Building Monsters & Making Mayhem – Jay Goldberg on Modern Horror
In this episode of Discover the Terror, host Max Schmidt sits down with horror writer/producer Jay Goldberg – the twisted mind behind Stay Out of the F*ing Attic**, Glorious, and Creeping Death.
They break down:
How a title like Stay Out of the F*ing Attic** became a branding masterstroke
Turning a truck-stop bathroom into a cosmic horror set in Glorious
Working with J.K. Simmons as a cosmic god behind the glory hole
The power of practical effects and why FX artists are true horror sculptors
How being a dad reshaped Jay’s relationship to horror, grief, and on-screen violence
The reality of indie horror budgets, festivals, and getting distribution
Why music (emo, screamo, synth, industrial) is a secret weapon in his writing process
Jay also shares straight-up, no-BS advice for:
Horror screenwriters trying to build a script library
Emerging directors who want to shoot their first feature
Producers trying to build a trusted “film family” and get movies financed
Any filmmaker struggling with “no” and wondering how to keep going
If you’re into horror movies, cosmic horror, practical FX, Shudder originals, indie filmmaking, or genre screenwriting, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and plenty of gore-soaked wisdom.
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01:15 – The Story Behind “Stay Out of the F*ing Attic”**
05:40 – Censorship, Shudder, and Making Nazi Monsters
10:18 – Practical Effects as Horror Artistry
14:52 – Growing Up in Jersey & Creative Influence
19:10 – Breaking Into the Industry
23:35 – The $75K Metamorphosis Short & Loving Practical FX
26:50 – Writing a Zombie Titanic & Early Contest Success
30:30 – The Art of Horror: Why Practical FX Matters
34:45 – The Gore Philosophy
38:20 – Building Glorious: Cosmic Horror in a Bathroom
42:30 – Why J.K. Simmons Said Yes
46:40 – Directing Dynamics with Rebecca McKendry
51:25 – Writing Slasher Variations & Subverting Tropes
55:00 – Survival Themes & Human Extremes
58:40 – Horror as a Parent
1:03:10 – Are Strangers or Ourselves Scarier?
1:06:45 – Experimental Horror’s Rise
1:10:20 – The State of Indie Horror & Microbudgets
1:14:40 – Building Worlds, Not Just Scares
1:19:00 – The High of Filmmaking
1:22:30 – Jay’s Writing Process & Music
1:26:55 – Using Lawsuit Money to Make His First Film
1:31:20 – Helping New Filmmakers & Paying It Forward
1:36:00 – Creeping Death and First Features
1:41:25 – The Truth About Script Libraries
1:45:40 – Finding Your Audience & Voice
1:50:28 – The Realities of Production & “Movie Gods”
1:55:10 – Final Advice for Filmmakers
Find Jay:
Instagram: / jscottgoldberg
Find Maximilian:
Instagram: / m.x.schmidt
Website: https://www.maxschmidtfilmmaking.com
#HorrorPodcast #JayGoldberg #DiscoverTheTerror #IndieHorror #HorrorMovies #Screenwriting #Filmmaking #PracticalEffects #Glorious #StayOutOfTheAttic