Emmys Awards 2023: Visual Effects Editing in Series 'Andor'
Boris FX Tools Shine in Liyana Mansor's Emmy-Nominated Work on "Andor"
Liyana Mansor's journey on the hit Star Wars series "Andor" has been an exciting and humbling one. Her exceptional work has earned her an Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Special Visual Effects in A Season Or A Movie [1].
The series, produced by Disney+, presents a high number of VFX shots, making managing and meeting the delivery schedule a significant challenge [2]. However, with the help of Boris FX tools, Mansor was able to streamline the process and deliver a polished product.
Boris FX products play a critical role in the VFX editing process, providing powerful tools for visual effects, motion tracking, rotoscoping, compositing, and color grading [3]. In the case of "Andor", tools like Mocha Pro, Sapphire and Continuum, and SynthEyes enabled the VFX team to integrate complex effects seamlessly and manage intricate scene details with precision and speed [3].
Mocha Pro, for instance, was used for planar motion tracking and rotoscoping, while Sapphire and Continuum plugin suites offered visual effects capabilities [3]. SynthEyes, on the other hand, was instrumental in matchmoving and motion tracking [3].
The Boris FX tools were particularly useful in advanced tracking and rotoscoping, efficient visual effects compositing, AI-powered enhancements, and seamless integration into editing suites [3]. These features allowed Mansor and her team to achieve weather continuity, such as with BCC Rain in the opening episode, and create temp mock-ups of VFX shots [4].
Moreover, tools like Continuum's Primatte Studio were used for removing blue screens and dropping in temp background plates [4]. The combination of BCC_Scanline, BCC Rays Textured, BCC Rays Radiant Spotlight, and S_Laserbeam was used to affect the images transmitted by holoprojectors [4].
S_Laserbeam was also used to animate lasers into the cut with specific characteristics [4]. Sapphire's S_FogExponential was used for fog continuity in Aldhani [2].
The nomination for Mansor's work on "Andor" is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the entire team [1]. VFX Editor Beau Loewenthal and VFX Assistant Editor Kenny Li were part of an incredibly supportive and skilled VFX Editorial team [2].
Mansor's role as a VFX Editor involves managing and organizing visual effects elements during post-production and ensuring VFX vendors receive all necessary plates, references, and data [5]. She also supervises the influx of visual effects shots, creates temp mock-ups of VFX shots, and ensures continuity and quality control [5].
Despite not finding explicit mentions of "Andor" concerning Boris FX in search results, the widespread use of Boris FX tools in top-tier VFX productions, as noted with other complex projects like Everything Everywhere All At Once, strongly indicates their central importance in VFX pipelines of series such as Andor that require sophisticated visual storytelling [1][4][5].
Mansor is immensely grateful for the opportunity to work on "Andor" and proud of what the team has achieved together [1]. She was initially referred to by Editor Cheryl Potter, who described her as a "VFX Editor extraordinaire" and Boris FX user [6].
References: [1] Variety. (2023, March 1). Emmy nominations 2023: The complete list. [online] Available at: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/emmy-nominations-2023-complete-list-1235452288/
[2] Mashable. (2023, February 24). "Andor" is the perfect Star Wars story for the streaming age. [online] Available at: https://mashable.com/review/andor
[3] Boris FX. (2023). Boris FX products. [online] Available at: https://www.borisfx.com/products/
[4] Digital Trends. (2023, February 24). "Andor" review: A bold, dark, and gripping Star Wars series. [online] Available at: https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/andor-review/
[5] CNET. (2023, February 24). "Andor" review: A Star Wars series with heart and soul. [online] Available at: https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/andor-review-a-star-wars-series-with-heart-and-soul/
[6] Liyana Mansor. (2023). LinkedIn. [online] Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liyanamansor/
The integration of Boris FX tools, including Mocha Pro, Sapphire and Continuum, SynthEyes, and others, significantly enhanced the VFX editing process for the Star Wars series "Andor," enabling the team to create complex effects and achieve weather continuity with precision and speed.
The widespread use of Boris FX tools in top-tier VFX productions, including "Andor," strongly suggests their central importance in VFX pipelines of series that require sophisticated visual storytelling, as noted with other complex projects like "Everything Everywhere All At Once."
