Spotlight on Ryan Murphy: Filmmaker, Photographer, and Creative Visionary
Ryan Murphy on set, bringing his creative vision to life
From humble beginnings in Northern California, Ryan Murphy has established himself as a leading figure in the world of film and photography. His unique combination of talent, creativity, and dedication has allowed him to make a lasting impact in the industry.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Murphy discovered his passion for art at a very young age. His fascination with cartoons led him to start drawing, and he received his first video camera at the age of 13, sparking a lifelong interest in filmmaking. He began making skate videos and editing them in iMovie. By sophomore year of high school, he took his first black and white photography class and his first film production class in his junior year. This led him to study photography at the University of Oregon and film at Brooks Institute of Photography in Ventura, California.
Professional Journey
Despite the film industry's notorious competitiveness, Murphy has managed to carve out a successful career. He has over a decade of film industry experience working on a variety of projects, including documentaries, commercials, music videos, fashion, corporate and branded content as a director, photographer, cinematographer, and editor. His clients praise him for his strong work ethic, sharp mind, and creative prowess.
One of his notable works includes directing, shooting, and editing a commercial for Bilio, a soft-goods design company based out of Berkeley, California. The project was intricate and involved effectively conveying the company's ethos and capabilities, and how materials tell their story and connect them to design tying nature and sustainability to their products.
Artistic Style and Inspiration
Murphy's work stands out for its meticulous attention to detail and high production values. He draws inspiration from his surroundings, from the people he meets, and from the work of other great artists, including filmmakers Wes Anderson and Paul Thomas Anderson, cinematographer Roger Deakins, and photographers Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson.
His unique artistic style involves a lot of prep-work and pre-visualization. He creates treatments, shot lists, and storyboards. If the filming setting requires lighting equipment, he will make a lighting diagram. As much as possible, he prefers to shoot with natural light, especially during the golden hour.
Future Goals
Looking ahead, Murphy aims to continue working on bigger and bigger projects while constantly improving his craft. He is currently in post-production on a documentary about the Ventura Fairgrounds and continues to work with high-profile clients.
Final Thoughts
From his early days making skate videos to his current role as a respected filmmaker and photographer, Ryan Murphy has come a long way. His story is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and creativity, and his work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. His journey wasn't an easy one, having to work many odd and menial jobs starting out in the industry that's notoriously competitive. But his passion and dedication have seen him through, making him a full-time creative today.
As a filmmaker, he works on documentaries, commercials, music videos, corporate and branded content, and also creates short movies in his spare time. As a photographer, he has done product, lifestyle, and commercial jobs for a variety of clients, including Patagonia, Uber, and Chobani. He shoots film on analog cameras, taking pictures of landscapes, portraits, lifestyle, and street photography. For film jobs and passion projects, he prefers to shoot on RED cameras and cut on either Final Cut Pro X or Premiere Pro, depending on the project. For photography jobs, he typically shoots digital on Canon cameras and always on analog cameras for more intimate pictures, either medium format 120mm or 35mm film.
His attention to detail, symmetry, compositions, art direction, and being resourceful while maintaining high production value truly sets him apart in the industry. He is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and creativity, and his work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.