For well over a decade, the Sydney-born, New York-based Askill has demonstrated his versatility as both an editor and director across mediums including commercials, music videos and short films. From his ongoing collaborations with his brother and fellow filmmaker Daniel on multiple videos for Sia including the Grammy-nominated “Chandelier” and notable campaigns like the Clio-winning PSA “I Touch Myself” and Audi’s “Orchestra”, to helming films for Amazon, Jimmy Choo and Gap, Askill has consistently conveyed a flair for crafting stylish, captivating narratives.
Whether he’s working in the edit suite or behind the lens, the new EXILE editor explains how both creative processes seamlessly intertwine. “Editing came first so it always informed my directorial work,” Askill says. “I love the experience of cutting other people’s work because I can be more objective and hopefully elevate the vision. I get a different satisfaction from both disciplines and feel like the experience of doing one makes the other stronger.”
Throughout his storied career, from his early days working on music videos for acts like Phoenix and Digitalism, to winning a Shots Young Director Award in 2012, to more recent, high-profile brand work for Chase and BMW, Askill has always been driven by instinct. In fact, it’s one of the key components that’s come to define his editorial approach. “I’ve always sensed that there is a rhythm and poetry in great film, whether it’s visual, musical, comedic or dramatic, and I trust my instinct for finding and shaping that,” he explains. “I also lean to a less is more approach, where I often make a more complex cut to begin with, using everything at my disposal, then step back and strip it down to the essential pieces to hopefully tell the story in the most effortless, powerful way possible.”
Now as part of EXILE, Askill brings his compelling storytelling style to a renowned company that he’s long admired. “EXILE has always been doing high-profile creative work and building a strong roster of editors, so it was a place I aspired to be,” he adds. “I’m really looking forward to the new challenges, and the opportunity to collaborate with new people, get my teeth into exciting projects and ultimately make stunning work.”
According to EXILE Executive Producer Sasha Hirschfeld, Askill not only adds valuable depth to the boutique’s already robust roster, but reinforces its status as a go-to creative powerhouse. “Lorin was such an easy signing decision to make! His work is smart, beautiful, and exciting – he brings so much creativity to the table. He’s only going to make our roster more interesting.”
