as a director, I really don't want to...

Of course, you make a plan,

but I don't actually want to get the plan.

I want to get something that's better

than what I would have come up with

in my living room in L.A.

I'm going to... Hello and welcome back to the Directors' Cut, brought to you by the Directors Guild of America.

In this episode, a lone woman finds herself squaring off against two trespassers in director Julian Higgins' thriller,

God's Country. Based on James Lee Burke's short story Winter Light and his own short film of

the same name, Higgins' feature tells the story of a college professor who finds herself

drawn into an escalating battle of wills after she confronts two hunters

who claim they're just passing through.

In addition to God's Country,

Higgins' directorial credits include the feature film, Mending Wall,

and episodes of the series, Guidance, and House.

Following a screening of the film at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Higgins spoke

with director Chloe Okuno about filming God's Country. Listen on for their spoiler-filled conversation.

So I would love for you to talk a little bit about the genesis of this project.

I think I know it was based on a short story called Winterlight,

that I believe you then adapted into a short film before, you know, expanding it into a feature.

So I'm very curious, what drew you to the story in the first place?

Well, it's fascinating because, like, you know, you're drawn to material for reasons you don't initially understand, I feel.

...