Designing Indie Horror: The Production Design of 'Obsession' (No Film School Podcast)

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, GG Hawkins speaks with production designer Vivian Gray about building the visual world of Obsession, from Southern Gothic references and texture-heavy interiors to practical blood gags and micro-budget problem-solving.

They discuss what a production designer actually does, how Gray collaborated with the director, cinematographer, costume designer, and art team, and why color, texture, aging, and window treatments can make a major difference on an indie horror film.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What a production designer does and how the role shapes the visual world of a film
• How Vivian Gray landed the job on Obsession through a recommendation and visual pitch deck
• Building the film’s Southern Gothic and Midwestern Gothic-inspired visual language
• Why production designers should come onto a project as early as possible
• Collaborating with cinematography, costumes, props, set decoration, lighting, and graphic design
• How a small indie crew used hands-on collaboration to make the film’s world feel cohesive
• Designing horror environments through texture, color, maximalism, and unease
• Practical lessons from blood gags, aging props, window treatments, and set dressing
• The highest-impact production design choices for micro-budget filmmakers
• Vivian’s advice for aspiring production designers