Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu have brought the iconic Razor Crest to life in a way that combines old-school modelmaking with cutting-edge digital technology. The film's visual effects team, Industrial Light & Magic, has resurrected a classic filmmaking technique used in the original trilogy to create a seamless and awe-inspiring adventure. The Razor Crest, a shiny and chrome new model, is a retro car that has been kept perfectly preserved in a garage. The team built a 48-inch version of the ship with removable ramps and landing gear, allowing for detailed closeups and shots in flight and on the ground. The miniatures were shot using a motion-control rig, with meticulous preparation and mapping out of every camera move and light source. The shiny finish of the Razor Crest provided challenges for the crew, requiring careful lighting to achieve perfect reflections. The team also built a miniature version of an ILM StageCraft LED volume, allowing for more realistic environments and more miniature shots than ever before. The result is an indistinguishable blend of practical effects and computer graphics animation, pushing digital technology further while embracing the original hand-crafted techniques that have been a part of Star Wars since the beginning. The film is an all-new Star Wars adventure filmed for IMAX, in theaters now.
