“I knew why I wanted to do it. I was going through something, and had lost someone very close to me. I was having trouble understanding that and accepting that and incorporating that. I was very confused. When you lose a parent you are very much a child still, no matter when it happens,” he said. “There were certain things in the movie that I needed to believe myself. I wish I believed it and by the end of the movie, I was hoping that if I made this movie, I could start on that journey myself.”

The films that Greg parodies are a nod to the directors who have inspired Gomez-Rejon. With the classic films he chose, Gomez-Rejon hopes to encourage the audience to learn more about film history. He cites Martin Scorsese as one of his favorite directors because he’s “constantly trying to introduce you the films of the past.”

A message that Gomez-Rejon took away from the film and hopes other people will take away from the film is that artistry can heal.

“I learned that creativity can heal. By making a movie, he was able to give shape to these abstract feelings and there’s a healing process that goes into making something,” he said.

The experience of interviewing three incredibly talented actors as well as such a creative director was an amazing one. Their belief and passion in the movie made it succeed and affect audiences everywhere. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a must see movie.