While delivering the keynote address at the Film Independent Forum last weekend, Jordan Peele talked candidly about the creative process behind his directorial debut, Get Out.

In making the breakout horror film, Hollywood’s lack of representation was the first hurdle Peele had to overcome — at first, he held himself back from writing by thinking a movie where every white person was evil was something that could never be made. When he actually started the project, he found his words were stronger when he had fun doing it, and so treated the process as if it were a hobby.

Next, he had to make the plot realistic enough for his audience. To do this, he used Ira Levin novels, which he refers to as social thrillers, as inspiration. At the same time, though, he wanted to surprise and so decided to stray from the norm and subvert the trope of a white savior.

Lastly, Peele talked about the issues he had in managing his expectations for the film, especially with the microscopic budget of $5 million. For a more in-depth look at what the director had to say during his keynote, read on here.

In other news, the final trailer for Justice League just dropped.