Emmy Awards 2023: Visual Effects Editing for the Series Andor
Liyana Mansor, the VFX Editor on the Disney+ series "Andor," has been nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Special Visual Effects in A Season Or A Movie. Her dedication and collaborative work with the entire team on the show have earned her this recognition.
Mansor's role involves significant temporary compositing work, where she quickly mocks up VFX shots to aid the edit and visual effects process. She uses Boris FX products, specifically Continuum and Sapphire plugins, integrated with Avid Media Composer, to enhance her editing and VFX workflow.
In her workflow, Mansor uses a Wacom Intuos Pro tablet along with the Boris FX plugins. The Intuos Pro pen allows her a more intuitive, tactile, and precise way to perform temp compositing. She describes the pen as feeling like an extension of her hand, enabling more fluid and comfortable editing when working quickly and accurately. This combination of hardware and Boris FX software tools supports her ability to efficiently integrate visual effects elements during editing on "Andor."
The scale and complexity of the visual effects in "Andor" presented a significant challenge due to the high volume of material, managing the high number of VFX shots, and meeting the delivery schedule. To tackle this, Mansor had to source or create temporary elements and use concept art or reference photography as a guide. She also used BCC Rain for weather continuity in the opening episode and Continuum's Primatte Studio for removing blue screens and dropping in temp background plates across the episodes.
Sapphire's S_FogExponential was used for fog continuity in Aldhani, while a combination of BCC_Scanline, BCC Rays Textured, BCC Rays Radiant Spotlight, and S_Laserbeam was used to affect the images transmitted by holoprojectors in "Star Wars." S_Laserbeam was also used to animate lasers into the cut with specific characteristics in "Star Wars" action scenes.
The role of a Visual Effects Editor involves bridging the gap between Editorial and VFX Production departments. Mansor manages and organizes visual effects elements, ensures VFX Vendors and Artists receive necessary materials, and supervises the influx of visual effects shots. Her role also involves continuity and quality control to ensure the final product meets artistic and technical standards set by the showrunner and production team.
The team tracked over 4000 Previs, Postvis, and VFX shots, handled over 8000 plates and elements, and QC'd over 16,000 iterations before each of the final 3843 VFX shots were delivered. This meticulous attention to detail sustained over a 22-month period was crucial in achieving a high level of realism over the numerous intricate sequences in "Andor."
[1] Source: Interview with Liyana Mansor, VFX Editor on "Andor" (Disney+)
1) Liyana Mansor, working on the 'movies-and-tv' show "Andor," leverages Boris FX tools for her VFX and editing tasks, creating a seamless workflow that allows her to efficiently integrate visual effects elements.
2) In the 'entertainment' industry, the role of a Visual Effects Editor, like Liyana Mansor on "Andor," is pivotal in bridging the gap between Editorial and VFX Production departments, ensuring high-quality visual effects are meticulously implemented for a polished final product.
