#Aaron McLisky

[flashfuckingflesh]

EVIL Says Talk to the Hand. "Talk to Me" reviewed! (Lionsgate / Blu-ray)

“Talk to Me” on Blu-ray/DVD/Digital! The two-year anniversary of the death is a solemn time for Mia to mourn the hard loss of her beloved mother who took her own life, or at least that is what her father tells her.  Feeling uneasy by her father’s account that circulates doubt uncontrollably, Mia pries her way into her best friend Jade’s family for comfort and becomes equally amiably with Jade’s…

[cappedinamber]

Talk to Me (2023)

Directed by Michael Philippou, Danny Philippou

Cinematography by Aaron McLisky

[genevieveetguy]

. I let you in.

Talk to Me, Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou (2023)

[chelize-on-set]

ASC Magazine Article Breakdown- Part 2

Being a fan of Talk to Me when it came out, I was excited to read this article. 

The article discusses the creative approach and lighting techniques used by cinematographer Aaron McLisky in the horror film Talk to Me. McLisky was attracted to the project due to its deep thematic layers, touching on grief, addiction, and mental illness. He appreciated how the horror genre allowed him to explore these topics for a broader audience.

In the film, a group of teenagers dabbles in summoning spirits using an embalmed hand, which sets the tone for the visual style of the movie. McLisky emphasizes that, despite its horror elements, the film was shot more like a drama, helping to investigate the psychological aspects of the story.

McLisky’s aesthetic approach involved leaning into darkness by using an Arri Alexa Mini LF and Zeiss Supreme Primes. He created a custom LUT that deliberately underexposed images to recover shadow details later if needed. This technique allowed him to preserve the shadow detail while exploring the interplay between light and dark, a key visual strategy throughout the film.

A large part of the lighting approach was focused on creating contrasting environments to highlight the characters’ emotional states. Mia, the protagonist, lives in a cold, modern, and impersonal home, reflecting her estrangement from her father and the grief over her mother’s death. McLisky used cool, neutral tones and modern LED lighting to create this sense of isolation. In contrast, Mia’s friend Jade’s house is warm and welcoming, which was conveyed through the use of tungsten lighting and softer tones. This contrast between the two households was used to visually represent themes of connection and disconnection within the narrative.

McLisky also notes the importance of practical lighting in the domestic spaces, keeping the look minimal to allow the environments to speak for themselves without over-lighting. His approach to lighting avoided traditional horror tropes, instead emphasizing the dramatic and psychological elements of the story.

[tonysfilmblog]

American Cinematographer - Unleashing Terror Through Lighting

I have delusions of maybe becoming a somewhat competent DOP one day. Right now, I’m not so good, mainly due to a lack of practice. Now that’s something I should NOT admit to in an academic blog. My big weakness for sure has to be lighting. This is definitely the aspect of filmmaking I need to divide a lot of my attention towards……and I WILL! Starting NOW! I decided to read this particular article in the American Cinematographer Magazine, not just because of its focus on lighting but specifically because it talks about lighting techniques found in the horror genre. Lighting is a complicated process in general but there seems to be even greater intricacies when it comes to horror. The genre often grants the DOP/director more creative freedom than the likes of a pure drama simply because there is less pressure with projecting reality as it is. The director’s job is to project reality through an unreality.

They impose techniques such as “strategically directional lighting, silhouettes, spotlighting, underexposure, projected shadows, and the creepy placement of practical sources”. They don’t need to obsess over reality because an unreality or altered reality is part of what makes the genre so effective. ASC member Roy H.Wagner specifically says, “In a movie, where the shadows are is where the audience doesn’t want to be” and, “What kind of person walks into a dark room and doesn’t reach for a light? But if you put the main character in the light and surround that person with shadows, the audience instinctively wants to know what’s going on in that darkness.”

The true effect of horror comes not from what the audience sees but what they don’t see. An audience’s biggest threat is their own imagination. This doesn’t just apply to characters being presented in dark spaces but can involve the presentation of the characters themselves. Deliberately hiding characters within shadows blocks the audience from fully understanding them. For example, a horror antagonist can be more threatening when the audience doesn’t fully understand their psychology and motives, when they’re so different to members of the audience.

Lighting and cinematography is incredibly important to Wagner as he condemns films that rely solely on the thrill of the jumpscare. He feels like they don’t take full advantage of the film medium and their methods force them to rely on post-production to deliver the fear.

He compliments films that use lighting to express a sense of space that’s different to the regular world. For example in The Exorcist where the scenes filmed downstairs use conventional lighting to present a sense of normalcy but when the characters go upstairs, everything is just darker, colder, the walls are green and blue and uninviting.

The lighting isn’t about representing reality but it’s about intention. It’s all about what the director wants the audience to know about characters, about their situations, about their emotions and vulnerabilities. 

Other directors and cinematographers provide their own thoughts surrounding lighting within their horror films like Michael Kogge who talks about allowing darkness to invade the frame, focusing lighting on character’s eyes, which he believes tells the audience who the characters are.

Aaron Mclisky attempts to portray different spaces and worlds through the lighting. He specifically lit scenes for underexposed images, using a LUT to recover shadow detail, providing him with a lot of control over what he can display within the frame. The lighting is used to portray different spaces as personal or impersonal. Any scene set within reality has a realistic approach to lighting, whereas the supernatural is expressed through introducing ‘unmotivated’ lighting which provides the audience with the feeling that something isn’t quite right.

Michael Kogge says figuring out the cinematography and lighting is impossible until he has an understanding of the function of a scene, what purpose it plays within the larger film and the motivations and deeper emotions of the characters.

He also agrees that lighting for Horror ‘Has nothing to do with where you put the lights, it’s where you don’t put them”. Again, it’s going back to this idea that fear lies in the unknown. An audience’s imagination is their worst enemy.

While all these filmmakers have different approaches to how a story is presented, there is a lot of overlap. They all seem to agree that what is important is being incredibly particular with what information you relay to an audience, specifically they think about what not to show and audience to inspire fear. This article has given me a lot to think about. It seems that ultimately, cinematography and lighting present ideas and themes just as well as writing and directing.

[elbisonodelcine]

🎞️Talk to Me (2022) 🎥 Danny Philippou / Michael Philippou 📷Aaron McLisky

[wearetheweirdosmisterblog]

Sorry for the hiatus everyone!

Talk to me (2023)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

😱😱😱😱/5

Sophie Wilde plays a lonely teenager who looks for companionship, and other families. Spending most of the time with her best friend's family, Jade played by Alexandra Jensen. They sneak out one night to go to a party where local teens are playing a new game, which they call “talk to me”. The story is that the hand was informed by either a Satanist, or some sort of witch that had these kinds of powers to talk to the dead and so they embalmed their hand in order to be able to pass on this gift. Now gifts don’t come without guidance needed, and sometimes from repercussions. Which is what these teenagers soon find out.

This is an Australian movie that has become popular in America. For what reason I don’t know why, but I’m so glad this movie shows depth with its characters and also how social media plays such a vital role in the lives of teenagers today. This movie had me on the edge of my seat 90% of the time.

The ending, which I will not give away, is one of the most original endings I’ve seen in film in over a decade. This is a must watch in my opinion, and it should be on your watchlist.

Director: Danny and Michael Phillippou

Cinematography: Aaron McLisky

Tw: Blood, emotophobia, Possession, Hurt animals

[saturdaynightmatinee]

CALIFICACIÓN PERSONAL: 6.5 / 10

Título Original: Talk to Me

Año: 2022

Duración: 95 min

País: Australia

Dirección: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou

Guion: Michael H. Beck, Danny Philippou, Bill Hinzman, Daley Pearson

Música: Cornel Wilczek

Fotografía: Aaron McLisky

Reparto: Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Miranda Otto, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, Alexandria Steffensen, Ari McCarthy

Productora: Causeway Films. Distribuidora: A24

Género: Thriller; Horror

TRAILER:

[claytonmoss]

"I just fuckin' killed Chuck!" -Chucks Murderer

Production Stills from the short film "Killing Chuck" (2012)

Director: Dean Ginsburg

Producers: James Carr & Clayton D. Moss

DOP: Aaron McLisky & Dean Ginburg

Starring Adrian Honner, Alys Daroy, Benjamin Hanly and I

Based on the popular comedic monologue from the stage play 'Unbearable Hotness', written by Gabriel Davis.

[olivera991]

SPACE: A SKATE ODYSSEY from LONGNECK FILMS on Vimeo.

Houston, we have a vert ramp.

Longneck Films presents "SPACE: A Skate Odyssey", an experimental short film which blends skateboarding and archival footage to create a unique portrayal of one woman's journey to set foot on the moon.

Written & Directed by Toby Morris

Production Company: Longneck Films

Starring: Amy Lehpamer Ed Lemke-Hogan Airlie Dodds Billy Van Wyk

Skaters: Javier Coca Ben Currie Sari Simpson Riwaz Kazi Levi Jarvis River Simmons Pierson Parslow Thaj Dearaugo

DOP: Drew English Skate DOP: Dom West, Jack Shepherd Editor: Cameron Drew Colourist: Matt Campbell Costume Design: Caitlin Murray Production Designer: Laura Murray Audio Mix: Michael Newton & Tania Vlassova 1st AD: Stuart Beedie Gaffer: Austin Brooke VFX: Michael Vorberg Colourist: Matt Campbell Graphic Design: Timothy Barlow Stills Photographer: Seiya Taguchi

Special Thanks: Tim Ross, Nigel from Totem Skateboarding, Warhouse 10, Catharine Sarjeant, Cori Webber, Sheryl Sherson, Hugh Miller, Simon Morris, Aaron McLisky, Chris Seeto, Cate Nagy, Stef Smith, Caroline Lèpron Aguesse, Krystal English, Lucy Rennick

[jerijaguar]

SPACE: A SKATE ODYSSEY from LONGNECK FILMS on Vimeo.

Houston, we have a vert ramp.

Longneck Films presents "SPACE: A Skate Odyssey", an experimental short film which blends skateboarding and archival footage to create a unique portrayal of one woman's journey to set foot on the moon.

Written & Directed by Toby Morris

Production Company: Longneck Films

Starring: Amy Lehpamer Ed Lemke-Hogan Airlie Dodds Billy Van Wyk

Skaters: Javier Coca Ben Currie Sari Simpson Riwaz Kazi Levi Jarvis River Simmons Pierson Parslow Thaj Dearaugo

DOP: Drew English Skate DOP: Dom West, Jack Shepherd Editor: Cameron Drew Colourist: Matt Campbell Costume Design: Caitlin Murray Production Designer: Laura Murray Audio Mix: Michael Newton & Tania Vlassova 1st AD: Stuart Beedie Gaffer: Austin Brooke VFX: Michael Vorberg Colourist: Matt Campbell Graphic Design: Timothy Barlow Stills Photographer: Seiya Taguchi

Special Thanks: Tim Ross, Nigel from Totem Skateboarding, Warhouse 10, Catharine Sarjeant, Cori Webber, Sheryl Sherson, Hugh Miller, Simon Morris, Aaron McLisky, Chris Seeto, Cate Nagy, Stef Smith, Caroline Lèpron Aguesse, Krystal English, Lucy Rennick

[postkiwi]

Heineken Rugby Delayed Reaction

Delayed Reaction @rugbyworldcup - @Heineken ad made @PublicisItaly @TheMegaforce @MillChannel @GCRS @pokelondon @Iconoclast_tv #RWC2019

Heineken, one of the global sponsors of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, is running “Delayed Reaction”, a global advertisement inviting all viewers to watch and celebrate the games being held in Japan. Young men, watching the game live in Japan, in outdoor and indoor broadcast locations, take their cues from those around them to join the spectator elation. Non-fans are often turned off by rugby – it…

[hotfps]

Houston, we have a vert ramp. Longneck Films presents "SPACE: A Skate Odyssey", an experimental short film which blends skateboarding and archival footage to create a unique portrayal of one woman's journey to set foot on the moon. Written & Directed by Toby Morris Production Company: Longneck Films Starring: Amy Lehpamer Ed Lemke-Hogan Airlie Dodds Billy Van Wyk Skaters: Javier Coca Ben Currie Sari Simpson Riwaz Kazi Levi Jarvis River Simmons Pierson Parslow Thaj Dearaugo DOP: Drew English Skate DOP: Dom West, Jack Shepherd Editor: Cameron Drew Colourist: Matt Campbell Costume Design: Caitlin Murray Production Designer: Laura Murray Audio Mix: Michael Newton & Tania Vlassova 1st AD: Stuart Beedie Gaffer: Austin Brooke VFX: Michael Vorberg Colourist: Matt Campbell Graphic Design: Timothy Barlow Stills Photographer: Seiya Taguchi Special Thanks: Tim Ross, Nigel from Totem Skateboarding, Warhouse 10, Catharine Sarjeant, Cori Webber, Sheryl Sherson, Hugh Miller, Simon Morris, Aaron McLisky, Chris Seeto, Cate Nagy, Stef Smith, Caroline Lèpron Aguesse, Krystal English, Lucy Rennick

[artwalktv]

Houston, we have a vert ramp. Longneck Films presents "SPACE: A Skate Odyssey", an experimental short film which blends skateboarding and archival footage to create a unique portrayal of one woman's journey to set foot on the moon. Written & Directed by Toby Morris Production Company: Longneck Films Starring: Amy Lehpamer Ed Lemke-Hogan Airlie Dodds Billy Van Wyk Skaters: Javier Coca Ben Currie Sari Simpson Riwaz Kazi Levi Jarvis River Simmons Pierson Parslow Thaj Dearaugo DOP: Drew English Skate DOP: Dom West, Jack Shepherd Editor: Cameron Drew Colourist: Matt Campbell Costume Design: Caitlin Murray Production Designer: Laura Murray Audio Mix: Michael Newton & Tania Vlassova 1st AD: Stuart Beedie Gaffer: Austin Brooke VFX: Michael Vorberg Colourist: Matt Campbell Graphic Design: Timothy Barlow Stills Photographer: Seiya Taguchi Special Thanks: Tim Ross, Nigel from Totem Skateboarding, Warhouse 10, Catharine Sarjeant, Cori Webber, Sheryl Sherson, Hugh Miller, Simon Morris, Aaron McLisky, Chris Seeto, Cate Nagy, Stef Smith, Caroline Lèpron Aguesse, Krystal English, Lucy Rennick

[vm4vm0]

| EMMA LOUISE - WEST END KIDS | from Dylan Mark Duclos on Vimeo.

IN THIS WORLD, MOVEMENT IS GIVEN TO ONLY THOSE WHO DESERVE IT.

Directed by DYLAN DUCLOS Produced by MORGAN TAYLOR Director Of Photography AARON MCLISKY 1st Assistant Camera SAM DE TELIGA Steadicam JUSTIN BESSER Gaffer PETER 'SUTTO' SUTTON Best Boy ALEX PETOSEVIC Choreography by GENEVIEVE MORRIS Production Design LAUREN SILLATO Costume Design FELICITY GLEESON Hair & Makeup VICTORIA FORESTER Colourist MATT FEZZ Production Assistant BRIE WALDA

Starring GENEVIEVE MORRIS, SOPHIE CARTER, BRAYDEN HARRY, SAMUEL MALSEED, REBEKAH VULIC, ALEXANDRA FORD, NATASHA STURGIS AND GEORGIA GROW

[emzeciorrr]

SPACE: A SKATE ODYSSEY from LONGNECK FILMS on Vimeo.

Houston, we have a vert ramp.

Longneck Films presents "SPACE: A Skate Odyssey", an experimental short film which blends skateboarding and archival footage to create a unique portrayal of one woman's journey to set foot on the moon.

Written & Directed by Toby Morris

Production Company: Longneck Films

Starring: Amy Lehpamer Ed Lemke-Hogan Airlie Dodds Billy Van Wyk

Skaters: Javier Coca Ben Currie Sari Simpson Riwaz Kazi Levi Jarvis River Simmons Pierson Parslow Thaj Dearaugo

DOP: Drew English Skate DOP: Dom West, Jack Shepherd Editor: Cameron Drew Colourist: Matt Campbell Costume Design: Caitlin Murray Production Designer: Laura Murray Audio Mix: Michael Newton & Tania Vlassova 1st AD: Stuart Beedie Gaffer: Austin Brooke VFX: Michael Vorberg Colourist: Matt Campbell Graphic Design: Timothy Barlow Stills Photographer: Seiya Taguchi

Special Thanks: Tim Ross, Nigel from Totem Skateboarding, Warhouse 10, Catharine Sarjeant, Cori Webber, Sheryl Sherson, Hugh Miller, Simon Morris, Aaron McLisky, Chris Seeto, Cate Nagy, Stef Smith, Caroline Lèpron Aguesse, Krystal English, Lucy Rennick