How do you create the world of a hit horror movie when you barely have the money or time to pull it off?

Production designer Vivian Gray joins me to talk about Obsession, the horror film written and directed by Curry Barker, and the creative problem-solving behind its unsettling sets.

She designed the One Wish Willow and other central elements of the blockbuster film "Obsession." Meet production designer and Memphis native Vivian Gray! Image: Sophia Barber

In this episode of the No Film School Podcast, 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.

How do you make a film shot for under $1 million feel like a premium, cinematic experience? For independent filmmakers, the instinct is often to rely on digital visual effects or generic, unlit spaces to hide a lack of budget. However, writer-director Curry Barker and production designer Vivian Gray took the opposite route for Obsession.

By leaning into real-world Southern California locations, rich textures, and handmade physical props, the production design team transformed everyday spaces into environments filled with tension and dread.

Vivian Gray is the production designer for the new Blumhouse horror movie, “Obsession.” Gray designed a key prop for the film, a sinister wooden stick known as a “One Wish Willow.”