• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
  • VIDEO
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
  • INTERACTIVE
  • COMMUNITY
  • DATABANK
  • DISNEY+
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest Celebrates the Return of Modelmaking Magic to Star Wars

September 24, 2020
September 24, 2020
Dan Brooks

Watch the new mini-documentary, detailing how ILM created The Mandalorian ship with classic techniques.

The Mandalorian ushered in a major visual effects innovation with StageCraft, the immersive screen that projects real-time 3D environments. But it also brought back a decidedly old-school technique that formed the very foundation of the original Star Wars: modelmaking.

Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest stillInside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest stillInside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest still

Today, Industrial Light & Magic, the visual effects house of Lucasfilm, released a new mini-documentary called Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest, which tells the story of how ILM built and shot a model of the Mandalorian’s hulking vessel. With the advent of digital technology, models have been used less and less frequently over the years -- though respect for the artistry and craft always remained at ILM and Lucasfilm. “Miniatures and motion control are in our DNA at ILM, and it's been over 15 years since we have done a motion-control shoot,” Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest director Chris Hawkinson tells StarWars.com. “Documenting the process wouldn't have been possible without the support of the company and filmmakers.”

Hawkinson was granted unprecedented behind-the-scenes access during the making of The Mandalorian, taking viewers from early explorations with design supervisor Doug Chiang to John Knoll’s custom-made motion-control system. It’s a wonderfully in-depth look at the return of a lost art, and what it means to those behind The Mandalorian.

Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest still Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest still

“We spent just over two months gathering interviews and shooting behind-the-scenes footage and finished post production during shelter-in-place,” Hawkinson says. “From the design of the ship, to the engineering the motion-control rig and model mover, to the incredible level of detail in the miniature, to the passion everyone brought to the project... It's movie magic. It's what inspired me growing up, and helping tell the story was one of the greatest joys of my career.”

Watch Inside ILM: Creating the Razor Crest below!


New season starts streaming Oct. 30. Catch up on Season One now.

Dan Brooks is Lucasfilm’s senior content strategist of online, the editor of StarWars.com, and a writer. He loves Star Wars, ELO, and the New York Rangers, Jets, and Yankees. Follow him on Twitter @dan_brooks where he rants about all these things.

Site tags: #StarWarsBlog, #TheMandalorian

ILM The Mandalorian razor crest

Related Stories

{:title=>"The Mandalorian", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-mandalorian"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

New The Mandalorian Season 3 Poster and “Phenomenon” Special Look Revealed

February 1, 2023

February 1, 2023

Feb 1

{:title=>"The Mandalorian", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-mandalorian"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

The Mandalorian Soars in New Season 3 Trailer and Key Art

January 17, 2023

January 17, 2023

Jan 17

{:title=>"The Bad Batch", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-bad-batch"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Dee Bradley Baker on the Return of Commander Cody – Exclusive

January 13, 2023

January 13, 2023

Jan 13

{:title=>"Games + Apps", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/games-+-apps"} {:title=>"Merchandise", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/merchandise"}

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Invades the Tabletop

December 19, 2022

December 19, 2022

Dec 19

{:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"} {:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

"Fragile Peace”: Exploring Phase II of Star Wars: The High Republic with the Newest Authors

December 15, 2022

December 15, 2022

Dec 15

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

Jeffrey Brown's The Mandalorian and Child Will Celebrate Our Favorite Clan of Two - Exclusive Reveal

December 9, 2022

December 9, 2022

Dec 9

{:title=>"Games + Apps", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/games-+-apps"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: Cameron Monaghan on Cal Kestis’ Next Adventure

December 9, 2022

December 9, 2022

Dec 9

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The Mandalorian", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-mandalorian"}

Migs Mayfeld Prepares for a Prison Sting in Marvel’s Star Wars: The Mandalorian #6 - Exclusive Preview

December 7, 2022

December 7, 2022

Dec 7

More From Star Wars:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • SWKids
  • Terms of Use
  • Additional Content Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Star Wars at shopDisney
  • Star Wars Helpdesk
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved