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Back in 2016, when David Mackenzie’sHell or High Waterdebuted at Cannes and later graced the theaters with positive reviews, it was actually the Texas-born actor Taylor Sheridan’s brainchild that later earned an Oscar nomination for original screenplay. And that’s what marked a new era for Sheridan as a writer.
Now, Taylor Sheridan has a number of projects associated with his name—be it for acting, directing, or writing. However, fans have always been intrigued by his 2016 screenplay which left people in awe. So to address the inspiration behind his idea, Sheridan opened up about a particularly gut-wrenching real-life situation.
Taylor Sheridan reflected on his inspiration behindHell or High Water
Although switching his career from acting to writing at 40 wasn’t an easy feat for Taylor Sheridan, he still managed to prove himself with his 2015 debut as a screenwriter for Denis Villeneuve’sSicario. But it wasn’t until his 2016 movieHell or High Water,that truly established Sheridan as a writer in the industry.
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Writing the screenplay for David Mackenzie’s movie, Taylor Sheridan not only proved his skills but also won an Oscar nod for his work. This incredible success left people wondering about the inspiration behind his screenplay. Therefore, sitting for an interview duringTHR’s round table, Sheridan reflected on how the storyline came from a very personal place.
Well, the starting point was a few things. You know I was a new father and penniless. Crammed my family into this little apartment, because I stupidly at 40 decided to start writing. And so one of the major themes in it is failure as a father.
At the same time, Texas was on fire. Markets were collapsing and the way of life I grew up with was failing and dying. And so it was a very personal exploration of my own experiences and then of a way of life.
Discussing how his poverty, family struggles, and harsh realities surrounding the economy left a lasting impression on him, Taylor Sheridan noted being inspired by it and writing the tale of two brothers turning to crime to save their family’s land. Thereafter addressing how he analysed people and their relationships in times of hardships, Sheridan called the film a re-examination of his past.
Taylor Sheridan admitted to visualizing the movie before lifting his pen
After reflecting on the inspiration behind his screenplay forHell or High Water,Taylor Sheridanwent on to discuss his process of writing. Considering how each writer has their own way of diving into a storyline, Sheridan opened up about his own. According to the star, he claimed to have a clear vision of how the story should unfold, even before he picked up his pen.
For me, I know roughly the whole movie. I have to see the whole movie in my head before I start writing. I have to understand the character’s arcs—what’s driving this guy? what am I trying to say? Understand completely from a landscape standpoint.
And I usually drive, this is how I find it. I was trying to figure a scene out when I lived in LA and I ended up in Central Montana. And I didn’t figure out so I turned around. So I was between Vegas and Barstow and it finally happened, but it cost me like two grand.
Apart from writing the screenplay based on his own experiences, Taylor Sheridan also admitted to driving through places to figure out scenes as a visual inspiration for his storyline. Eventually, although it cost him around two grand to come up with the scene and complete the screenplay, Sheridan earned a lot more from his work. From appreciation to critical acclaim, the star etched his place as a renowned writer in Hollywood.
Hell or High Wateris currently available to watch on Prime Video.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
