Filmmaker J. M. (Josh) Logan joins Plutopia to discuss how his experience in special effects, sound, and post-production shapes his approach to directing. Exploring his feature “The Relic: Dragon,” he describes combining Texas history, Norse mythology, and cosmic horror in a story about estranged sisters, buried treasure, and the destructive power of greed. Josh explains his preference for practical effects that give actors something tangible to respond to, while embracing digital tools and YouTube’s opportunities for emerging filmmakers. He also considers the changing roles of Hollywood, distribution, and film festivals in helping independent films reach audiences. Throughout the conversation, he champions filmmaking as a collective effort, arguing that even low-budget productions can thrive by prioritizing crew well-being, creative ownership, and shared financial success.
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J.M. Logan:
I’m putting together a series of short videos right now for “Dragon” promotion to talk about the myths of low-budget filmmaking. And one of those myths that I think really needs to be busted is that making a low-budget film has to suck. It does not. And I feel like, after having worked on as many movies as I have over the decades, and having worked with many, many different crews and people, different producers, different directors… if you are working on a movie set and it sucks, it’s because the people at the top built it that way. That’s the only reason. It’s either because they didn’t have enough experience to know how to do things, or they’re prioritizing their budget over their crew… you know, we all have limited resources, no matter how much resources you have. Even the biggest Marvel movie has limited resources. So, where you assign those resources is the most important value of making movies.
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“The Relic: Dragon” Teaser
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