The Cinematography Podcast Episode 303: Stephen Murphy, BSC, ISC
Heart Eyes isn’t your typical horror film or romantic comedy. It’s a genre-bending fusion of sweet romance and chilling slasher horror. Cinematographer Stephen Murphy, BSC, ISC has crafted a film that authentically captures the tone of both genres. This ambitious goal required a nuanced approach to lighting and color, a visual language that could seamlessly transition between heartwarming romance and heart-pounding terror.
Director Josh Ruben “was very clear from the beginning that he wanted to make a very earnest love letter to rom-coms AND to slasher movies-particularly rom-coms and slasher movies from the 80s and 90s,” says Stephen. “He didn’t want us to shortchange either one. He wanted to make a genuine rom-com and a genuine slasher movie, but in the same film.” Stephen found it challenging mixing the two genres to find the right balance. The film begins with the warm, inviting tones of a classic rom-com, bathed in warmer colors that create a sense of comfort and affection. As the sinister presence of the Heart Eyes Killer emerges, the palette begins to shift into blue, moonlight shade that signal the arrival of horror. It was important to Stephen that the horror elements wouldn’t succumb to gloomy, underexposed visuals. He aimed for clarity, using harder backlights and harder shadows to maintain a sense of definition and keep the actors looking their best, even amidst the chaos. This approach ensured that the rom-com aesthetic persisted, even as the slasher elements intensified.
Both Ruben and Stephen were influenced by the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer and Jaws. They used storyboards for key moments in certain scenes, then built the rest of the scenes around the boards. Filmed in New Zealand, Heart Eyes was a fast-paced production, moving from greenlight to release in just twelve months. The film’s horror sequences relied on a blend of practical and visual effects, with the Heart Eyes Killer’s mask being a prime example of practical effects. Made in Los Angeles, Stephen had time to practice lighting it and testing the light-up eyes. During preproduction, Stephen discovered that keeping constantly moving lights on the killer in the mask kept it looking sinister.
Stephen’s previous experience working on horror films proved invaluable on Heart Eyes. He also was a cinematographer on the TV series Atlanta and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, for episodes shot in Europe. On these projects, he enjoyed the creative freedom to explore different styles and shoot those episodes a bit differently than the rest of the series.
Heart Eyes is currently available for purchase on VOD.
Find Stephen Murphy: Instagram: @stephenmurphybsc
Close focus: The imminent collapse of Technicolor, which had bought up many visual effects companies, but has now filed for bankruptcy. Technicolor has ceased all U.S. operations including studios The Mill, MPC, Mikros Animation, and Technicolor Games.
Ben’s short end: The VFX Show podcast recently spoke to Scott Ross, who was a former guest of the Cinematography Podcast about the dismal state of the industry. Scott’s book, UPSTART: The Digital Film Revolution Managing the Unmanageable is available to buy now.
Illya’s short end: Cybergaffer is a software application, used in conjunction with a blue screen studio that can dynamically light in real time, synchronized with a virtual scene in Unreal Engine 5.4.
Sponsored by Hot Rod Cameras
Check out the new Betty Luminous Reflector at Hot Rod Cameras! The Betty Luminous is the most human flattering, full spectrum light reflector. It has a beautiful fresnel-like directionality while maintaining a gentle gaussian fall off, ideal for lighting human skin.
Sponsored by Aputure: The INFINIBAR PB6 4-Light Kit is Aputure’s first RGBWW full-color LED pixel bar. It features 48 pixels, intuitive mounting and connecting options with an infinite blending design, an integrated battery, and advanced connectivity methods. You can buy one at Hot Rod Cameras.
Sponsored by Greentree Creative: If you enjoy The Cinematography Podcast and you’re interested in growing or starting your own podcast, contact Alana Kode at Greentree Creative. Greentree Creative can help you with all of your digital marketing needs including podcast launch and creation, advertising, social media management and content creation.
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Podcast Credits:
Producer: Alana Kode
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