Phoenix Gold was the first time I was able to direct a film with an actual team — a bunch of high school students who had no idea what they were doing (myself included) but were completely committed to making something cool. We threw ourselves into studying film noir and tried to write a story that felt true to the characters and style of that era. It was also the first time I felt that electric, creative energy in a writers’ room — bouncing around ideas, building characters and backstories, and hiding clues, layers and motivations in the story.

​

Phoenix Gold will always hold a special place in my heart. The plot’s predictable, the sound is weirdly in stereo, and the creaky floorboards in Marshall’s detective agency still drive me mad, but looking back now in 2025, I can’t help but smile at all its cheesy fun and DIY quirks. This film made me truly fall in love with filmmaking — not just the finished product but the friendships and chaos that came with making it.