Designing Indie Horror: The Production Design of 'Obsession'

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, No Film School's GG Hawkins and guest Vivian Gray 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

Memorable Quotes:

• “My job basically is I'm in charge of the visual design of the film and the visual world.”

• “Because they have nothing to shoot until there's something to shoot, right?”

• “Everything has to have a texture.”

• “I think it is color and texture. It's going to make the biggest impacts in your film, from my experience.”

Guests:

• Vivian Gray

Resources:

• Obsession on IMDb

• Universal Studios Prop House & Drapery

• The Hand Prop Room

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