An Interview with Josh Daws, Director of Dangerous Calling

by Dale Pierce

December 2011

Josh Daws on (re)Search my Trash

You and your brother have created your own production company. Tell people about it.

Daws Brothers Studios exists to tell stories that excite and inspire. We want to create movies that capture the imaginations of the little kid that still lives within all of us.

Does working with your brother leave a door open for conflict? I mean I remember the Smothers Brothers as I am old enough and they were always at each others throats. Different genre, but...

We do have our arguments, but on the whole we have remarkably similar tastes and tend to get along pretty well. We have an agreement that if we're both not excited by an idea, it's not right.

You both studied film making in Atlanta?

My brother, Jeremiah, studied film at University of Central Florida and then finished up his schooling at Georgia State. I didn't go to film school, but helped Jeremiah with all of his school projects and read all the same books he was reading. I feel like I've been to film school by proxy.

So you never duked it out on a set like the Smothers Brothers?

We try to have our battles resolved before we get to set. It can be really demoralizing to your cast and crew when they're hearing two different things from the directors.

How do you divide your duties?

Jeremiah enjoys working with actors while I'm more at home behind the camera setting up shots, but that's not to say he doesn't help with shots and I don't talk to the actors. It's a good give and take.

What is your company URL?

http://www.dawsbrothers.com

Dangerous Calling was one of your big projects. Why don't you tell us about the plot in your words?

Dangerous Calling is about a pastor and his wife who relocate to a new church in the North Georgia mountains. They immediately butt heads with the sweet widow lady that runs the church and she goes a bit crazy and tries to kill them.

By originally aiming for the church audience, didn't you find it a bit risky to use a Christian villain?

Well, we didn't really set out to make a Christian film. We originally wanted to make a low budget thriller like Misery, but couldn't figure out how to make it original. Somewhere along the line one of us came up with the idea to set it in a church world. We knew it would be a bit risky, but it felt like a story we had to tell.

From what I heard the secular world liked this film pretty well?

Yes, we won the audience award at the Rome International Film Festival. We've screened it a few times and had a great response.

Who came up with the idea for Miss Pat?

We're pastor's kids. She's an amalgamation of a lot of women we've known throughout our childhood. Pushed to the extreme of course.

Most people would contend the actress playing her did quite a credible job as a dangerous religious fanatic ...

Jackie Prucha was incredible. I'd put her up against any villain of that type. She was fantastic.

Was she the original choice for the role?

No. We had written the role for an actress we had worked with several times before. However, when she read the script she decided it was too violent and asked us to reconsider shooting it. We panicked, but eventually found Jackie. Now I can't imagine anyone else in that role.

I could see where some people would think this movie pushed the envelope too far, but you would contend, would you not, that fanaticism is a dangerous and very real underside of not just Christianity but any religion and thus should be utilized in film?

I think it's dangerous when anyone uses Christianity to promote their own agenda. True Christianity is about bringing the love of Christ to everyone. Too many people in churches prefer to huddle up inside their own walls and throw stones at everyone outside.

In retrospect is there anything you would change about the movie?

Nope. It is what it is. We're very pleased with it and are looking forward to new projects.

Any interesting stories form behind the scenes you would like to tell?

In one scene Miss Pat beats her son with a rod. He was wearing padding for the wide shots, but we took it out to get a close up of his face. Unfortunately, we neglected to tell Jackie. She was supposed to stop before actually hitting him, but Brandon got a full force swing to the back. Thankfully he was okay. We used the sound in the movie.

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You sure you and your brother never duked it out on the set like The Smothers Brothers?

Ha. Maybe once or twice. You'd have to ask him.

Are there any present plans for new films?

We're focusing on our writing at the moment, but would love to direct again if the right project comes along.

Do you ever attend the film conventions or fan fests around the USA and screen Dangerous Calling?

We've taken it to a few festivals. I wish everyone could see it with an audience. It plays so well with an audience. Everyone jumps at the right places. It's so much fun.

Anything else you would like to bring up in regard to your films?

You should see them. :-) We have a bunch of our shorts available on our website: http://www.dawsbrothers.com

Closing remarks?

Thanks for promoting our film. We're really proud of it.

Thanks for the interview!

© by Dale Pierce

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