WHAT JOSIAH SAW Director, Vincent Grashaw [Episode 103]

The Nick Taylor Horror Show

Welcome to the Nick Taylor Horror Show. As always, each episode of The Nick Taylor Horror Show explores how today's horror filmmakers are getting their movies made while deconstructing their methods and career strategies into practical insights that you can use on your own horror filmmaking journey.

Join me in welcoming Vincent Grashaw! Vincent is a writer-director known for films like Coldwater, And Then I Go, and last year's stunner, What Josiah Saw.

What Josiah Saw is a southern gothic psychological horror drama that takes us into the heart of a dysfunctional family's grim reunion at their remote farmhouse. The film unravels a tapestry of secrets and sins, ultimately confronting the profound impact of generational trauma.

With an exceptional ensemble cast including Robert Patrick, Nick Stahl, Scott Haze, and Kelli Garner, What Josiah Saw is a powerful and unflinching piece of southern fried noir cinema. The film holds a rightfully earned 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and you can catch it right now on Shudder. I highly recommend this film but be careful who you watch it with because it gets pretty intense.

Here are some key takeaways from this conversation with Vincent Grashaw:

Vet your actors.

Lots of well-known actors disappear from the limelight simply because they're difficult to work with. Talent is not enough, your actors have to be cooperative and collaborative or else you can be in a world of pain. This is why it's critical to dig deeper into your potential hires. Speak to producers, casting directors, and trustworthy actors. See if they're game for the demands of your production, including long hours, low budgets and shooting styles. This is vital for your lead actors but also goes for your key crew. A single ego can disrupt the whole set's harmony. So, do your vetting, awkward as it may feel, it'll save you substantial heartache.

There’s an insight in every note.

When gathering feedback on edits for

Josiah, Vincent discovered that those unattached to the movie were typically more objective, even if their notes sometimes annoyed him or suggested they missed the movie's point. He learned to check his ego when facing feedback, striving to find the truth in every single critique. It's easy to shrug off notes and feedback, and that's often your ego talking. After your first edit, you're likely too close to your movie to spot its flaws. So heed the feedback, even if it seems uninformed at first glance. Find the commonalities in the notes and dig beyond yourself to figure out what needs fixing.

Overprepare.

The beautiful direction and tonal unity inWhat Josiah Saw didn't happen by chance. Vincent stressed that over-preparation grants you the leeway to be organic during shooting. Yet, relying on spontaneity without preparation is a straight path to failure. A director's job is to be so deeply rooted in their vision of the movie that they can pivot at a moment's notice and answer the thousands of questions that arise on the day. Seemingly paradoxical, over-preparation is your secret weapon for improvisation, allowing you to adapt swiftly and effectively to any curveball the production throws at you.

Thanks as always for listening and keep an eye out for Vincent's upcoming project "Bang Bang," a gritty drama starring Tim Blake Nelson as a retired boxer who finds redemption through caring for his grandson.

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