Movies - TV
How Andor Didn't Walk
In The Mandalorian's Footsteps With Stagecraft
By SANDY SCHAEFER
Technical breakthroughs in the film and TV industry tend to quickly become popular with certain studios and directors trying to use the technology to cut corners while filmmaking. One such technology is ILM’s StageCraft, which uses high-def LED video walls to generate virtual scenery, a practice which became popular in the first season of “The Mandalorian.”
However, the utilization of StageCraft has drawn some criticism after its uneven use for “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Thor: Love and Thunder,” just three years after its height of popularity. The “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” prequel/spin-off show, “Andor,” looks to be refreshing, as creator and head writer Tony Gilroy confirms the show to be the first live-action “Star Wars” series to forgo the technology.
“Andor” star Diego Luna pointed out that filming in real-world locations can be challenging, saying, “In Pitlochry, Scotland, we had to walk for hours up a mountain to set up one shot. Huge effort. Really dangerous to get there.” But the effort paid off, as “Andor” seems to reach a perfect balance of practical sets/props and CGI, without overuse of either becoming a hindrance.