This was my second collaboration with Khalil Joseph and probably the first time I really recognized the brilliance of his directing style. Khalil can be very allusive on set, not wanting to over-impose or manipulate the process. He puts things in motion, trusts his collaborators and puts his faith in the collective capture. He remains focused on the spirit, the essence of the story, not plot points or exposition. He finds a way to fill his bag with artful imagery and then takes that to his editorial church. The post-process is where I feel Khalil's talents really shine. His timing and choices all seem to accentuate and evoke feeling. Something that's really underrated is the genius of Khalil's ear, his musical prowess and sound designing. To me, his work is a bridge between the stylization of Hype Williams and free-roaming poetics of Terrence Malick. Witnessing how unconventional and open Khalil remains at every stage of the process shattered my preconceived notion of how a director operates. I thought being an auteur necessitated rigid control, strict planning, and an uncompromising preservation of vision. Witnessing Khalil work in our studio alongside an entourage of fellow creatives sparked a movement in my mind, a liberation from the frictions of micro-management. It opened my mind to fresh exploration that can only ever happen after learning to let go of control.