A Director Prepares

Here's the thing about directors: They come in all types. And the problem is that people put them into one of two categories. Either they are "good" or "bad". There are no in betweens. However, this is hardly the case in real life. A bad director can have any number of faults, and they may only have to do with certain aspects of the job. And, in the end, a director is often only as good as the people with whom they surround themselves. A good director with a less-than-stellar crew is going to fail. The same is true for a great crew that lacks a strong leader.

But what about our director, Jason Pitts? Jason has been interested in directing for most of his life and has been a lifelong horror fan. But the ability to combine those two has been astronomically successful. However, the thing that truly defines Jason as a director is his ability to work with actors. Consider this quote from Jason:

"My creative process when working with actors is centered on deep collaboration and psychological exploration to ensure every performance feels authentic and deeply motivated."

This creed, this innate need to put actors first, is what makes Jason a truly authentic director. When asked to go further, Jason had this to say:

I like to start with one-on-one time with the actor. Those early conversations are really about discovering who this character is on a human level. We build out their backstory, talk through their psychology, and try to understand what drives them so that every choice in the script feels grounded. From there, we agree on a core truth for the character, something the actor can always return to if they start to feel unsure in a scene. Once that foundation is in place, we look at how the character relates to others in the story and map out those dynamics together. And throughout the entire process, I make sure to approach it as a collaboration. I want the actor to feel like their ideas matter, because they do. When we both bring our perspectives to the table, the performance becomes richer, more layered, and more alive.

The Trial of Margaret Stone features a variety of different personalities coming together like crashing waves. All of them, locked inside a courtroom and grappling with the issue at hand. Jason's ability to put his actors into the right mindset is what will ultimately put The Trial of Margaret Stone in the pantheon of great indie horror.