How ILM Made The Mandalorian's Razor Crest Motion-Controlled Miniature!

For the first season of The Mandalorian, ILM went back to their roots to make a scale miniature of the Razor Crest ship and filmed it with a custom-designed and machined motion control camera system. Adam Savage chats with his former colleagues--Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll and veteran modelmaker John Goodson--to learn how they revived this classic Star Wars filming technology and what it brought to the look of the show.
Watch ILM's featurette about the making of the Razor Crest: • Inside ILM: Creating t...
Shot and edited by Norman Chan
Footage courtesy of Industrial Light & Magic
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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!
#themandalorian #ilm #vfx

[@tested]

Watch ILM's featurette about the making of the Razor Crest: kzbin.info/www/bejne/borYknyti8d4kNE

[@afarwiththedawning4495]

Thanks for this, getting into this type of model building and I loved hearing about how it isn't dead yet!

[@wernervanpeppen4873]

I loved the model name at the end. Lunak Heavy Industries. It's an interesting company :)

[@coeusdarksoul2855]

@Adam Savage's Tested - Here's a good fan-made trailer for Clone Wars, since you haven't seen it I figure this might entice you to spend a week binging it :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKiTi4aModllfJI

[@stevethea5250]

@@afarwiththedawning4495 Industrial Light & Magic Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when Lucas began production of the film Star Wars.

[@ScrubsIsee]

My first question that came up ... - directly answered. Thank you!

[@Warutteri]

I wasn't aware they had been doing motion control shots on Mandalorian but it DEFINITELY explains A LOT why the Razor Crest looks so ridiculously good and life-like and at least to me is the first Star Wars ship in a very long time that actually FEELS like a Star Wars ship!

[@joeniedbala]

This was possibly one of the most fascinating and fun effects-related interviews I've ever seen!

[@BrendenVogt]

Seriously

[@stevethea5250]

@@karolinamarin2035 Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when Lucas began production of the film Star Wars.

[@allluckyseven]

It makes a huuuge difference when your interviewer knows at least some of the stuff the interviewees do.

[@sebastianmartensson831]

I've said it before, and this is my opinion as someone who works in the field of media, Mr Savage is great at doing interviews. I relisten to Origin stories several times a year.

[@stevethea5250]

Industrial Light & Magic Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is an American motion picture visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas. It is a division of the film production company Lucasfilm, which Lucas founded, and was created when Lucas began production of the film Star Wars.

[@pandapropsncostumes]

This goes back to something Adam once said a long time ago, is that all these amazing talented artists and people have one thing in common: passion. The fact that they stay up late at night and are sharing photos and texts and are geeking out over it is the same reason and way we need out over things we are also passionate about. John Knoll could have easily said “No, lets just all go CG”. But the fact that so many people on the team were stoked on it is awesome! Keep the fire burning everyone! Light the torches of your personal passion and never let it die out :)

[@kane101985]

Amen to all of that!

[@TheTinkirWorkshop]

I absolutely love seeing all of this practical effects stuff coming back to relevance. Nothing beats something physical to work with.

[@jacklougheed4561]

Ill be honest. Having finished the madalorian and enjoyed it as a show without knowing any of the behind the scenes I couldn’t tell that there were real models in the show. The entire thing looked amazing. Super awesome to see that they used real models, also Season 2 was epic.

[@barstowtovegas8574]

John Knoll, my new hero. See the way he's smiling about the stuff he's building, yeah this is the board thats replaced the birds nest wiring and look, look, quick look, check out this old school front panel...... a cool dude.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

He and is brother Thomas also were the original creators of Photoshop!

[@marshall3n]

Everything about how they made this series is so dope. The LED screens, the models, the score. My goodness it’s top notch

[@studioatiko]

Who's here after they massacred the Razor Crest... R.I.P. you'll be missed

[@imperialtutor8687]

yeah was crazy the ship was pretty much a recurring character in the show, something identifiable for the mandalorian...just like his beskar armor.

[@Clonefreak1]

Depending on how in the loop these guys were... The episode was shot a year ago... They knew!! I'm going to re-watch some of their reactions with this in mind!

[@iamtheflu]

When adam asked them about looking forward to more motion contolled shots of the razercrest, I noticed how they dodged the question knowing the fate of the ship. I hope the slave 1 gets that sort of love now that's it's back in the limelight.

[@adamhd3282]

@III Vance i really hope they dont kill Boba but it would be cool if Mando got the Slave and kinda carried on his legacy if he did die

[@BarnyWaterg8]

Alex Blascyk this may happen with book of boba fett

[@R.Craig.Collins]

Old school still relevant, thanks for the wonderful backstory and needed distraction

[@ClayMann]

I think it was revealing when Jon Favreau said in that video that the difference between practical and CG is you get to keep practical in your home afterwards. And THAT's why I think they are doing it. Jon wants these cool models on display but with some real history attached to them as models really used in the show. I'm sure he can afford to pay anyone to make any statues he desires but they won't have that same gravitas as a real prop from the series. I find that hilarious.

[@GerritCoulter]

The Mandalorian is so much fun!

[@tylerkennedy4203]

I appreciate that Adam actually let's his peers speak

[@TheAntorian]

Thank you all for sharing this. I've been building models since I was a kid dreaming of put a model on a rig. It's so exciting to see this method revived and to get a peak into how that came about. I wish you all the best!

[@OptionZero]

This was glorious The love these guys have for their craft is inspiring

[@stevethea5250]

SO MANY JOHNS

[@MaxV11]

I just loved the "impossible camera angles" pointed out by John Knoll, he's so right, and that's why so many CGI shots looks like a video game cut scene and not a film I believe. Great video, thanks so much!

[@SoCloseToToast]

This is awesome insight!

[@dadgum5648]

This reminds me of my uncle who was one of the guys who worked at Hasbro during the Prequels, specifically he designed the toy lightsaber that has become a staple that allows it too collapse in on its self and be "ignited" by flicking it. As a child at the time, our christmas gifts from him were always amazing 😂

[@Sacha_8976]

Dadgum your uncle created the defining toy of my entire childhood

[@SienjorQueso]

Please tell your uncle that he is a wonderful human being that has brought joy to many many hearts

[@inactive67]

Adam wants his old job back, so much joy and reverence for a time long ago. It made my day watching this.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Hahahaha. Adam was having a lot of feels! And the old maestros were like, “Forget it kid, you had your chance.”

[@Uselesswizard]

This is an absolutely amazing and fantastic interview. Thanks to the Johns for coming on and thank you Adam for being such a fantastic interviewer

[@sgundahl]

This is the best interview I ever saw. Can't stop smiling.

[@paulloughlin3732]

I love John Knoll and his passion for the work that he does. Was always a treat to watch him on the DVD special features and Web Docs for the prequels!

[@diegodoumecq5144]

That was an awesome interview. Loving the "I'm ready coach! Put me in!" comments from Adam.

[@dillscriv22]

Watching ALLLL of your smiles when you talk about this is just, so wholesome

[@number6of1]

I see a Tardis from Dr. Who and a Narcissus from Alien in John Goodson's shop... Love a virtual tour, Adam.

[@Albo999]

There's the Rebel Blockade Runner drop pod on the right, too.

[@dorsk84]

And HAL over his Left sholder

[@fishsaucen1254]

A Kerbal as well :D

[@dh2032]

@@dorsk84 do you remember that episode of tested when Adam was going a round someone private collection of film stuff, the collector was saying about and box of random bits he had got, film or something like that, and than Adam started taking the bit to make "H.A.L."'s EYE out of the bits that was cool.

[@PaulV3D]

Pay attention folks. This is where the magic happens!

[@Hirosjimma]

This is where the *Industrial Light and Magic happens!

[@xanosdarkpaw1]

So that's why it looked so good!

[@Lumibear.]

It’s one of those things, using a model, you know it looks better, you’re not consciously aware of why, it just does, but full motion control is next level and I applaud such attention to detail. It still blows me away how they’re using ‘holodeck tech’ and CGI sets, though, that’s ground breaking work. Let us pray season two is as good.

[@salmeza85]

No wonder these guys are so brilliant at what they do. They hold the experience and expertise of about 3-4 professions.

[@callumwearne7870]

This is just something you don’t see everyday and these guys are showing it all just casually on a zoom interview.. that is just fucking awesome..

[@DeXandBanjo]

I am so glad that technology has caught up to practical effects.

[@kieferrush6818]

The incredibly high levels of enthusiasm in this video is just intoxicating. So much so, that I really wanna go and make something... Literally anything.

[@mrfoameruk]

In the Mandalorian what I like is the fact you can't see what is real or CGI. As he said, later on, putting in unreal camera angles immediately takes you to the point "This is not real" where keeping it real really does make it feel real.

[@cayllles]

yay! so cool to keep seeing my dad pop up online 😊 great video adam!

[@thx1138y]

What piece of documentary !! i felt like a child again..very nice and lovely the passion and skils puting in

[@mbignell1]

Loved this. Just look at the smiles on those guys' faces!

[@DaveTpletsch]

What a great interview. Just further proof that people who love what they do and are excited to do it will inevitably know the most about their job and do the best work.

[@SierraLimaOscar]

Hey Adam! Thank you for this. That was a cool interview with 2 great guests. Thank you!

[@ahlkazar7227]

Thanks Adam, this was amazing! More of this please!

[@DDMco123]

Definitely the best interview I’ve watched on tested. Great job Adam

[@zachary3352]

This was REALLY cool. I loved watching Adam and the Johns nerd out about camera movement tech.

[@smitned]

This is definitely "the way"! Thanks for posting, you guys really make my day! 👍

[@christianalzmann4327]

This was so much fun to watch!! Thanks for posting Adam!!

[@Peter_Morris]

Man this is so cool. Watching the Mandalorian last year with my kids was such a treat. There were so many “Star Wars” moments, and knowing that there are practical effects in it makes it even more special! Big thanks to these guys for putting in the effort to mss as me real movie magic again!

[@adamgardiner5869]

I love the way Adam can interjects personal anecdotes without suddenly making the interview about or seeming prideful...he is such a great interviewer.

[@nickboylen6873]

I love their enthusiasm and well placed pride!

[@peckenstein]

Totally, TOTALLY need to get into the shop for a video when they are shooting. This was great. Loves putting faces to the names we hear so often, and getting fresh stories from ILM. Great content.

[@carlosgastelum8251]

How can we get a Adam Savage cameo on the Mandalorian as a Mechanic fixing the Razor Crest.

[@j0hn00]

There's nothing left to fix anymore

[@carlosgastelum8251]

Yeah, I made my comment before I saw episode 14

[@ashakydd1]

@@j0hn00 well, it really depends how much time the want to spend picking through the dirt.

[@phenotypical7169]

Incredible interview with 3 incredible makers! Thank you!

[@sergiomontani154]

amazing teamwork always having fun that's why it turned out such a good series

[@Jayneflakes]

Another fascinating episode, thank you Adam and the Tested team.

[@sandollor]

I really liked this episode. It was cool hearing about the modeling and effects behind the scenes stuff that went on from the creators of the best Star Wars story in the last 37 years. Thank you Adam, the two Johns, and everyone involved!

[@johncage5368]

20:12 Indeed. Really nice to see that joy on everyone's face such an amazing physical model can achieve. Wonderful work.

[@KaoruGoyle]

Adam your channel is so wholesome, you have this positive energy, you ENJOY and love the things you talk about and you are contagious and always make me smile :)

[@aaron190]

I love watching these kind of videos people full of such passion and knowledge in what they do!

[@MidnightOilProductions]

That was so much fun to watch! Thanks Adam for doing that interview.

[@shadow7037932]

It's really nice to know that the old school ILM practical effects magic is still around.

[@WhiskyMystery]

At home in their own garages :-)

[@shadow7037932]

@@WhiskyMystery Exactly ;) Even better now because 3D printing and even CNC mills have come down in price. A mill capable of cutting RenShape/RenFoam and such is pretty affordable if you're serious about the hobby!

[@WhiskyMystery]

@@shadow7037932 These guys are super talented but still it just shows how that capacity for making things is no longer accessible inside the buildings ILM. Or maybe John K was just having too much fun at home.

[@FXCAMERON]

super great to see those two men again.

[@guitfidle]

Oh man, that was great!! Thank you so much for making videos like this!

[@Jeerin_]

that ILM video was sooo cool, I am trying to get into prop making and that video helped a lot by showing me more of what professional prop makers do

[@MD_Builds]

I love that John Knoll isnt just a great VFX guy, hes a great maker and developer! totally aspiring guy!

[@arthurballs2754]

Fascinating this bit from John Goodson, I'm old enough to have loved them since they first appeared; my little brother [then five] got one for Christmas 1983. "You just look at the speeder bike. The back end-the exhausts-are actually the nose of a space shuttle. You know, cut off and flipped upside down, and it doesn't have the windshield in it. You look at it; it's clearly obvious what it is. But that went from a concept model up to full size. And that's what we've all been looking at since Return of the Jedi in 1983,"

[@Dan-ku9mt]

GAWD!! I f**KING LOOOOOVED this video!! SUPER informative and insightful! Adam, if you or either John ever decide to do a masterclass or some kind of in-depth tutorial on motion control from start to finish, I (and I'm certain MANY others) would GLADY pay for such a class!

[@RagnarRipper]

Two masters of their craft talking to a third... How did it take me so long to finally watch this!

[@marcoantoniosalazarmatamor9496]

This is one more application of balm to my brain in times where I surely wish, no, NEED to be calm. I have not the money or the capabilities to be part of the Maker community, but ever since I discovered this channel I have been nothing if not constantly impressed and wish I could do stuff this impressive.

[@darthgbc363]

I absolutely love the shot of cast & crew seeing the model & your comments on their grins. 20:28 I got very emotional there.

[@jonathanvilleneuve5766]

amazing interview! I wish we could get more John Knoll and Adam, infinite amount of knowledge right there.

[@aberendt]

Great interview! I could have listened to this for hours.

[@BrekkaJones24]

What I am truly fascinated by is watching these legends that have been there from practically the very beginning now working with modern technology, still playing a crucial role in Star Wars visual effects.

[@iresolvers]

hopefully these guy's will teach the next generation of camera motion & model makers so the knowledge doesn't magically disappear would love to see more stuff like this great video

[@terryloh8583]

Wow. Watching this after Season 2 is over gives me the feels.

[@AJB2K3]

Love this episode including the behind the scenes design work for tooling

[@garyduggan897]

Love that some of the ship shots were also done the old school way. I was not aware of this. Was blown away by one of the razorcrest shots in a recent ep. When the ship fell in the water and was then craned out onto the dock, draining water and bits of it breaking off, I thought that was the best looking, most convincing CGI I've seen in a while. Now I'm wondering if that was done with a model! Does anybody know??

[@Nogoingback424]

That was great. So glad I found this video. It brought back a lot of great memories.

[@bbowman105]

John Knoll is a living legend. His career is insanely cool. His contributions to the wonderful world of CG can't be overstated.

[@sejunoh3990]

Thank you for sharing these wonderful conversations with us! They're so fun and I learn so much! I really hope Adam gets involved in making these models or machine casings. I would be so happy if that comes true :)

[@chemcody5119]

This is just too cool. We were all sitting around the lunch room listening to this video. I think you brought out the little boy in all of us!

[@bzqp2]

Beautiful material!!

[@peterkelley6344]

Thanks Adam. Thanks for this view into model making.

[@JonMcPhalen]

As a microcontroller programmer with an interest in motion control, I'd love to see an episode with John Knoll that goes into the details of the system. For example, what platform was used to develop the motion control software? How does that communicate with the mo-co hardware (RS-485? Ethernet? CAN?).

[@makatron]

Honestly ethernet looks like a great way to carry loads of data controls and also a bit of power for smaller electronics. Heck even over Wi-Fi to extend ranges for when cables might be getting in the way.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Sounds like you should contact him and make a vid for the rest of us to watch!

[@derrickleung8014]

I hope that we can get more interviews like this and that we get more stories from behind the scenes.

[@myfreedomfirst]

Thanks for doing this Adam!

[@TheBluealan2000]

A fascinating insight into the people who created some of the scenes we will all remember forever. Can you imagine the chaotic possibilities when these three were working together.

[@imperialtutor8687]

a combination of great Cgi shots and practical effects make for a damn convincing presentation.

[@Russwig]

So glad you gave Dan Patrascu a shout-out. He is a very deserving guy and very jazzed to be working on this.

[@ot0m0t0]

Best person to make this interview and to present it here to a hungry audience. Adam here is planting the seeds of the next generation of great filmmakers.

[@captain61games49]

You can tell Adam is just a child at how exited he gets it’s terrific

[@eugenenolan3934]

Practically perfect in every way.

[@musstakrakish]

Easily my favorite video to date!!

[@Maxine_comics]

This was just so endlessly interesting to me!

[@davidgriffiths2223]

Beyond thrilled to see this. Hope they’re using the opportunity to mentor a new group of talent that can keep these skills and techniques alive. It would be a real shame to lose their expertise because it wasn’t utilized enough. The best part is to see how much everyone is delighted by the work they’re doing, despite how much more difficult it is than CG. They both look like kids in the candy shop.

[@TwistedShrapnel]

Incredible conversation and insight!

[@hazonku]

This was a very inspiring and informative interview. I grew up during that awkward period where you guys were doing amazing model worth that was being married to CGI that was still finding its footing. It VERY much informed who I am as an artist and maker. It tickles me to see new technologies being combined with classic craftsmanship. And the democratization and proliferation of various technologies means just about anyone with the desire and drive can do some crazy good shots with the right set of various skills.

[@DA_Fuller]

Absolutely loved this! Thank you 🙏

[@gmoney1664]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@MrChief101]

OUTSTANDING! --on all counts.

[@aresaurelian]

I love this. Excellent work. There will be more.

[@Murphy007]

Really enjoyed that thank you.

[@TexChopper]

WHAT MONSTER IS "THUMBS DOWN-ing" THIS??? I wish there was a way to give it 10 thumbs ups! Love this stuff!!!

[@WhiskyMystery]

CG artists :-)

[@Daniel_H._1983]

star trek fans : oh no, not star wars again ... thumbdown or Norm' : they talk in a star wars discussion without me ... thumbdown

[@TexChopper]

@@Daniel_H._1983 haha! Norm, that's it!

[@mfresh99]

Hey Adam we want more!!!! this was amazing!!!!