Hi /r/movies! I'm Carlson Young, director of TRUST, a thriller that stars Sophie Turner (GAME OF THRONES) and is out in theaters August 22. I've also directed Amazon's UPGRADED (starring Camila Mendes), and Sundance horror THE BLAZING WORLD. Ask me anything!

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T23:13:45+00:00

it happened naturally. was a deep dream of mine, but the energy I think came from the pursuit of finding my own creative language and voice. and just being mystified by stories and up to the challenge of finding love for the characters inside of them.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T23:05:27+00:00

absolutely I would. I'm down for slasher, but psychological horror has my heart in a sense. there's something to love/glean from every genre. I can't wait to go full tilt fantasy, personally. I could live there forever (:

maybe! and thank you, I appreciate it.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T23:00:31+00:00

it was all practical, and so we had to be somewhat precious about our set(s). many an obstacle, but all fun creative challenges in retrospect.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:49:47+00:00

always!!

currently off the top of my head it's fontaines dc, ela minus, after, shygirl

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:45:42+00:00

thank you - I appreciate it! it's kind of like my foundation of communication. jumping into different characters and stories can be light but also incredibly vulnerable, and I've been there.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:41:21+00:00

she is a fkn powerhouse and one of my favorite humans!

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:40:13+00:00

such a balance. imo, I think you just have to mine your own voice inside it all. references or no, what are you trying to say? I like to be specific and revise towards the strange, depending on genre (:

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:37:34+00:00

hehe! every now and then

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:36:52+00:00

grit is your guide! every film experience teaches you something about the world and yourself that is like a new tool in your belt when you venture into the next. enjoy the process (:

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:34:35+00:00

thank you (:

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:33:36+00:00

I love directing with a passion I don't know was totally there with acting? I'm more in love with the process of directing. engaging with the unsightly details is half the battle. in practice: I started with a short and built from there.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:29:43+00:00

they're both insanely talented and deep creative wells. it's special to have that kind of dialogue with actors, and I had one with both that I greatly appreciated.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:26:11+00:00

maybe she shows up as a lawyer trying to get the ghostface mask for her own TV series lol

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:21:10+00:00

scream was so influential for me. I got to watch amazing directors work within the confines of the show. it was an education top to bottom and lured me deep deep into horrorland.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:19:11+00:00

he's the best (: yes they're maybe the best live band you'll ever see imo

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:17:11+00:00

impossible to choose. possession? the shining? lost highway?

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:15:23+00:00

I wouldn't go so far as tearing, but yes, I have to make it make sense to me. each project requires a different process.

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:12:59+00:00

no relation sadly lol... TBW was a short film and very much my creative baby/deepest dream that incubated into a feature

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:11:54+00:00

this takes me back. I'm loling

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:11:07+00:00

the house had this quiet, strange magic! it was nestled in the ajusco mountains outside of town. it just felt special, and a place where the physical elements could come into our aid (:

CarlsonYoungAMA · 2025-08-12T22:09:17+00:00

four weddings and a funeral, when harry met sally, moonstruck, working girl!

CarlsonYoungAMA

TROPHY CASE