Andor VFX Editing Wins at Emmys 2023
In the world of visual effects (VFX), a dedicated team of professionals work tirelessly to ensure the final product meets both artistic and technical standards. One such individual is Liyana Mansor, who has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in A Season Or A Movie for her work as Lead VFX Editor on the critically acclaimed Disney+ series, "Andor."
Mansor, along with VFX Editor Beau Loewenthal and VFX Assistant Editor Kenny Li, formed the VFX Editorial team for "Andor." During the production process, they relied on a suite of tools from Boris FX to expedite the creation of temp composites and maintain visual consistency throughout the series.
In the temp compositing phase, before any VFX assets have been built, Visual Effects Editors often source or create temporary elements and use concept art or reference photography as a guide. For "Andor," Mansor used Boris FX products like Sapphire and Continuum to achieve this.
Continuum's Primatte Studio was employed for removing blue screens and dropping in temp background plates across the episodes, while S_Laserbeam was used to animate lasers into the cut with specific characteristics. Sapphire's S_FogExponential was used for fog continuity in Aldhani, and a combination of BCC_Scanline, BCC Rays Textured, BCC Rays Radiant Spotlight, and S_Laserbeam were used to affect the images transmitted by holoprojectors.
The tool Primatte, integrated with Mocha, was used for excellent tracking and integration, minimizing any unwanted attention. Continuum's BCC Rain was also used for weather continuity for Cassian entering Preox-Morlana in the opening episode.
As a VFX Editor, Mansor's role extends beyond just managing and organizing visual effects elements. She also supervises the influx of visual effects shots, ensures VFX Vendors and Artists receive necessary data, and creates temp mock-ups to help articulate visual ideas for the edit.
The VFX Editorial team handled over 8000 plates and elements for "Andor," and over 4000 Previs, Postvis, and VFX shots were tracked. This required meticulous organization, communication, and collaboration to stay on schedule and meet quality standards.
Mansor's nomination is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the entire team working on "Andor." By balancing creative problem-solving, technical skill with Boris FX software, and detailed project management, she delivered polished, invisible effects that support storytelling without distracting the viewer.
Technology played a significant role in the production of "Andor," as the VFX Editorial team relied on gadgets like the suite of tools from Boris FX to facilitate the temp compositing process and ensure visual consistency. Liyana Mansor, the Lead VFX Editor, used these tools, such as Sapphire, Continuum, and Primatte, to achieve temporary elements and maintain continuity across various visual effects, including fog, lasers, and holoprojector images.
