Emmy Awards 2023: Visual Effects Editing of Andor Series
In the dynamic world of visual effects (VFX), collaboration and iteration are key. A typical VFX Editor workflow involves organizing and syncing media, creating rough and fine cuts of footage, integrating and refining visual effects, color grading, sound design, and final polishing. This process was exemplified in the production of the Star Wars series, "Andor" on Disney+.
The VFX-heavy nature of "Andor" required a robust set of tools to create the intricate sequences demanded by the show. One such tool is Boris FX, a suite of products that expedites the VFX process in various ways, benefiting the user and saving time.
While the search results do not directly detail Boris FX's involvement on "Andor", industry knowledge and common practice suggest Boris FX tools are often employed for high-end compositing, screen replacement, rotoscoping, cleanup, and visual effect titling—tasks critical to a VFX-heavy series like "Andor".
Liyana Mansor, the Lead VFX Editor on "Andor", made extensive use of Boris FX products. For instance, Continuum's Primatte Studio was used for removing blue screens and dropping in temp background plates across the episodes of "Andor". Liyana also relied on Boris FX products to tackle various VFX compositing tasks before any VFX assets had been built.
One of the standout uses of Boris FX was in animating lasers into the cut. S_Laserbeam was used to animate lasers with a red glow, hot white core, tapered "spear" shape, and various perspectives across action scenes on "Andor". Another example is the use of Sapphire's S_FogExponential for fog continuity in Aldhani on "Andor".
The Boris FX tools helped in making the most polished version of the offline cut, aiding the storytelling and removing distractions. Liyana Mansor's role as a VFX Editor involves managing and organizing visual effects elements during the post-production phase of filmmaking. Her work on "Andor" was an incredible journey, and she is immensely grateful for the opportunity and proud of what the team achieved together.
The VFX Editorial team on "Andor" 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. Liyana Mansor's role as a VFX Editor involves contributing creatively by creating temp mock-ups of VFX shots to help articulate visual ideas for the edit.
Liyana Mansor's dedication and collaboration are reflected in her Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Special Visual Effects in A Season Or A Movie for her work on "Andor". Her nomination is a testament to the entire team's efforts in creating the visually stunning world of "Andor". The show demanded a high level of realism over the numerous intricate sequences, which amounted to hundreds of shots per episode. The use of Boris FX products played a significant role in achieving this realism and enhancing the polish of the shots.
Technology played a significant role in enhancing the visual effects in the production of the Star Wars series, "Andor" on Disney+, with tools like Boris FX benefiting the VFX Editorial team. Boris FX products, such as S_Laserbeam and S_FogExponential, were used extensively for animating lasers, removing blue screens, and creating temp mock-ups of visual effects shots, demonstrating how these tools contributed to the show'smovies-and-tv entertainment value by assisting in the creation of a visually stunning, realistic world.
