Discuss with Liyana Mansor, the VFX Editor on her artistic endeavors.
Liyana Mansor, a VFX editor based in the UK, has made a name for herself in the high-profile world of film and television, working on notable projects such as *Everybody’s Talking about Jamie*, *The Alienist*, *Chernobyl*, *Alien: Covenant*, *Black Mirror*, and *Andor*. Her journey to success is marked by her versatility and expertise, showcasing her ability to adapt to a variety of productions [2].
Mansor's workflow is a harmonious blend of hardware and software tools. She is particularly fond of the Wacom Intuos Pro tablet, which she considers an essential tool for her creativity and productivity. The tablet's pen, she says, feels like an extension of her hand, allowing for intuitive, fluid, and precise work [2]. Avid Media Composer is another crucial component in her toolkit, serving as the foundation for her VFX editing and compositing tasks.
When it comes to software plugins, Mansor relies heavily on the Boris FX suite, specifically the Continuum and Sapphire plugins. These tools support her in crafting complex visual effects with efficiency and finesse within her editing software environment [2]. For cleaner green screen replacements, she often turns to Continuum's Primatte Studio.
Mansor's creative process is not without its challenges. When she hits a creative wall with a VFX composition, she advises stepping away and working on something else before returning to it later or the next day [1]. She also employs custom macros on her Razor mouse to cycle through multiple repeated actions, streamlining her workflow [1].
Inspiration for Mansor comes from a variety of sources. She looks back fondly on films from her childhood and finds inspiration in the work of directors such as Rian Johnson, the director of *Looper*, and Bong Joon-ho. She also admires the work of editors with VFX knowledge, such as Yang Jinmo [2].
Born in Brunei, a tiny nation on the tropical island of Borneo, Mansor moved to the north of England before her teens. She later graduated from Leeds College of Art and Design. Her career in the industry began in 2012 when she started as a runner at a large post-production house in London [2].
Mansor's hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She is now a first-time Emmy nominee as Lead VFX Editor on *Andor* (Disney+) [3]. Her advice to aspiring VFX editors is to never hesitate or count themselves out of an opportunity just because they don't "feel ready" [1].
In her downtime, Mansor collects VFX elements for her temp comp process, including muzzle flashes, fire, smoke, and weather elements. These elements serve as a foundation for her creative explorations, helping her to bring her vision to life [1].
As Mansor continues to make her mark in the VFX industry, her love for the craft is evident. Whether it's working on Cinnamon Social slices during epic sessions or crafting complex visual effects for high-profile productions, Mansor's passion for her work shines through.
References: [1] https://www.fxguide.com/featured/liyana-mansor-on-her-emmy-nominated-work-on-andor/ [2] https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/people/liyana-mansor/ [3] https://www.emmys.com/awards/year/2022/nominees/outstanding-visual-effects-in-a-limited-or-anthology-series-or-movie/andor
In her downtime, Liyana Mansor curates a collection of VFX elements like muzzle flashes, fire, smoke, and weather effects, which serve as a foundation for her creative explorations.
Liyana Mansor's workflow is streamlined with the use of custom macros on her Razormouse for cycling through repeated actions, and software plugins such as those in the Boris FX suite, specifically the Continuum and Sapphire plugins, which aid her in crafting complex visual effects with ease.
