feel when we see the edit. She said goodbye to the guy she had an affair with - Tony's coming back to the house - Meadow is at college - AJ is a mess . . .I don't know for sure (seems like NO ONE knows) but that would make sense.
Sometimes people react poorly to a feeling they were led to have.
From The Sopranos Scriptbook, quoting Chase talking about the editing process (not _Cold Cuts_ specifically): "The film editor assembles an episode and it then goes to the director who makes his cut. This is his opportunity to replace angles with a different camera angle or performance, but, in general, the director doesn't change the order of scenes or omit scenes that were in the script. After the director's cut is made, the film comes to me and I generate many cuts, all the way to the final - which could include reordering and omitting scenes. This process can take months, and I always, selfishly, use as much time as the schedule allows. I firmly believe that the more time a filmmaker has to edit, the better a piece will be."
@@NotQuiteFirst deep down Chase knows lol
@@couchbumkino5423 Even when he breaks the fourth wall, Chase is an unreliable narrator.
@@NotQuiteFirst favorite recent quote from him was from one of the sopranos 25th interviews and they asked what did the ending mean and he said “………… that life is precious” I think I get it
@@couchbumkino5423 I always took it that way, too. Like it's meant to convey how fast life can suddenly be over. Just cut to black and that's it.
"You probably don't even know when it happens, right?" Tony got shot, he can't perceive anything now, so the story cut to black with him.
I like how you questioned reality before questioning your internet connection.
I've experienced a number of things that make me question the nature of reality. 🤔
The director's name is pronounced with a hard G sound. He was Academy Award nominated for his 1995 film Leaving Las Vegas.
@@scalzmoney Mike “Hard G” Figgis
Just got recommended this video and I'm blown away with your channel. Your videos are so casual and fun, yet informative. Easiest subscribe ever. Keep up the good work!
Really appreciate that. Stay tuned, more to come!
Watching The Sopranos for the first time and just finished this episode before coming to this video by coincidence. I feel like I live in a simulation. First the jarring transition, then people talking about it online.
@@genjio this comment is so weird to me because I feel like Ive been getting that synchronicity feeling a lot lately as well. Maybe you were meant to see this video lol 🤷🏼♂️
Is this not really obvious, they needed to make sure the audience saw her reaction but didn't catch it on the day. Normally in tv you would shoot a super close insert to get that moment but they didn't have it so slowing her in the shot they did have was the solution. Her reaction is the only thing that would be lost if you run that at normal speed so that makes the most sense as the thing they chose to break edit rules for.
When I first watched this, I thought there was something wrong with my DVD player. 😂
This is probably the equivalent of asking a mechanic why they used Bosch spark plugs instead of Champion on a Honda Accord tune up in 2011.
It probably is lol
I always thought it was to give the impression of Carmela's inner panic upon accepting that she's going back to Tony. Makes sense why they'd put reverb on it, as she's definitely lost in her head in that moment.
Hi there!
As a big fan of The Sopranos and a fan of the things you did with the "Strangest Edits of the Sopranos", I've got something for you!
-The Shootout in "The Blue Comet" between Patsy & Sylvio VS NY Thugs has one of the strangest edits ever. First of all it's very choppy to the point of being confusing. There are some strange zoomed shots (post edit close ups), the moment when Sylvio is shot is played in a similar slow motion as the Cold Cuts cut (and Sylvio makes a silly UGH sound after getting shot), then when Patsy opens the door you see a hilarious close up at his polished shoe kicking the door, and after he runs away the shots look like they've been zoomed in very badly - take a look!
-S03E01 When Tony talks with Patsy about putting the grief behind you can clearly see that they've made the close up on Patsy by placing the camera closer, and they made a close up to Tony by zooming it in post.
-Same episode, maybe it's not a bad edit per se, but the mix of Every Breath You Take with Peter Gunn theme is just horrendous. ugh
-Same episode, maybe not a bad edit... but the polish maid and her husband in the park talk total gibberish in polish (I'm from Poland, these scenes are total cringe). I've read that the actress was actually Hungarian, lol. Two totally different languages! (next paragraph is correcting this scene, you can copy what they are saying and my translations to google speech)
-"What is this?" - he said "Tso to jest?" which is the most correct but he should pronounce it "co to jest?".
-"F*ck his whore of a mother" - he said "Kur*a Twoja mać" which means "your mother is a whore" lolz should have just said "a jebać go" or if being 100% correct "Kur*a Jego Mać" but it wouldn't make sense for a polish person to say, so I would totally be on board with the first one.
-"This hostility of yours. Why do we bother having our picnics together." and she says "Wrogo jesteś nastawiony, po co ten trud? ażeby razem zjeść lunch." which is like woah, so incorrect it's hilarious. It should be "Czemu jesteś tak wrogo nastawiony? Po co w ogóle robimy te spotkania?"
-"Are you so bitter about driving a cab, you have to ruin a beautiful day?" and she says... "Ty se prowadząc taksórke musisz być taki ostry zrujnować nas piekny dzen" and it should be "Czy prowadzenie taksówki jest aż tak frustrujące, że musisz psuć taki piękny dzień?" or better "Czy musisz nam psuć tak piękny dzień? Prowadzenie taksówki aż tak Cię frustruje?".
-"This belongs to Mrs. Soprano" like "je należy tu man panyi soprano" and should be "To własność pani Soprano" or "To należy do pani Soprano".
-"They have so much stuff. Tomorrow I'm taking some champagne glasses." said like "Oni majo wszystkeigo za dużo jutro zaberam keliszki do szapana" and should be "Oni mają za dużo rzeczy! Zabiorę im jutro kieliszki do szampana.". Seriously - hard to watch, lol.
-The Whole scene of Vito killing Jackie Jr is just... I think it deserves a separate episode like this it's so bad. From the weird angles, Vito appearing out of nowhere, the unidentified toy gun he shoots Jackie with, Jackie falling face flat in a pile of snow that's randomly there and Vito getting stuck when getting into his car. It's just absurd.
-There are only two moments in the show, when you can hear a characters inner monologue. One is in the Pilot episode when Tony talks that he "came in at the end" (which is understandable, because it's the pilot), and the second one is Vito in S06E10 during his "work". I don't know why they did it, maybe the actor couldn't sell the performance so they had to help the viewer know what's happening?
-I forgot the episode but there is a strange cut where Phil Leotardo is doing a 360 spin after talking to someone.
Keep up the great work dude!
Cheers
@@maromaro1337 Great comment. I’ve gotten enough suggestions for a part 4 now!
The picnic scene with Vito and Johnnycakes struck me as weird.
@maromaro1337 You & Pure Kino mention Tony's monologue in the Pilot as the one other example of an inner monologue on the show but I always thought it was framed like Tony talking to Dr. Melfi while detailing his day & feelings in the lead-up to collapse. She even interjects after the "I came in at the end. The best over." with "Many Americans feel this way nowadays, I think".
Also it's mildly intriguing to see the vastly different views on the "Every Breath You Take/Peter Gunn theme" mash-up, from people who thought it was gold to a terrible musical choice that makes S3 Ep 1 even more of a less favorable episode for many.
Just discovered your channel. Really enjoying your videos. Never watched the Sopranos, but now I feel like I have to
@@SpongeBobaFett one of my favorite shows. I notice new things everything I watch.
It's never bothered me, I just find it to be an interesting little thing.
My theory: when they finished shooting, the episode was ten seconds too short, so they did slo-mo, but they only had two seconds of Edie Falco walking, and if they stretched that out to 10 seconds, the editing bay would have caught on fire. So they just fucking did a freeze frame, and it would have been weird just to cut to the next scene, so they did a Star Wars wipe. The alternate option was doing a 1960s Batman transition with Tony’s face, but that might’ve taken it a little too far.
@@hookedonphoenix3112 lol
I actually think this is a wonderfully executed stylization choice. The final shot of the sopranos is also a "bad" editing decision if you are more concerned with logic and cohesion, over art.
I don't think it's quite the same as once one gets over the shock of the abrupt ending, it works well to serve the idea of our insight to the story of these characters just ending. Chase said that to him, it's not even a cut to black, it's just the last shot. This one just feels like a random & out of left field editing choice poorly communicating an idea.
So happy to have found your channel!!!!!
As someone who’s worked in a few different industries, denial and saying I don’t know is the mission statement of every person in authority
Love your sopranos videos. Still waiting on sopranos season 2 random thoughts vid.
Haven't forgotten! Because you asked, I think I'm gonna bump that one up on my to-do list a bit.
I think this really reveals how the people at the top always do the least amount of actual work. These people have no idea how their own show got made.
They should have done a crazy Home improvement style transition with funny cartoonish effects
David Chase has previously stated a lot that he does ALL the editing himself or at least oversees it. I think he might be passing the buck here tbh.
Yeah anytime. I've read a review of the episode. Cold cuts they spend like four paragraphs talking about that edit. Lol. It's also considered one of the better episodes ever. Mostly just bc the amazing stuff and footage up at Uncle Pat's farm
I remember seeing this scene as a kid and found baffling
I absolutely remember thinking "What the hell? Why did they do that?" years ago when i first saw the episode, but i havent thought about it again since then. Hilarious to see an actual articule and video talking about it again all this time later.
This edit is the equivalent of writing "Are you really reading all of this?" on a long, tedious homework assignment.
I really wish I could remember the source for this, but I swear I saw an interview or podcast where someone said that David Chase himself suggested it. It might have been on the Talking Sopranos episode for Cold Cuts, I might go back and watch that to confirm.
Chase says in this article that he doesn't know, but Sopranos fans know that he is extremely unreliable when trying to confirm facts or theories. He seems to deliberately contradict or obfuscate things for some reason.
great video. As an editor myself, this cut has always bothered me. I bet it was the AE who was trying to be 'experimental' since he/she was working on an episode by first-time Sopranos director Mike Figgis (I love 'Leaving Las Vegas'). The episode had interesting visual techniques going on that separated it from other Sopranos episodes (for example, when Johnny Sack drives off in the Maserati, the camera quickly pulls back from the car and moves in to a close-up of Tony. The backyard scene in which Tony and Carmela are arguing, there's a shot where the camera is placed inside the empty pool, look up to them. And finally, the therapy scene with Melfi and Tony. When Melfi says, "Depression is rage turned inward" This is the ONLY TIME we see a profile shot of Mefli and then one of Tony cut back-to-back. Very different). So, maybe, the editing needed to push some boundaries?
I'm currently watching the series for the first time (early into season six), and that edit was hilarious. There are quite a few strange edits, visual fx, and also sporadically these high framed shots that appear intended for slow motion, but in post I guess deciding on no slow motion.
I'd like to suggest a movie with some of the most questionable editing ever, The Snowman (2017) Starring Michael Fassbender. The production of the film is legendary, and the final product is a sight to behold. I'd LOVE to watch a video breaking down those edits lol
Wanted to check it out, if it is indeed crazy as you say maybe I’ll make a video about it!
@couchbumkino5423 It's my favorite "so bad it's good" movie. I've seen it three times so far, shown it to friends, and each time just gets better and better. The star power in front and behind the camera is what makes everything so baffling, cause on paper the movie should've been a homerun.
I just recently watched The Sopranos because i was far too young to understand the show when it was on. I was more perplexed by this edit than I was with Livia’s CGI.
My estimation of that random assistant as an editor f*ckin' plummeted...
I like to imagine they edited that as the mock up, but forgot to change it before the final cut was released. Probably never said anything so noone knew it was unintentional
The problem is that we're asking these people 20 years after they worked on it
As one myself, I could listen to editors talk about their motivation for edits all day. Hope you find the person and get to the bottom of this!
Completely unrelated, but I thought the soundproofing foam above your door was a German Empire flag.
lol
The first time I saw it, I had a similar reaction. I was doing a lot of psychedelics at the time, so I really thought I was tripping when I saw that. I was so confused 🤣 when I realised it was an intentional part of the show, I just busted out laughing tho LMAO I really thought David was just trolling us 😂
There are some framed shots of certain scenes like when Vito confronts Finn outside the portapotty where the background looks like the geonisis arena battle scene from attack of the clones
I thought i was the only one that noticed this
It’s obvious that this was a decision made in the edit. Her expression is integral to the scene, but if the clip was played normally it might only have barely been visible before she walks out of the 4:3 safe area. The speed ramping was probably the least jarring way to do it, even though it’s still jarring. The sound effects could be a way to sort of sell that we’re getting a glimpse of what’s going on inside her mind and to integrate the ending of the shot with the start of the shot and probably also to give an indication that it’s actually an intended effect and not a technical issue.
Good points. I feel like if the clip was played normal speed, Carm's expression would have been much more subtle. Subtlety is something this show is normally good at, but this edit anything but subtle.
I always thought it would be a really artsy visual reference to some deep psychological aspect of Abelard and Heloise, that the guy used to attract Carmela. Made by a really dedicated intern, last minute, and that prob got him fired.
The real reason for the bad edit is summed up in 3 simple words: early 2000’s television. Also the editor never had the makings of a varsity athlete.
The more I think about it is that David Chase did it and remembers doing it and he just doesn't want to tell anyone. He likes driving everyone crazy. That might have been the only reason he decided to do it. David Chase sort of has contempt for his own audience! I'm sure it's part of what makes him a genius, but it can be frustrating
It was awkward editing moment, but i understood what it meant. 😆
People, this episode was shot and edited 20 years ago, it's completely believable that not one of them today remembers who took this small but shitty decision that day, and which didn't affect the episode or the whole series that much.
They didn't have the footage of her facial expression that they wanted, so they came up with a solution to get the episode out the door.
For me the cut seems to visualize some kind of threat, urgency or realization. I haven't seen the show but thats how it feels for me. And the look on her face kind of supports that.
So my guess would be they tried to visualize an emotion and feeling of the character.
Most likely just a fuck up, like when a photoshop artist leaves a layer on or off. In this case I would guess the wipe was suppose to come a few frames sooner, they still wanted to see movement but the camera may well have cut there, so they slowed the frames down, the freeze frame would not have mattered at that point the transition would have already passed over Carmella.
Honestly what probably happened is that for the specific episode an amateur editor was brought into the crew due to someone introducing him as a sort of "opportunity" thing and they did this. It's not an uncommon thing but usually the actual usual people involved in the department stop those people from doing things that are obviously dumb. Idk what happened here
Knowing how Sopranos names it's episodes I'm surprised it didn't call it "The Bad Edit"
I thought it froze on it to enhance the dread felt at going back to Tony. Her literally stomping on her feelings in order to face Tony.
Right before it slows down, they could have cut to Carmela in her car, the sound of her car door slamming shut (maybe heightened to sound like a cell door shutting) and then making that horrified realization face to camera, would have worked better. Easy to shoot. Same amount of time as the slow mo. But I suspect they just ran out of time.
"Nobody Knows Anything"
I watched this show for the first time earlier this year, and I don't remember thinking anything of this transition. But now that it's been pointed out, yeah it's odd. Especially the Star Wars wipe 🤣
I've watched this show from start to finish several times. I never even caught this.
I mean there's a bunch of Star Wars references on the Sopranos, the most obvious being Vito and Finn on Genosis.
It's so funny cus it looks exactly like something one of these Sopranos TH-cam poop channels would make
I wonder if it was just some bizarre technical glitch, like whatever they were using to do that wipe screwed up. Like, the animation curve for the cross-wipe got applied to the wrong data source (the speed of the video?) somehow, either in software or if they were editing in hardware at the time, like a motor got undervolted for a couple seconds somehow. And then nobody noticed or everybody assumed that somebody else had done it intentionally...
I might be reaching because it is weird and doesn’t really work, but I’ve always read it as Carmela feeling sick or woozy from bumping into her fling that dumped her brutally despite trying to play it cool. Like a head swell as it slows down, with the swipe being a metaphorical cleanse of the relationship?
But it is a stretch and it is a weird transition 😂
I remember watching this and watching it over each time, going, “what the fuck was that?”
It's so funny that you thought you were having a medical issue. My mom died of an aneurysm and i get bad migraines, so I've always been worried that would happen to me.
When I first saw this my stomach dropped and i felt actual, cold fear for a second, then it wiped and went to normal. Such a weird choice.
Great job reading that article
@@abcpea thanks! I only learned to read last week
There is also another transition where the footage flips to go to yhe new scene. I am not sure what episode it was, but it is just a diffult flip footage transition
Mystery transition 😂😂
"Meanwhile back on tattoonie" they should've used a Dutch tilt this episode also
It feels like this was a prank done by the creators of the show, seeing the success of the show they felt they can just pass this on due to the shows excellence.
@@drd9136 why not lol
When I first saw it on the DVD box set, I thought it was a Disc error. I had to rewind it to see that it was not a glitch. probably just a mistake.
This edit is an SCP.
the edit made perfect sense from an artistic standpoint with what carmela was going through internally, i dont really get how its a bad edit.
Woke up this mornin
Got frozen in time
Mama always said never you mind
I feel like they wanted to do some Martin Scorsese ish and wound up doing some star wars side swipe stuff
Your content is really entertaining I hope you blow up man :D
@@CrustyPlaysYT thank you very much 🙏🏻
wasn't it basically just a scorsese style edit? they did that in goodfellas and i think in casino too. alot of other movies do it too, i just rewatched buffalo 66 and they do it in that
2:01 thats exactly someone who makes content would do, you cut a little bit at the beginning
This point of the video is to just focusing on that specific weird edit in that one shot.
@@couchbumkino5423 and you did a wonderful job
I think it meant her arc was over and she's back where she always was and she's regretting it maybe
5:36 I think even BEFORE reading this, i THOUGHT exactly, that the edit was to show Camila's facial expressions. Without context, the shot is strange. Given her reluctance, it makes sense.....
ONLY the swiping to the fishing area was terrible ......
Heads up. Is it possible, that Cold Cut s was Cold cuts 9:54
I have also always wondered about this
it was freeze frame cut in an ep called "cold cuts"
perhaps it was intended as an obtuse pun?
Of course the Sopranos creator's official response was, "I do not recall."
He'd probably say the same thing if you ask him his middle name. Because he's a stand-up guy. And stand-up guys know the first and most important rule of the game is:
*Keep your mouth shut.*
Def not a stand up guy. Many saints was the movie equivalent of Sammy the bull testifying
I dunno. It doesn't bother me.
So after this I wanted to rewatch your strangest edits videos again. And I've got to say... the beard suits you man.
😅
Definitely agree about the beard
Why are you saying Figgis like that?
@@RetroRespawn I only learned to speak last week because kind
Season 1 also has Artie's wife lines over. Strange.
I assume the Carmella edit has to mean something.
Editing with Windows Movie Maker
This video does not have any original research and is just a dude reading an article. Pointless. I know how to read and can read it myself.
So glad I skipped to the end 😂 report this for misleading
He did all the work researching it, so it saves me time. Glad I watched it.
@ObiWanShinobi67 it's faster to read and article and you get more information.
I honestly never noticed this before ! Now my viewing will be forever ruined !
Bro really made a 10 minute video about this
@@RaiderNation816 wait until I release the 5 hour uncensored version
@@couchbumkino5423 - lol
The only conclusion to draw from all of this is that God did this. God wanted to show us his power in a way we'd understand.