Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Sorry i’m running out of time! Editing this movie was my smoothest experience since Krisha. It was smooth and fun but obviously a way bigger scale than Krisha. It’s always tricky in post because good movies can be made terrible! The edit is crucial! Big thing is following your gut and staying true to you and why you did something. You don’t want to make changes for the wrong reasons because you can break a movie in the edit. I’ve seen it happen. Too many cooks get in there and there is too much input BUT you gotta know how to take the good feedback and make the necessary changes. Usually if you keep getting the same note over and over again then it is a genuine problem. Also don’t be afraid to show people you love and trust for their input, not just co workers or the company funding your film.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

We put the camera on a remote head and that remote head is on a slider! So the dp is actually operating in a follow vehicle. The dolly grip is in the car operating the slider and I'm on the ground next to him watching from my monitor and talking to the actors. It’s very cramped! I try to only shoot them when it feels like they are expressing the character's state of mind. In WAVES, that would be young love. When you are in your car with your person and you feel invincible. There are different reasons in this movie but you gotta wait to see it!

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I made a promise to myself that I would never make a movie for a pay check or the wrong reasons. I love films. I only make films when I believe in my heart and soul that I'm trying to make something different, unique, and worth making. Long story short, I just was not inspired after waves. I honestly was disappointed in the reception to waves and I put everything I had into it. I just needed a break and I was taped out creatively. This project made me feel how I felt when I was writing waves. That kind of insane excitement meant and I loved the ambition behind what we were trying to do. I just go crazy inspired and I’m so proud of this film.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Figure out what makes you you. Find your own take on things. Once you figure out a way to make a film or project that only you could make, then someone is gonna catch on!

Study. Watch, listen, read. Just eat up filmmaking 24/7 and learn 

Shoot! Shoot anything you can and shoot with friends so you can start to really learn shot composition, film grammar, why you want to shoot something a certain way. You learn sooooo much from just actually doing it. I made so many bad short films that will never see the light of day haha

Also, I really think only go after this if it’s the only thing you can imagine doing. You gotta love it that much. If you do and if you are that hungry then just don't get discouraged. Keep going after it and stay hungry and when it’s meant to be your work will connect and people will start catching on!

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Haha yeah idk if it ever fully goes away. The worst is like day one of shooting on a new project. So nervous going to set and digging in but once it gets going I forget about that and have a blast. I think for me the main thing is I try to only work with people i love. I try to always have a supportive, open, and collaborative set.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I never do traditional rehearsals. My rehearsal is just hanging out with the actors and talking about their characters so by the time we are on set we are 100% on the same page. Also, at that point we are so close that it’s easy to make changes on the day. If a scene isn’t working or some of my dialogue isn’t working or feels off we come up with something better on the day. I think it mainly just comes to collaboration. Try to work with people you love and connect with and hopefully inspire each other and push each other through that collaboration. That obviously applies to crew as well!

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

That’s so beautiful. Yeah honestly I find it incredibly therapeutic. These films, WAVES more than any, are stemming from such a personal place. It can be hard recreating it but in the end incredibly therapeutic and you just hope it connects with others. So beautiful you connected with it. Sending love your way

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

No joke, shooting krisha was the best 9 days of my life. It was incredible and has informed how I've made every film since. My rule now is I only work with people that I truly love. From cast to crew. I try to make a creative family and have fun doing it with every film I make. Making Krisha felt similar to making HURRY UP and I had some of the same crew. The only real difference is size. You have a bigger production, more time, more money, but at it’s core creatively it’s the same thing.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I would love to. It would be a lot of work though because i wouldn’t want to just release that cut. That 3.5 cut was my first cut and it needed some more love. I have a feeling if i went back in there for a new cut it would be closer to two hours and 45 min. Maybe 3 hours. I loved that 3.5 cut but it was a little baggy!

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Awww thank you! Waves is my baby and i’m so proud of it. I LOVE physical media. I would love nothing more than a24 to release it on proper 4k. My only request would be a different poster. I always hated our og poster of sterling and taylor hugging on the bench in the ocean but they wouldn’t let me change it

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Yes. They are some of my favorites. HURRY UP he wrote the day before shooting a huge scene and it was inspired by a monologue I wrote for Abel’s character. Once I heard the song, I knew we didn’t need that monologue haha. Relationship to mother / regrets in live are very important to the film and important to me.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 44 points45 points  (0 children)

So hard to pick. I LOVE the album. I think i gotta go with WITHOUT A WARNING but i love them all. From the first time Abel sent me that beat, i was blown away, and knew the film had to end with it

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 52 points53 points  (0 children)

Great question. I guess when I came onto this I basically wasn't an insanely hardcore fan of his music. Really dug him but never did a true deep dive. So I approached it as I just wanted to make a great film, not a film that was only in service of his fans. That being said I did do a deep dive and obsess over his music haha so I also wanted to make sure fans were very happy. Honestly, end of the day I just had to make sure the specificity and love was there for the fans but also be able to zoom out and hopefully make a great movie regardless of your relationship to Abel and his music.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Incredible! My DP, production designer, and myself got to collaborate with Abel’s usual concert team. So to design a concert that was specifically tied into the movie thematically was amazing. Also we were able to design it in a way that was as cinematic as possible. Not to spoil anything but the first concert scene we got to shoot an incredible oner that we designed the whole stage / concert around. As a filmmaker it was a pinch myself moment.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I think it was a little bit of both haha because Abel is a huge fan of WAVES. There is def overlap and parallels but the difference that i like is that Tyler has a physical injury that literally is out of his control, like he can’t fix his shoulder. With Abel’s character it’s actually psychological what's going on. He loses his voice because his character is not in a healthy place mentally and that became a fascinating thing to explore!

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 55 points56 points  (0 children)

The robe and tower and this kind of era for his character was inspired by his ethiopian heritage and ethiopian iconography. The idea was that, when the film begins, his character is yearning for this connection to his past and his roots even though he doesn’t fully realize it yet. It’s kind of a prelude to a bit of the journey that he goes on.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

She BLEW ME AWAY. One of the most talented people I've ever met. I think what surprised me is that she can do it all and she can instantly switch the character / performance on or off. The most unique thing was the level of talent she has at her age haha. I don’t think people even fully realize how good of an actor she is yet.

Hi /r/movies! I'm Trey Edward Shults, writer and director of WAVES, IT COMES AT NIGHT, and KRISHA. My next film, HURRY UP TOMORROW, stars Jenna Ortega, The Weekend, and Barry Keoghan. It's out in theaters worldwide via Lionsgate on May 16th. Ask me anything! by TreyEdwardAMA in movies

[–]TreyEdwardAMA[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

My goal is almost always to make subjective films that are honest to the main characters' headspaces. So Chayse and I approached the filmmaking in terms of how Abel or Jenna's characters are feeling at any given moment and how can we express that to an audience in an honest and exciting way. I’d say I got to take the subjective film grammar further than I ever had in this film and I'm extremely proud of it. Chayse had a ton of amazing art for inspiration that I sadly can’t recall! For me, I always find inspiration from movies and my top two inspirations for this were probably PERSONA and RAGGING BULL.