Michael Goro Takeuchi

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Writer/director Trey Edward Shults reacts to his film “Krisha” winning the John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica on February 27.  Celebrating with him from left, are Wilson Smith and Justin R. Chan, who along with Shults and Chase Joliet, produced the movie. Photo by Michael Goro Takeuchi

 From a beginning that was modest even by the status of independent filmmaking, “Krisha” writer/director Trey Edward Shults led both his actual and film family - which in many aspects were one in the same - into rarified air over the past year.  Since the film debuted at the South-By-Southwest Film Festival, where it won both the grand jury and audience awards, “Krisha” has garnered a metallurgist’s dream of trophies, the latest being the most prestigious one named after one of his cinematic idols.  

  One year and two days after its March 16, 2015 world premiere at SXSW, “Krisha” opens in theatres Los Angeles and New York on Friday, March 18 in what Shults hopes to be an extended run nationwide.

  “Wow, you’re right, one year ago we had our premiere, it’s really cool man full circle,” Shults said by telephone. “This has been the dream version of what happened. I still sometimes can’t believe that it’s happening.  It’s been humbling to say the least.”

  Was he able to appreciate the big picture or has the year, which included a place at Critic’s Week of the Cannes Festival and the Film Independent Spirit Awards John Cassavetes Award (best film under a $500,000 budget), or has it been just a succession of blurry moments throughout the year?

  “I think it’s a little bit of both,” Shults said.  “I was talking to another filmmaker about it.  Sometimes it’s hard to fully appreciate it because it’s so weird being in it and it’s kind of like onto the next thing, and onto the next thing.  I think it’s also like everything’s been going so well, I hope that nothing happens to make it go really bad. We’re trying to keep a good perspective on it and with the mindset of staying grateful in hopes that things keep staying good. I’ve been working a long time to get to this point to get too far ahead of myself.

  “I will say, so far so good.  We’ve already come a long way.”

  Like Wes Anderson’s “Bottle Rocket”, Mike Judge’s “Office Space” and “The Dirk Diggler Story” a project made by another of Shults' idols Paul Thomas Anderson, who later turned that movie into the critically acclaimed “Boogie Nights”, “Krisha” was originally a short film starring his real-life aunt Krisha (pronounced Cree-sha) Fairchild, a veteran actress of dozens of projects over the last 25 years.  The short, which chronicled the unraveling of the grief-filled title character, an addict who was inspired in part by the struggles of both Shults’ father and a cousin, was met with great success at SXSW (“I love them!” Shults exclaimed) and earned him a special jury prize for cinematography in 2014.

  It was only the beginning of many great moments according to Shults, who was determined to have as his lead, Fairchild, a woman who got him his first internship with the great filmmaker Terrence Malick. Prior to making his film, Shults worked on Malick’s yet-to-be-released “Voyage of Time” and later, the 2011 release “The Tree of Life”.  During that process, Shults had the opportunity to work with Malick’s director of photography Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki, who has achieved legendary status for winning three consecutive best cinematography Academy Awards for “Gravity” “Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Innocence)” and this year’s “The Revenant”, hinting that from Shults’ 2014 award for his camerawork, working with the best may possibly begat more greatness.

  “I have been very, very fortunate in that regard,” Shults had said in a previous interview.

  He acknowledged that family loyalty was “huge”, and proved it by using not only his aunt, but his own mother Robyn and grandmother Victoria (*Shults also played an important role in front of the camera and the four family members comprised the most unforgettable scene in the devastating, must-see movie) filmed in his family’s home over the breakneck pace of nine days.  

From left Victoria Fairchild, Trey Edward Shults and Krisha Fairchild in a critical scened from "Krisha".  Courtesy of A24

The 27-year-old also employed veteran actor Bill Wise (“Boyhood”, “The Leftovers”), as Uncle Doyle, an eccentric family member who effectively steals scenes while magnifying the family’s dysfunction.

In this New York Times story written by Nicholas Rapold, one can also see a film by Mekado Murphy that director Trey Edward Shults breaks down  (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/13/movies/with-krisha-a-director-finds-a-cast-he-can-relate-to.html?_r=0).

  Already aware of the short, the programming team at SXSW accepted the feature, where it proceeded to gain steam and critical support along with the awards.  Two months later, A24, which also counts the Oscar winning movies “Room” (for best actress Brie Larson) and “Amy” (best documentary) as well as “The End of the Tour”, “Short Term 12”, and “The Witch” among its films, bought the rights for “Krisha” (“I am so, so grateful to A24!”).

   With the support, came the Spirit Award nomination for “Krisha”, a completely unexpected surprise to him and his family, his best friend Justin R. Chan, who along with Chase Joliet and Wilson Smith produced the film with him.  When the group arrived onto the blue carpet at the Spirit Awards situated next to the Santa Monica Pier on February 27, he admitted to feeling a little star struck, while recounting a nice chat with actor Michael Shannon (“99 Homes” “Boardwalk Empire”).

  “We were enjoying the experience because I think we were able to keep it in perspective,” Shults said. “After all, we were just grateful to be involved. Of course you want to feel like these are your peers, but you can’t help but think here were some kids that made a movie and were crashing a celebrity event.

  “It was funny… we were all on the blue carpet in a group and some lady was next to us. I didn’t even know who she was.  But obviously she was more famous than us (laughs).  Our publicists tried to get the photographers to take pictures of us, but they wouldn’t and they kept taking pictures of her.   We didn’t mind, we were enjoying this because all of this was just icing on the cake.”

  His one potentially awkward moment occurred in the place people feel the most vulnerable.

  “I was standing next to (director) Todd Haynes at the urinal and I tried to be cool that I met his great d.p. Ed Lachman (the Oscar nominee who later that day won the cinematography Spirit Award for his work on Haynes’ “Carol”),” Shults said “But when I talked to him I was like “Hey, I met your d.p. Ed ‘Latch-man’ and he said “Uh, it’s ‘Lock-man’. I knew that! Ugh!  He probably thought I was just some jackass (laughing).  But it was funny and a cool experience.”

 *Sidenote - A couple of hours later, something much cooler occurred that this writer was a very privileged witness to while working with the Spirit Awards production broadcast.   We had to make sure that nominees were in their seats once their awards came up on the program.  One of my responsibilities was the “Krisha” gang.  After introducing myself and giving Trey and company instructions, I came back to joke with them to make sure that they had nothing in their teeth just in case they had to go up on stage.

  “Why, do you know something we don’t?”  Shults quipped.

  In truth I didn’t, but I did notice that a camera crew was assigned to them, which was an indication of sorts.

“That’s funny man now that I think about it in hindsight,” Shults said.  “It seemed like for nominees of the big ones they had cameras on every single one. But in the moment, I didn’t realize that they only had a camera on our group.  I wasn’t thinking of that in my head.  That’s very funny. I honestly did not think we were going to win.  I thought “Heaven Knows What” would win. My mom was like we can win this and kept saying it, but I’m like no, no. We didn’t expect it all.”

 Then it happened. 

                                                                               A stunned Trey Edward Shults, Justin R. Chan and Wilson Smith walk to the stage with the rest of the cast and crew to accept their award.

                                                      Click here to watch Trey Edward Shults accept the John Cassavetes Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUNa2V6Y4lI

“I think at that point it was more like disbelief of another crazy part of this journey that we thought would never happen. My mom, she was just sobbing. It was probably one of the best days of her life.  It was really beautiful.”

 Despite all the accolades, the filmmaker admitted to having struggled with the whole process of being rewarded for his art.

  “In general I say f-- awards,” Shults said. “Beyond “that’s not why we’re making a movie” but it’s like I hate award ceremonies because I say I don’t care.  But when you are there with your film, you can’t help but care.  You get very nervous and it’s not a good feeling.  I’ve been on both sides winning with SXSW and the Cassavetes Award and others, then going to Cannes and sitting in an awards show and not getting anything.  That was a nerve wracking, miserable thing.  At the end of the day you can’t help but care.  Regardless we are so grateful for all of the support we have, from my family, A24, film festivals, the media and especially everyone who has watched the film.”

  The next step is to extend the release as far as they can take it.

  “I think doing one Q and A on Friday with Justin my best friend and Wilson is debating about coming in,” he said.  “Other than that we don’t have any plans, but I think it will be a celebration no matter what.  If people love it or hate it, it won’t diminish what’s already happened. This whole ride has been amazing.”