We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristian McKay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kristian , thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I met my executive producer while living in South America. I was making a handful of small films that screened in local cinemas—quiet, personal stories made on a shoestring. One day, I got an email from him. He was passing through and asked if I’d meet him for breakfast. I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I said yes. Over coffee, he flipped through a stack of pitches right there at the table. He told me he liked my work, asked what I was thinking about next. I hadn’t really planned that far ahead. I mentioned a few ideas, and he pointed to one and said, “I want to make this with you.”
That was five years ago. Then the pandemic hit. My 22-year marriage ended. Life unraveled in a lot of ways. We stayed loosely in touch, but I didn’t have it in me to take on a project. Eventually, I moved back to Texas and began writing again while working as a content producer.
One quiet Friday night, I decided to take a chance. After years of silence, I sent him the script for Kill Trip. I didn’t know if he’d remember the idea—didn’t know if he’d even read it. But he did. He got back to me immediately. He said he still believed in my work, and he wanted to talk.
Now, here we are—days away from production. Kill Trip is about a group of music festival-goers who take a ride through the wrong town. But at its core, it’s a story about instinct, danger, and how people reveal themselves when they’re lost. The kind of film I’ve always wanted to make.
Kristian , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Kristian McKay—a filmmaker, writer, and creative producer based in Texas. My work lives at the intersection of psychological tension, dreamy Americana, and raw emotional undercurrents. I gravitate toward stories that explore people in isolation—either physically, emotionally, or morally—and how those moments reveal something essential about who we really are.
My journey into filmmaking began in the American South, where my older brother introduced me to filming Wirth super 8 and using VHS video. This early exposure ignited a passion that led me to study writing at Portland State University. During my time there, I created several short films in the Pacific Northwest, honing my craft and developing a unique narrative voice.
One of my early works, Summer Orbit (also known as Orbita del Verano), was a 16mm short film shot in Portland, Oregon. The film garnered international recognition, winning the Golden Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival and receiving official selections at festivals such as NewFilmmakers Los Angeles and the LA San Rafael Film Festival.
Another significant project, Ventaja, is a feature film set in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. The film explores themes of chance, risk, and transmigration, and was officially selected for the Guayaquil International Film Festival and the Emerge Film Festival in Maine.
truewonderfilm.com
In addition to my independent film work, I’ve served as a content producer for various corporations, crafting narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. This experience has equipped me with the skills to manage productions efficiently while maintaining a strong creative vision.
Currently, I’m in the final stages of producing Kill Trip, a horror-thriller about a group of music festival-goers who find themselves in peril after taking a detour through the wrong town. The film stars Samaire Armstrong, Corin Nemec, and Stelio Savante, and marks a significant milestone in my filmmaking career.
For those discovering my work, I aim to create films that delve deep into the human condition, exploring themes of identity, survival, and connection. Whether it’s a short film, a feature, or branded content, I strive to tell stories that leave a lasting impact.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Getting to work closely with people. It’s like the greatest Thursday night playing with friends in the neighborhood. I grew up in the 80’s so there was this freedom and energy and connection with everyone in the area really. My parents loved the movies. We would all go as a family and now that everyone is out living their lives, being in a theater and watching a film or making one and being on set, I remember my family, girls I made out with in the back row, it gives me a tremendous sense of home.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I’d like to make narrative films in places around the world where no film has ever been made. Experiencing culture and being with locals is a huge personal narrative for me. All the work I do now is in hopes to one day do this. Not to just tell a love story, but to tell it with a volcano in area, or another isolated terrain to help ignite the human drama.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.truewonderfilm.com
- Instagram: @truewonderfilm
