LIGHTNINGFACE is a surreal and emotionally charged short film starring Academy Award nominee Oscar Isaac. Directed and written by Brian Petsos, the film follows Basil Stitt, a man who, after a bizarre, unexplainable event, locks himself in his apartment and begins a profound psychological and physical transformation.
Part philosophical sci-fi, part existential character study, the film is supported by an all-star creative team, including executive producer Kristen Wiig and a roster of seasoned editors, VFX artists, and producers. With a tone that shifts from absurdist humor to haunting introspection, LIGHTNINGFACE explores themes of identity, isolation, and metamorphosis.
Project
LIGHTNINGFACE
Client
Rusty Mutt
Our Role
Visual Effects, Title/Credit Animation
A Cinematic Collaboration
GRAFX Co. joined the LIGHTNINGFACE team during the final stages of post-production, collaborating closely with director Brian Petsos and Rusty Mutt to bring two key creative sequences to life. First, we crafted a fully CG animated opening shot, an expansive, meditative star field that sets the film’s cosmic tone and psychological ambiguity. Then, we developed and animated a stylized end title sequence that bookends the narrative with visual continuity, using minimalistic motion design and impactful typography to reflect the film’s themes of transformation and isolation. Both sequences were designed to enhance the emotional resonance of the story and reinforce LIGHTNINGFACE’s distinct visual language, striking a careful balance between elegant restraint and cerebral surrealism.
LIGHTNINGFACE has gone on to earn acclaim at multiple film festivals and has become a cult favorite among fans of experimental cinema. It also remains a standout collaboration for our studio, an example of how even the most intimate stories can benefit from world-class visual design and motion storytelling.