Resolution, Dating a Zombie, Spring, All Hallows' Eve 2, all these films has something in common and is Aaron Moorhead either be as a director or cinematographer or even both things at the same time, Aaron has added his art to these and other film he has been in. Todday I'll bring you this talk I had with Aaron Moorhead co-director alongside Justin Benson of Resolution and Spring, two films which had great reception by the audience and festivals.
EFF:
Hi Aaron and first of all thank you for take your time and give me these words.
First, I want to ask you about when did you realize out you wanted shoot movies
and be a director?
AM:
I think it was one of those rare cases where I fell into it extremely suddenly.
I was in 6th grade and I had a friend named Aaron Higgins who would make Star
Wars stop action fan films with his brother, and I was immediately obsessed. I
didn't spend a dollar and saved every little bit of my money for a year to buy a
VHS camcorder in 6th grade. When I was able to integrate computer graphics I
think I was completely hooked, a couple years later. I started mostly in visual
effects, which I don't think is exactly the right way to start because I was
very rarely character first, much more visuals first. That said, visual effects
become such a large part of what we do that I can't possibly regret how I
started in the visual side of filmmaking, but there's still a part of me that
wishes that I fell in love with characters before I fell in love with
lightsabers.
Co-Director and Cinematographer - Resolution (2013)
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EFF:
Do you think it is necessary first study filmmaking in order to make your first
feature film?
AM:
ABSOLUTELY. I made my first feature film when I was 18 after having been making
shorts for six years, and I still wasn’t ready. I don't regret it, except that
it was kind of expensive for the people that put their money down to help me
make it, and it wasn't very good. I don’t feel good about that. I think it was
pretty amazing that anyone trusted an 18 year old kid to return their
investment in a film, but the fact is that it wasn’t as good as it should have
been still weighs on me. Even though I practiced and went to film school band
made dozens of shorts, I still wasn't prepared for my first feature. The only way
to become good at something is to do it, there are no people that are born good
filmmakers.
Resolution (2013)
EFF:
What do you prefer to do, work as a director or as a cinematographer? And why?
AM:
Without a doubt, I prefer my work as a director. Cinematography feels very
safe, in that I could completely fail at my job and ultimately nobody would
point the finger at me. A lot of people think of cinematography as wizardry
whereas directing seems like something most people could do if they were given
proper tools and support. That is completely wrong, but it is the perception.
Directing is risky, terrifying, and exhilarating. If a movie goes bad, they
blame the director. They don't blame the actors, or the producers, or ever the
cinematographer. They blame the director. And if it goes well, the directors
get the credit despite it being the culmination of tons of quality peoples’
quality work. The excitement of everything on your shoulders is what makes me
prefer directing to cinematography.
EFF:
Do you see horror genre as your line for make your upcoming films as a director?
AM:
Yes and no. I don't see myself as a horror director, but definitely working
within the realm of the Fantastic. Science fiction, or, anything that defies
the laws of the natural world, me and Justin will probably continue working in
that space. That said, I'm more interested in characters than I am in concepts,
so I wouldn't take anything off the table.
EFF:
A film what really liked me was your co-work resolution alongside Justin Benson,
how the project it came to you?
AM:
Justin actually came up with the script and the idea for Resolution. In fact,
he kind of handed it to me on a silver platter. I was working as a low-budget
cinematographer, trying to work my way into directing, and he came to me and
said “I have a really good script, the location, the actors, and the financing.
Would you like to co-direct with me?” Of course I would do that. Thankfully, it
was a fantastic project and our permanent relationship was born from it.
Co-Director and Cinematographer - Spring (2015)
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EFF:
How the segment "Bonestornm" V/S/H viral fell into your hands and why
you decided to light it on?
AM:
We pitched the producers of VHS many many times, and “Bonestorm” was the one
that they finally agreed to do with us. It's hard to say exactly why we did it,
besides that I absolutely love the idea of Tony Hawk meets Mortal Kombat meets
Larry Clark’s Kids. It was a pretty immature project, but that was part
of why I loved it so much.
Co-Director "Bonestorm"
EFF:
Could you tell us any anecdote from your films?
AM:
I remember there was a moment when we were scoring Spring with our
composer, Jimmy. He played us his version of the track from when Evan sees
Louise for the first time, that slow motion sequence in the plaza in the
beginning of the film. That was one of the first times I've ever been
completely overwhelmed by a score, and I remember when we walked away from that
session, I turn to Justin and I said “I would be jealous of us if I weren’t us
right now, because we get to use that piece of music in our movie and Jimmy is
our composer”. Because Justin and I wear so many hats on our films, there's
very little magic left in the filmmaking process, but we don't in any way have
a musical bone in our bodies, and that felt like magic.
Aaron (Yellow) on the right side of the picture
EFF:
What kind of horror you like, supernatural, human, sci-fi?
AM: All
of it. As long as we aren't just talking about body limbs flying everywhere, I
really like anything that tickles my brain.
Spring (2015)
Spring (2015)
EFF:
As a cinematographer what are your influences?
AM:
Oh, this is going to be such an obvious answer. Roger Deakins, Rob Richardson,
Emmanuel Lubezki. What's weird about cinematographers vs. directors is that
there are very few talented cinematographers that are considered idiots, or
that their work is debatably good or bad. Even the best directors in the world
have millions of detractors, like Quentin Tarantino or Steven Spielberg. But a
good cinematographer is indisputable. And those three are masters.
EFF:
Now as a cinematographer, what movie you consider is your best work?
AM: I
think I would have to say that Spring is my favorite work of cinematography.
I'm not sure if that was just because shooting in Italy made it extremely easy
to make a beautiful image because wherever you point the camera was gorgeous.
When shooting it I wasn’t particularly enamored with the project because I just
thought “well yeah, of course it looks like that, I’m standing right here and
that’s what it looks like.” But now, given some distance from it, I do
understand why that movie is special and very beautiful.
EFF:
If any producer gives you the chance to make a horror remake, what could it be
and why, as a director?
AM:
Sorry for a bit of a cop-out answer here, but there is no horror movie that I'd
like to remake.
EFF:
Why that binomial team justin benson and you?
AM:
Justin is a lot smarter than me. Whenever I bring a dumb idea to the table he
is able to suss out why I brought it there, and revise it into something that
actually seems like a good idea. We balance each other very well.
Moorhead and Benson
Moorhead and Benson
EFF:
What techniques as director you use in your films?
AM: There's
very little technique. Pretty much everything has to do with being as open and
honest as possible with your actor, trusting their instincts, and making sure
that the camera is in focus when you execute the plan that you have made. The
technical side of it (camera, production design, editing, Etc) are more of an
instinctual thing, informed by what we have decided we want to say with the
film.
EFF:
What advices would you give to new filmmakers who wants to make their opera
prima?
AM:
Make a film that is within your means and a film that is unlike anything anyone
has ever made before. You will be rewarded.
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