Guillermo del Toro here. Director. Gamer. Tequila connoisseur. I’m here answering all of your questions about my new movie The Shape of Water. AMA let’s go.

MehPsh · 2017-12-04T19:35:59+00:00

Shape of Water almost feels like an indie film. Would you rather do more smaller films like this one or large productions?

Also, why is Doug Jones always a monster?

ShadowOps84 · 2017-12-04T19:49:33+00:00

Hello, Sr. del Toro. I'm a big fan

My question is: Is Ron Perlman as nice as I hope he is?

Also, do you have a favorite film of yours?

merry722 · 2017-12-04T19:31:04+00:00

What are some movies you're looking forward to catching up on, now that you might get some time?

Thoughts on Mad Max : Fury Road? I know you're going to be interviewing the great George Miller .

TonCharles90 · 2017-12-04T19:27:02+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to do this, Guillermo! Huge fan of your movies! Any news about another collaborative project with Hideo Kojima? I was crushed when Silent Hills was cancelled. Thank you!

MiladySylvia · 2017-12-04T19:27:18+00:00

Hello Guillermo,

Some of your films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water are made on budgets that are considerably smaller as compared to mainstream big-budgeted films, but they have the most amazing production values. Do you find the small budgets constricting or are you able to work around it?

What are the films that have inspired your work, narratively and stylistically?

PS: Would love to see a Lovecraftian horror film/TV project with your involvement.

zootskippedagroove6 · 2017-12-04T19:35:30+00:00

Hey Guillermo, what are your thoughts on the new Hellboy?

Bonus question, what's an obscure horror film that you recommend for a horror fan who's seen almost everything?

dvidsilva · 2017-12-04T19:34:53+00:00

Hi! I got the chance to see you at the Q&A last week in NYC, I loved your insights, learning more about you and perspective in life, Thanks for sharing, it was super inspiring. For a question, did you manage to see Coco yet?

merry722 · 2017-12-04T19:36:38+00:00

I just wanted say thank you for Pan's Labyrinth , I don't partake in many fairy tales but Pan's Labyrinth was just perfect. I shed a tear at the end. What do you think the legacy is for the film?

jdogamerica · 2017-12-04T19:50:38+00:00

Where do you get your inspiration for your endless monster designs?

invincible_man · 2017-12-04T19:35:18+00:00

Tell me about death stranding

TheAdventurousWriter · 2017-12-04T19:42:11+00:00

What was the film that took you by surprise this year? And why was that the case?

P.S. Solid decision in choosing Alexandre Desplat as composer for The Shape of Water. He did a phenomenal job!

10sansari · 2017-12-04T19:28:10+00:00

Hey Guillermo!! Hope you're doing well.

Do you have any advice for a 17 year old high school Junior? How were you when you were my age?

Clockmen · 2017-12-04T20:15:51+00:00

Hi Guillermo! I still have that Cthulu sketch you drew for me on the back of my high school schedule on my wall: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CPH7nnZWsAU3vdG.jpg I've now graduated from college, have a screenwriting manager and hoping to get something produced soon. Your work continues to be an inspiration to me (especially as one of my current projects is about monsters).

A few questions:

1) How is Death Stranding coming along?

2) I know you hadn't seen Evangelion when making Pacific Rim, but have you watched it since? Thoughts?

3) In the past few months there's been a lot of revelations to the public about how terrible a lot of powerful men in Hollywood have acted. Some of these revelations were semi-expected, others have been shocking from my outsider perspective (as someone whose childhood dream was to work at Pixar, hearing about Lasseter was the biggest shock to me), but it's all been depressing. How do you process all this and any thoughts on the general situation?

jacksonrees · 2017-12-04T19:35:24+00:00

Your films speak volumes to me, they are often beautiful, disturbing, or both at once. You are, in my mind, the most imaginative filmmaker working today.

I have a few questions for you. The first: Which of your films have you been most passionate about throughout the entire creative process, and which do you think came out most true to your artistic vision?

The second: I’ve always loved the idea of you making a movie based on the works of Lovecraft. Do you think we’ll ever see that happen, and is that something you would still want to do?

Thank you so much for your time and for all of the amazing art you share with us!

Munsunned · 2017-12-04T19:40:59+00:00

Which of your creature concepts did you enjoy developing most? Thanks!

Real_Kevin_Hart · 2017-12-04T19:36:57+00:00

What advice can you give to a young mexican filmmaker trying to get funded?

Joseph-Joestar · 2017-12-04T19:29:25+00:00

What's going on with the adaptation of Monster?

Also, how did you become friends with Hideo Kojima?

Spidey10 · 2017-12-04T19:24:34+00:00

How involved are you with Pacific Rim 2?

OnUrMarkGetSetRepost · 2017-12-04T21:50:25+00:00

[deleted]

AddictedAICN · 2017-12-04T20:07:32+00:00

Years ago during the Hellboy 2 commentary, you promised if HB3 never got made, you'd tell everyone your story for it in a commentary. Do you still plan on saying what it was in a commentary or can you say it here?

defiancy · 2017-12-04T21:52:41+00:00

This AMA should have been bigger, what a great AMA with some really good, personal answers.

Shizzleee · 2017-12-04T19:34:29+00:00

Hey Guillermo, was wondering if you could ever shed some light on what happened with "At the mountains of madness"? Being a huge fan of yours and and huge fan of Lovecraft that movie is like a dream come true to me!

Have a great day!

darthmcchub · 2017-12-04T19:39:59+00:00

Mr. Del Toro,

Long time fan, when I discovered Pan’s Labyrinth I watched it every night for a week. Thank you.

I was wondering about your notebook process. Each project gets its own book correct? Do you start at page 1 and fill it just with whatever comes to mind? Or is there a system to it? How many notebooks are you currently writing in right now?

Thanks for all your films, they really mean a lot to me. I cannot wait for The Shape of Water.

Two_Faced_Harvey · 2017-12-04T19:27:29+00:00

Now that your schedule is open...would you still be open to directing Justice League Dark?

merry722 · 2017-12-04T19:30:01+00:00

How was it working with the great Micheal Shannon ? What sold movie sold you on Shannon's talent as an actor?

Jas378 · 2017-12-04T19:30:26+00:00

You mentioned it in the title, so I have to ask - what are your favourite tequilas? Also, absolutely love your films and can't wait to see The Shape of Water! :)

JMaesterN · 2017-12-04T19:46:19+00:00

What shape does water actually have?

Jstriker9peru · 2017-12-04T19:40:00+00:00

Hello Del Toro, I love your movies. I'm going to see The Shape of Water on the 14th. I want to ask...

What was the inspiration behind The Shape of Water?
What are a couple of your favorite movies? Favorite this year?
What are you working on next?

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions!

LiteraryBoner · 2017-12-04T19:25:41+00:00

Hey Guillermo. Ever since I heard you were offered the Dark Universe I've been lamenting for what could have been. Can you give us any insight on your early ideas for the style or progression of the movies you had in mind?

John_Lee_Packard · 2017-12-04T21:02:53+00:00

What happened to your reboot of Disney's Haunted Mansion movie? I really want to see it!

When that project was first announced it seemed too soon after the Eddie Murphy movie, however now enough time has passed that it's a good time to try again.

resident_slacker · 2017-12-04T19:23:41+00:00

Do you have any advice for an aspiring film director?

GuillermoDelToroHere · 2017-12-04T19:28:27+00:00

What are your thoughts on Net Neutrality?

RyPhi · 2017-12-04T19:47:45+00:00

Hi! Just wondering how your always sunny role came to be. Love me some pappy!

k4j98 · 2017-12-04T19:34:42+00:00

Would you consider directing anymore comic book movies? I quite enjoyed Hellboy 1 and 2!

solidsimpson · 2017-12-04T19:24:22+00:00

What is your favorite camera angle to use and why?

Nikson9 · 2017-12-04T19:25:39+00:00

Awww man! Was waiting for this one for a loong time.
Can you tell us something about In The Mountains Of Madness?
That was the one movie that i thought was a match made in heaven, why didn't it work out?
Also, Silent Hills?

jonesev28 · 2017-12-04T19:25:02+00:00

Hello, Mr. Del Toro. First of all, I’d like to thank you for the incredible work you’ve provided us. As an aspiring filmmaker myself, it is always so humbling and inspiring to see your art. I have not had the chance to see The Shape of Water yet since it has not come to my area yet, but I am eagerly anticipating it.

My question has to do with your artistic process in general, particularly your writing. When I watch your films, the way you draw from such an incredibly wide variety of influences (mythology, fairy tales, classic monster movies, gothic literature, etc.) to create something wholly unique and truthful is always breathtaking. When I write, it is hard for me to find things I’m truly interested in expressing (let alone the actual difficulty that comes with expressing them), and when I do, I can’t help but feel like I’m being extremely derivative, whether I’m consciously trying to channel something or not, and so I’m often extremely unconfident in my own writing. I apologize for how unfocused and vague this question is, and I know that this stuff isn’t supposed to be easy, but is there advice you can give me and other amateur filmmakers to help get past this feeling and be able to become better writers?

[deleted] · 2017-12-04T22:10:48+00:00

Fuck I'm always late

ptmarkey · 2017-12-04T19:25:17+00:00

Everything I've seen about this movie seems absolutely fantastic! Where did the idea of it come from? And how did you get to be involved in it?

Date	Person
7 Jun	Jason Trost, 9 PM EST
20 Apr	Super Troopers 2, 4:20 PM EST ;)
19 Apr	Rachel Myers, director of Wendy's Shabbat, 1 PM EST
12 Apr	Neill Blomkamp
6 Apr	Lynne Ramsey
27 Mar	Greg Sestero

movies

Filter Posts by Link Flair

AMA Calendar

Latest movie discussions

Use spoiler tags

Helpful subreddits

Isle of Dogs

Rampage

Truth or Dare

A Quiet Place

Neill Blomkamp

Lynne Ramsay

Greg Sestero

MODERATORS