Behind the Scenes of the Teen Drama “non grata”

Directed, written, edited, and show-run by Sabrina Yum-Shuster, “non grata” offers a fresh perspective on Jude Lavine, the seemingly perfect Queen Bee, whose life takes an unexpected turn after a painful breakup.

Sabrina Yum-Shuster shared that the origins of the story are rooted in personal experiences during her friend Katrina’s senior year. The goal of the film is to challenge stereotypes, exploring the life of the popular girl beyond the surface. Yum-Shuster explained, “Like any one of us, the popular girl is the main character in her life, she is not always the villain and has her own story to tell.”

“We decided to write about that character’s journey through her senior year and find out what happens to her and all her “well laid plans” and ambition” said Yum-Shuster.

The production brought together a diverse cast and a local crew, creating a collaborative atmosphere on set. Yum-Shuster reflected on the experience, stating, “A majority of our cast was from out of state, so we got to meet some great ‘undiscovered’ talents. Our crew was made up of locals and friends who had backgrounds in film production.”

Yum-Shuster recounted a significant setback during pre-production when the initially chosen school location fell through. The team faced a two-week scramble to find an alternative, putting the entire project in jeopardy. Yum-Shuster described the stress during that period as “through the roof.”

“We had to disappoint our cast and crew and hoped that they would still be onboard when we could resume – the whole production was in jeopardy.  For two weeks we were emailing and cold calling every school, college and office space in the area.”

Looking back, Yum-Shuster emphasized the importance of early planning and detailed action plans for future projects. Despite setbacks, the experience showcased their adaptability and ability to overcome challenges during crunch time. She remarked, “Going through those setbacks helped us learn what we can do better next time as well as realize that we are adaptable and capable of getting things done.”

If you are just starting your filmmaking journey Yum-Shuster offered straightforward advice: “Just start. Go out there and get your experience on a set. Or write a script and produce it with some friends, it doesn’t matter what it is; a short, a feature, a music video. Go and do – that’s the most important part.”

To stay updated on Sabrina Yum-Shuster’s work, audiences are invited to visit Waycroft Productions’ future projects, audiences can follow them on social media, including Instagram, TikTok, and their official website. Completed music videos and short films are also available on their YouTube page.

“non grata” is an official selection in the Utah International Film Festival February 12-17 and will be screening at Maven Cinemas in American Fork, UT.