An Interview with Primate’s Director of Photography, Stephen Murphy

April 24, 2026

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: horrorfuelinfo@gmail.com
At this point, everyone has heard the buzz surrounding the horror film Primate, now playing in theaters. When it comes to a movie or series, one of the most critical roles on set is the Director of Photography. The DP for Primate is none other than Stephen Murphy, and I had the honor of speaking with him not only about the film but also about his role as DP.  Murphy, who also served as DP on the hit series “Atlanta,” discusses the challenges of lighting and weather, as well as how to make Ben, the chimp star of Primate, look more realistic. It’s a very fascinating job.
If you think about how much the cinematography influences a scene, it will blow your mind. Watch the interview below.  Primate, a creature feature directed by Johannes Roberts, sees a family become the target of their pet Chimp’s rage after it contracts rabies.
The bloody, brutal film stars Johnny Sequoyah, Jess Alexander, Roy Kotsur, Victoria Wyant, and Miguel Torres Umba, who plays Ben.  Watch Primate in theaters now, and be sure to watch my interview with Director of Photography Stephen Murphy below. To stay up to date on his projects, follow Murphy on Instagram and visit his website.

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