Meet Justin Joseph of New Baltimore, MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Joseph.

Hi Justin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The path that led me to the film industry began in earnest in May of 1999 with my first memory of seeing a movie on the big screen. I was five years old. The film was Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. While today I realize the movie has some significant flaws, the magic and the spectacle of that initial theatrical experience was enough to sink it’s hooks into me and never let go.

From there onward, these stories were everything to me. I’d have my birthday parties at the movie theater, I’d draw characters and creatures from my favorite films all across my school work, I’d even plot out alternate storylines to my favorite films with action figures to see how events would play out differently. In short, I’d become full-blown nerd. The condition was irreversible.

When I was in middle school, my dad decided to introduce me to George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. I might have been a little younger than that film’s intended audience, but that experience was instrumental to my film education. Dawn of the Dead showed me the true range of emotion cinema was capable of drawing out of people. I was absolutely petrified, but I couldn’t look away. From there I quickly discovered the films of director Sam Raimi, a man whose style I find myself most inspired by to this day.

A steady rotation of horror, science fiction, and fantasy films would continue to make up the bulk of my childhood and teenage years, but it would be a long time before I found the courage to pursue an actual career in the film industry. I got a job working part-time at my local movie theater out of high school, but that was the extent of it. While movies had always made me happy, for whatever reason I got it into my head that an actual career in film production just wasn’t realistic or achievable.

After high school I became convinced I should be studying something “practical” that would allow me to be of service to my community. This rationale led to my enrollment in a criminal justice and law enforcement program in college. I enjoyed my time in the program and learned a lot. Unfortunately, around that same time I’d also been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. After some difficult self-reflection. I realized that the day to day life of a law enforcement officer was not something I was going to be equipped to handle.

Of all things, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that finally gave me the drive to make an honest run at a film career. Throughout the nightmare that was 2020, I must have watched hundreds of films both new and old. A lot of these stories truly kept the madness of isolation at bay. An injection of color in a very bleak reality. Cliché as it may sound, my takeaway from the other side of the pandemic was that life is just too short to wonder “What if?”. Movies were the only real passion I’ve ever had, and that passion had just gotten me through a very difficult time. So why not try?

Not long after the world began to re-open, I saw an article detailing the production of an independent horror film that was going to be ramping up not far from where I was currently living. After a little research, I located the director of the film’s contact information, sent him an email expressing a desire to help out, and within a day or two he called me to chat about the project. After talking on the phone for about an hour he offered me a job on the film as a production assistant. My experience on that set was nothing short of euphoric and as much of a confirmation from the universe as I was likely to get: This was where I was meant to be.

While I’d now spent a little time on set, I wanted more. I wanted to learn as much as I possibly could about the various aspects of the industry. I applied to film school. The Motion Picture Institute of Troy, Michigan accepted my application and I spent the next year learning everything I could about cameras, lighting, editing, screenwriting, directing, set design and even casting. I met dozens of talented young professionals with similar passions, and was able to direct two short films over the course of the year.

During my time in film school I realized that of all the various roles that make up the industry, screenwriting was by and large my favorite. In lieu of directing a short film as my thesis project, I was given the option to write a feature-length screenplay, the project evolved from 10 pages to nearly 100. I graduated from the Motion Picture Institute last October, and have continued working on various scripts and projects since.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has most definitely not been a smooth road. Like a lot of people coming out of high school and entering the world, I wasn’t entirely sure of who I wanted to be. I struggled quite a bit with my mental health and my overall self worth. I spent a lot of time worrying about who I “should” be versus who I would be happy as. I thought I needed to find a traditional job so I spent a year and a half studying criminal law only to realize I wasn’t equipped to handle that life. Then even more time spent commiserating over that “wasted time”. It was a vicious cycle of self pity. I’m not particularly proud of that period of my life, but it was necessary. I realized much too late that time was only “wasted” if you learned nothing by spending it. I learned what mattered to me and what didn’t. I learned that accomplishing something will always lead to more challenges, but you need to allow yourself to celebrate the victory before tackling that next challenge.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a writer first and foremost. Throughout my time at film school, I’ve had to wear many hats. Director, assistant director, cinematographer, editor, lighting, casting, etc. But the aspect of the film industry that has brought me the most joy has been screenwriting. I’ve enjoyed storytelling since I was a kid, being able to take a small idea that pops into your head at 3AM and see it evolve into a 100 page screenplay is nothing short of magic to me.

The project I’m most proud of thus far has been “Phantom”, a feature-length screenplay I wrote as my thesis project studying at the Motion Picture Institute in Troy, Michigan.

The story revolves around a cold-blooded hitman who, after a contract goes catastrophically wrong finds himself face to face with Death himself. The film is a unique blend of modern action thriller and supernatural horror film.

I wanted to combine the fast-paced kinetic action of something like “John Wick” or “The Raid” with more unhinged supernatural nightmare fuel in the vein of “Evil Dead”.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My parents have always been extremely supportive of everything I do.

The instructors at Motion Picture Institute were supportive and knowledgeable. They made the literal mountain of things we had to learn digestible and easy to process so I’m eternally grateful for that. Special thanks to Richard Rothrock, my screenwriting teacher. His enthusiasm for what he does really helped reinforce what makes the creative industry so wonderful.

The community of fellow students at MPI were also instrumental. The way these people built each other up and supported each other was incredible and I would not trade that experience for the world.

Last but not least, my amazing fiancé Allison has been my absolute rock and has stood by me through thick and thin and I wouldn’t have made it through the last couple of years without her.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justindavidjoseph
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@justindavidjoseph