Directing Dread: A Horror Filmmaking Podcast

very filmmaker dreams of a sold-out world premiere. Then the lights come up. Now what? In this episode of  Directing Dread , Justin Harding and Jacob Phair unpack Jacob's world premiere of his debut feature film,  Chimera , and the reality of what happens after you've achieved the milestone you've been chasing for years. We dive into the highs, the surprises, and the hard truths of the festival ex...

Something is stalking Hollywood. For years, studios searched film festivals, film schools, and agency rosters looking for the next generation of directors. Now they're lurking somewhere else entirely. YouTube. The breakout success of  The Backrooms  and  Obsession  has sent a shockwave through the industry and proven that a filmmaker with a killer idea and an internet connection can compete with t...

After our deep dive into short films in Episode 4, things get real. In this episode of Directing Dread , Jacob and Justin discuss Jacob’s horror short screenplay and his idea of turning it into an actual project for the podcast. What follows is an honest breakdown of the script, the good, the bad, the problems, the potential, and the reality of developing a film as a team. Working director Justin...

Short films are one of the fastest ways to get noticed, if you approach them the right way. In this episode of Directing Dread , working director Justin Harding and up and coming filmmaker Jacob Phair break down how to actually make a short film that gets programmed, gets seen, and moves your career forward. We cover festival strategy, where to premiere, when to go online, and how to position your...

If you cannot sell your horror movie, it does not get made. In this episode of Directing Dread , working director Justin Harding and up and coming filmmaker Jacob Phair take a deep dive into the art of the pitch deck and why it is one of the most important tools a director has. We break down what actually goes into a strong deck, why most pitch decks fail, and how to approach yours like a piece of...

AI is already in the filmmaking pipeline. The question is how you use it. In this episode of Directing Dread , working director Justin Harding and up and coming filmmaker Jacob Phair break down the real role of AI in filmmaking today, and where it is actually heading. We dig into the recent deal between Ben Affleck’s company Interpositive and Netflix as a signal of how the industry is starting to...

Welcome to the first episode of Directing Dread . This is a podcast built for aspiring horror directors who want to stop waiting and start making films. In this episode, working director Justin Harding and up and coming filmmaker Jacob Phair lay out the mindset that matters most at the beginning of your career. Use what you already have. We break down how films like Paranormal Activity, Creep, and...