In Conversation With The Weeknd and Jenna Ortega

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When Abel Tesfaye lost his voice at SoFi Stadium, it was the perfect storm.

Despite The Weeknd’s usual stage ability letting him down, a power that had never faltered before, Tesfaye discovered the very motivation he had been seeking to conclude his After Hours and Dawn FM series. He had long desired to end the narrative with something deeply personal, and that moment presented itself.

He expressed to TopMob that he desired the audience to experience his personal journey from his perspective, not just hear it in an album. Instead, he felt a different approach was necessary.

Following the conclusion of the sonic part of the trilogy with the “Hurry Up Tomorrow” album in January, the movie version bearing the same title is now mere days from its worldwide debut.

Under the guidance of director Trey Edward Schults, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” features the talented Tesfaye, along with Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. As Tesfaye puts it, this movie is a heartfelt creation; Ortega describes it as an exquisite blend of film and music.

Hear more from Tesfaye and Ortega in the conversation below.

Why was Hurry Up Tomorrow the album you wanted to make a film for?

Abel Tesfaye expresses his intention to conclude the “After Hours” and “Dawn FM” series with a deeply personal project. And then, something truly personal occurred – he lost his voice during a performance at SoFi Stadium. He soon discovered that this wasn’t a physical injury but a psychological issue he had to manage. His voice has been his greatest asset; he’s performed despite fever, family tragedies, and breakups. However, it failed him for the first time when he overexerted himself beyond his physical limits. He desired the audience to empathize with and witness his experience, and he felt an album would suffice for this purpose.

In essence, I contacted Edward Shults, a director whose creative approach has long intrigued me. I believed he would be ideal for the project. There was an instant connection with the material, and we formed a bond. It felt destined (kismet). I had faith in him, enabling me to concentrate solely on my role as an actor and musician.

Firstly, we selected Jenna for the role. Right from the start, she presented remarkable ideas, much like a seasoned filmmaker. Later on, Barry [Keoghan] joined us, whom we adore dearly. He’s an exceptional artist, truly gifted. The entire process felt collaborative, with everyone contributing significantly. Eventually, we jointly developed this stunning artistic masterpiece.

By the way, could you elaborate a bit on the initial brainstorming sessions among you, Barry Keoghan, and Trey Edward Shults in the early stages of your project?

Jenna Ortega: Everyone was very welcoming. Given that the script is deeply personal and psychological, I believe it was crucial for us all to be open in that sense – particularly for my character, Ani, it’s essential that she has a strong emotional bond with Abel, and that he shares the same intensity. Therefore, I think it was vital for me and him to grasp the situation as deeply as possible.

It was amazing how everyone shared the same vision, as they were eager to experiment and take chances. While our initial discussions were primarily for getting acquainted with each other, it was during production where our ideas truly blossomed. There were times when we’d step into a room and just sense a collective intuition, and I believe it was truly unique that we all aligned on the essence of certain scenes.

In my experience, it was truly fortunate to collaborate with everyone on the team. It seemed more like a close-knit community rather than a typical workplace. We were encouraged to share our emotions and thoughts freely, offering constructive suggestions in return. The outcome you’re witnessing is the result of genuine affection for what we do. That’s absolutely true.

Tesfaye described it as feeling like one big, loving family where we could openly share our feelings and thoughts without hesitation. The outcome is a heartfelt creation, truly born out of affection.

What were your first impressions of one another?

As a die-hard fan, I’d often find myself juggling high school life with set duties. The set school, though intriguing, had its quirks. One of my unique pastimes involved subtly manipulating the classroom radio or finding ways to silence it from afar. Hidden within one of my fellow castmates’ desks was a speaker that would occasionally fill the room with the early tunes of The Weeknd, much to the chagrin of my classically-inclined teacher. Her music would drive me up the wall, and I’d take great pleasure in replacing it with The Weeknd‘s beats. The ensuing chaos was a delightful mess. Every time she’d frantically search for the source, her sweet demeanor never failed to shine through. It was a fun, albeit mischievous, routine that never lost its charm.

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AT: That’s a great introduction. How do I follow that?

JO: I don’t think I’ve ever told you that.

AT: No, never!

JO: There must be a video somewhere that someone took.

Previously, I’ve shared this with Jenna. It was me who first spotted you in the movie “X“. Our friend Kevin [Turen], a producer on that film who unfortunately passed away, was the one who introduced me to your acting talent. I saw “X” at a screening and was immediately impressed by your performance; you always stood out. In “Scream“, you truly shone and left an impact. When they killed your character at the start, I thought, “The movie’s over now. What’s the point?” But then you returned. To sum it up, those two movies were when I first took notice of your talent.

In this movie, her performance is unlike anything I’ve seen her do before, as she takes center stage particularly in the closing act. Trey and I were apprehensive about filming that part because we weren’t sure how to pull it off. However, Jenna arrived with a brilliant idea, which she presented to the team, and executed flawlessly. It was a delight collaborating with someone so understanding while working with someone relatively new to acting.

Abel, how is storytelling in a film similar to or different from storytelling in an album?

In a more conversational style: Creating music is an intensely personal experience, often involving solitude during those vulnerable moments. On the other hand, making a movie requires gathering a team of people who can empathize with the content and share your passion for it. You’ll be working closely with them for extended periods, as everyone contributes to telling the story together. However, when you have a director like Trey who is dedicated to his cast and solely focused on storytelling, it makes the collaborative process much more rewarding.

Jenna, how was this film different from other projects you’ve worked on?

Sure thing!

JO: I completely concur. Working alongside Trey is truly unique. Unlike any other set experience I’ve had in my over 12-year career, it’s simply incomparable. I thrive on challenges and new experiences, and Trey fostered an atmosphere that encouraged experimentation – you felt free to try out whatever ideas you had.

Music plays a significant role in my identity and life, so it was thrilling to witness the fusion process unfold – seeing the collaboration develop live. The ability to merge film and music, the blending of the soundtrack with facial expressions, has the capacity to spark emotions within people. This is an exquisite union of the two mediums.

Ortega’s statement expresses the profound impact of blending movies and music; he suggests that the synchronization of a musical score with an actor’s facial expression can spark emotions within viewers. This, in his opinion, is a harmonious union of both mediums.

Are there any specific scenes that you feel really drive the audiovisual narrative home?

From the beginning, during the initial camera testing, the innovative work by Chase and Trey with the camera angles and lighting stood out. Kevin was there with me, and he exclaimed, “I’ve never seen anything like this.” This confirmed for me that we were creating something visually impactful. As I mentioned earlier, Jenna is carrying the third act. Her performance in the first take was decisive. It’s a daring project with many bold moves, but she nails each one of them.

You know, I found your performance in that scene truly impactful as well. There’s a moment at the end of that day that still resonates with me – I trust you remember it – and it was a deeply emotional experience for us both. The echoes of that emotion seemed to linger in the room long after we parted. It’s a remarkable sensation: when one can touch people so profoundly that even the crew falls silent. Your performance was incredibly genuine, and that day will always stand out as significant.

In simpler terms, the crew was like the audience at a concert. Just as you can predict certain reactions during a concert, we couldn’t anticipate how people would respond to our movie when it was released in theaters. However, during that specific moment, the entire team felt something profound and spiritual.

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2025-05-14 19:28