They Cloned Tyrone filmmaker Juel Taylor had a stroke of luck when Guillermo del Toro stepped in to offer his expertise and guidance for the film. Del Toro, renowned for his generosity towards fellow filmmakers, took the time to provide feedback and even personally visited the editing lab to offer his insights. Taylor recalls that del Toro was not only generous with his time but also demonstrated his genius in filmmaking.
Del Toro’s input proved invaluable in addressing a note from Netflix regarding a convoluted sequence in the film. The initial plan was to showcase Fontaine and Slick Charles’ elaborate scheme through an Ocean’s Eleven-like montage, but Netflix found it confusing. With del Toro’s guidance, Taylor, his co-writer Tony Rettenmaier, and editor Saira Haider were able to find an obtuse way to address the note while maintaining their creative vision. The collaboration extended beyond a single day, as del Toro continued to provide support and check on the progress of the film.
Taylor also explains his reasoning behind saving the title character of Tyrone for the film’s epilogue. While he avoids reading reviews, he was pleasantly surprised to receive positive feedback from both critics and acclaimed director Barry Jenkins. Having someone like Jenkins acknowledge their work was a remarkable compliment for Taylor.
Del Toro’s involvement in the film was not merely limited to notes and suggestions. He became personally invested in supporting Taylor and his team, even going so far as to order Popeyes fried chicken for lunch during his visit to the editing lab. Taylor describes del Toro as one of the nicest people and credits him with helping them find a third way to approach a challenging beat in the film’s montage sequence.
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The montage in question was initially complex and abstract, with Slick Charles delivering a monologue filled with doublespeak. However, del Toro’s guidance led to a simplification and restructuring of the sequence, making it easier for viewers to understand. Netflix had initially requested a chronological order for the sequence, but Taylor and his team believed there was more to it than just a simple montage. With del Toro’s help, they were able to maintain the overall structure while making it more digestible.
Overall, del Toro’s involvement in They Cloned Tyrone was instrumental in helping the filmmakers achieve their creative vision while also meeting the requirements of Netflix. Taylor’s experience working with del Toro felt like being back in film school, and the support and guidance del Toro provided went above and beyond expectations.
In the end, They Cloned Tyrone’s critical acclaim and successful release alongside other highly anticipated films served as a testament to the film’s quality and the creative talent involved. Taylor and his team can look back on their collaboration with del Toro as a transformative experience that elevated their work and allowed them to create a memorable debut film.
