The art of fly fishing becomes a path to healing in Director Joshua Caldwell’s drama, Mending the Line.

Caldwell’s film tells the story of Colter, a Marine who returns to a VA hospital in Montana after being wounded in Afghanistan. There he meets Ike Fletcher, a Vietnam vet who teaches him fly fishing as a means to coming to terms with his physical and emotional trauma.

On June 24, after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Caldwell discussed the making of Mending the Line during a Q&A moderated by Director Bryan Woods (65).

During the conversation, Caldwell spoke about collaborating with a DGA team for the first time. “I knew that in order to get this movie right, safely and in the can with the shooting schedule that we had, I needed a team with experience. It was really important for me to get the right crew and work with 1st and 2nd ADs with experience.”

He also revealed things about his directorial technique. “I enjoy a sense of looseness. I don't storyboard. I often think of scenes as more than just shots. I tend to think of them as shots that might be in movement — especially if it’s handheld. I just find that for me storyboarding is not conducive — although it would help the rest of the crew. I shot-list. I do it well in advance and prep ahead of time to sit down with the movie and really think about it.”

Caldwell’s other directorial credits include the feature films Infamous and Level 26: Dark Revelations; the mini-series Welcome to Sanditon; and episodes of South Beach and Release. He became a DGA member in 2021.