Gene Serdena SDSA has a fascinating conversation with the Star Wars universe master production designer, Doug Chiang, Production Designer Andrew L Jones and Set Decorator Amanda Moss Serino SDSA about the making of the hugely popular series THE MANDALORIAN and incorporating the technical marvel of the LED Volume in the process. 
 
Sound mysterious? 
It is and isn’t, as the team enlightens us!
 
As Doug mentions, “It's interesting, because, you know, Star Wars is a lot about spectacle and scope. Sometimes when we design these vast worlds, it's almost impossible to realize them except in post-production...until now. One of the really terrific advantages of having the LED Volume when we're shooting is that we have all that content for the actors to react to...” 
 
And it’s up to Amanda, Andrew & Doug to create...

Click on the video above to learn about the origin of the Mandalorian and the series, how it carries the STAR WARS aesthetic, how there is a thru line of this aesthetic for all of the STAR WARS universe and itterations throughout its history, and discover what comprises it! 

NewNevarro: The new magistrate is rebuilding, refurbishing everywhere, giving new life to the worn market city. Here, concept art lets us envision what we may see onscreen. Image courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

The NewNevarro market square set is built as a small backlot with blue screen extensions, which is the standard in filmmaking. Here, the first floor of the backlot buildings are built, with set decoration throughout, from electrical boxes and water pipes to seating and lighting, market stalls...our world reconfigured to the depiction of this planet. Photos courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

The High Magistrate’s office - Greef Karga’s prestigious office has a scenic view, enabled by use of the seemingly mysterious LED Volume. Watch the video to find out more! Photo courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

The High Magistrate’s office. A set dec point for the entire STAR WARS universe throughout time: there are no papers in this universe. No paper files, no stacks of paper. Everything is tablet or some other form of digital. Photo courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Nevarro Lava Flat Mandalorian covert displacement camp: When fusion bombs made their planet Mandalore uninhabitable, the Mandalorians were displaced, scattered to other planets. In this camp, they're camouflaged from Empire discovery. Concept art developed with set dec input. Image courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Nevarro Lava Flat Mandalorian covert camp: One of the smaller tents created by the set dec department & art department, and used for conceptual capture for wide shot extensions.

Nevarro Lava Flat Mandalorian covert camp: Wide shot concept art. Amazing collaboration between so many artistic and practical creative teams! Watch the video conversation above, as Doug, Andrew and Amanda expand on that with great details, great camaraderie and deep respect for each other and their teams. Image courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Mandalorian landship, concept: The Empire’s fusion bombs during the Great Purge of Mandalore turned the sands of the planet into glasslike trinitite, much like the sands of the Nevada nuclear testing site. Here, the vehicle, with sails as well as sleds, can skim across the slick land. Image courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Mandalorian landship, behind-the-scenes: A huge land-ship with moving sails built within the LED Volume. Here’s an example of how this 360 degree LED backdrop, which can project moving images, lends so much atmosphere for the actors while allowing the director and entire production team to see the sets in situ. Go to the video for much more detail! Photo courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Mandalorian landship, concept art: Determining, among other things, scope and dimension of characters. Image courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.

Mandalorian landship, behind-the-scenes: Again, note the LED Volume adding the background, the clouds will show movement, so much more immersive than a standard translight. Note the set decoration detail. This isn’t a drawing, it’s the real thing! Photo courtesy of Disney+ © 2023. All Rights Reserved.