Janet Lewin (CGS’90, COM’92): Star Wars Effects Jedi
As the 2016 Star Wars spinoff Rogue One drew to a close, audiences were left with the image of a young Princess Leia, one of the most important characters of the franchise. When Carrie Fisher, the actress who portrayed Princess Leia, saw herself on the screen, she thought she was actually looking at footage of herself from the 1970s. But it was a brand new CGI version, crafted by visual effects producer Janet Lewin (CGS’90, COM’92).
As Vice-President of Visual Effects for Lucasfilm, Lewin’s job is to create new, exciting battles and worlds for the fans. As Star Wars has become one of the most beloved film franchises over the years, the visual effects have expanded too, making the Visual Effects department the largest department for the films.
In her interview with Boston University’s COMtalk, Lewin talks about the importance of visual effects in film and says, “Now, you really can’t make a movie without visual effects, especially not blockbuster movies, and visual effects are a huge component of storytelling.” As audiences grow jaded with CGI, Lewin and the directors are balancing practical effects (achieved physically) and CGI effects to create a world that audiences can relate to.
With two new Star Wars films, and a Star Wars spinoff coming out in the next three years, Lewin has a busy schedule ahead of her, but she is ready to create new and exciting movies for the fans. When asked what she thinks the future of visual effects holds, Lewin said, “There’s tons of other methodology things that we’re still exploring. There’s an unending world to explore.”
Read the full story at COMTalk.