‘LOST IN SPACE’

Netflix

In the climactic season of the Robinson family’s journey in space, visual effects retooled its methodology by combining the art department and VFX teams. “There was very little division between us,” notes senior VFX supervisor Jabbar Raisani, who also directed the final episode. “This made sure there wasn’t any double work and what was being done practically, we could execute well digitally and anything that couldn’t be done practically, we took the lead on digitally. It was a real marriage.”

The VFX on the series has a story-above-all mentality. In prep, previs is created to support the emotional beats, which is further developed in the cutting room before visual effects steps back in to add the “flavor and flair.” Otherworldly locations are curated through reference pulls and style guides where custom concepts are then drawn from the imagery. Sets and locations are scanned and photographed before everything is packaged and sent off to vendors to create the final look. “Once we know we have really nailed the story, we then add the spice,” says Raisani.