Discussions with VFX Editor Liyana Mansor, the Creator of Artistic Effects
Liyana Mansor's Journey in the VFX Industry
Liyana Mansor, a first-time Emmy nominee, has made a name for herself as a talented VFX Editor in the UK. Born in Brunei, Mansor moved to the north of England before her teens and graduated from Leeds College of Art and Design. Her journey in the VFX industry began in 2012 when she started as a runner at a post-production house in London.
Mansor's early work includes notable projects such as Chernobyl and Alien: Covenant. She honed her skills in visual effects editing, often performing temp compositing work, which involves quickly mocking up VFX shots during the editing process. Mansor's toolkit includes the Wacom Intuos Pro tablet, Avid Media Composer, and specialized plugins.
One of Mansor's standout projects is her lead visual effects editor role on the Star Wars television series Andor (2022–2025). She contributed to 12 episodes of the series, demonstrating her ability to handle large, complex VFX projects.
Mansor's work extends beyond Andor. She has worked on various genres and formats, including film, television, and series with demanding visual effects requirements, such as Black Mirror and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. For instance, she used BCC Damaged TV Dissolve to create a home video feel for the moving scene composed of shots in Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
Mansor's advice to her younger self is to never hesitate and never count herself out of an opportunity just because she doesn't feel ready. When faced with creative challenges, she finds it helpful to work on something else and come back to it later or the next day.
In her personal life, Mansor enjoys snacking on Cinnamon Social slices, Candy Kittens, and Portuguese Natas during epic sessions. When it comes to films, she finds inspiration from her childhood favourites and lists Gwoemul (The Host) by Bong Joon-ho as her favourite film. If she could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, it would be Bong Joon-ho, Yang Jinmo, or Rian Johnson.
Mansor's work ethic and dedication are evident in her pride for her work on The Alienist and Chernobyl. In fact, she was a one-woman VFX Editorial department on Chernobyl. As the industry and technology progress, Mansor often finds new and different problems on each project, but she meets these challenges head-on, continually pushing the boundaries of what is possible in visual effects.
References: [1] IMDb - Liyana Mansor [2] Variety - Emmy Awards 2022: Complete List of Winners and Nominees [3] The Hollywood Reporter - 'Andor': Diego Luna, Genevieve O'Reilly, Stellan Skarsgard to Star in Disney+'s 'Star Wars' Series [5] Deadline - 'Andor': The Complete Cast for Disney+'s 'Star Wars' Spinoff Series Based on Rogue One's Cassian Andor
technology plays a crucial role in Liyana Mansor's work as a VFX Editor, with tools like the Wacom Intuos Pro tablet, Avid Media Composer, and specialized plugins being integral to her craft.
Liyana Mansor's diverse portfolio spans different genres and formats, including lifestyle-focused projects such as Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, demonstrating her versatility in the entertainment industry.
