In less than a week, the 90th Academy Awards will give 2017’s best movies a chance for Oscar glory. Naturally, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is up for Best Visual Effects, and Industrial Light and Magic is looking to add another Oscar to its collection. To show off the extensive work that went into the film, ILM has released a pair of new featurettes that explore The Last Jedi’s VFX. In the first video, ILM takes an extended look at the techniques used to create the illusion of Supreme Leader Snoke, as portrayed by motion-capture veteran Andy Serkis.
These clips reveal the simple tricks employed to convey Snoke’s presence on set, like the model of his face actors could react to. Serkis was even placed on a higher platform so Snoke would be convincingly taller than his apprentice, Kylo Ren. Additionally, the video depicts the devices and cameras Serkis wore on his head to capture the subtleties of Snoke’s facial expressions.
In the second video, ILM offers a look at the Battle of Crait, one of the climactic moments within the film. The most surprising thing here is how the practical effects were utilized to create the movement of the sand in a very low tech way. Older techniques can still be used to make a convincing on-screen Star Wars battle. However, CGI was used to realize the Millennium Falcon’s role in the final battle as it flew through the caverns.
What do you think about the new VFX videos? And will ILM take home Oscar gold? Let us know in the comment section below!
Images: Lucasfilm/ILM
More VFX transformations!
- How Blade Runner 2049 brought back Rachael.
- A skinless Rocket Raccoon (sorry).
- Bringing Game of Thrones‘ army of the dead to life.
