Pembroke

Josh Murphy

Let’s welcome our neighbour, Josh Murphy.

Hi, Josh! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Josh. I’m a filmmaker who loves stories rooted in real places and real people. My two big filmmaking passions are documentaries and horror films, which probably says something about my personality that I’m better off not exploring too deeply.

I actually started filmmaking back in grade 3, and I still have the footage from those early days. I’m extremely sentimental and keep everything I’ve ever shot. Thank goodness it’s digital now, or I’d be a full-blown hoarder with a room full of dusty DV tapes.

In 2020, my friend Tys and I made The Heart of the Valley, a documentary about the Ottawa Valley and the community that raised us. It’s up on YouTube if you want to see our little love letter to home.

These days, I work with Indigenous Geographic, helping tell Indigenous-centred stories as our
audience continues to grow. It’s been an honour to support voices and communities that
deserve to be seen and heard on their own terms.

Outside of filmmaking, I’m a loving father, husband, and friend to many. Saying that out loud makes it sound like I’m writing my own epitaph, but it’s true. Family, connection, and community really are at the centre of everything I do.

Have you ever named your car? If so, what names have you used?

Our documentary work has us driving around in a big GMC Yukon XL, so naturally, I started calling it “the Cornelius.” I mentioned it to my co-worker James, fully expecting him to get the reference to Yukon Cornelius from the classic Rudolph movie. He didn’t, which instantly made me feel about eighty years old. But the name stuck, and now we both call it “the Cornelius” whenever we take it on the road.

What is your weirdest habit or trait?

My wife, Caroline, can attest to this. I didn’t realize this counted as a “weird” habit until someone pointed it out and suggested I might need to be tested for… well, several things.

Whenever things get quiet, I have this instinct to fill the silence by randomly saying “WHEEE” or “Yahoo!” I have no idea why. Maybe it’s a fear of awkward silence, maybe it’s a deep-seated urge to be mildly annoying. The best part, though, is that my son Finley has started copying me. Now we make these random little bursts of noise together, and it reminds me that maybe it isn’t weird at all. Or maybe it is, but at least we get to be joyfully annoying together.

Do you have any phobias? What are they?

It’s funny and a bit ironic that I love horror, because my biggest phobia is actually flying. Planes. I don’t know why. I just don’t like them.

My love for horror started way too early. My dad was watching The Omen (1976) in the basement, and “little me” wandered down the stairs to see what he was up to. I ended up sitting through the scene where the mom is hanging from the railing and falls, and I remember seeing the red coming out of her mouth and asking my dad, “Is that ketchup?” My mom recently learned I watched that movie at such a young age and was… less than thrilled. But I turned out fine. I think.

Ever since then, I’ve been a full-on horror nut. Much to my wife’s dismay, because she has anxiety, hates horror, and now we’re navigating what’s appropriate for our son Finley to watch. Funnily enough, we didn’t know when we named him that “Finley” comes from the old Irish name “Findlaech,” meaning “courageous one.” Which feels perfect given his dad’s movie taste.

I genuinely think there’s value in understanding fear and horror in a safe environment rather than ignoring it altogether. Anyway, long tangent aside… yeah. My phobia is flying. Planes are gross and terrifying.

If you had to become a breakfast cereal, which one would you choose and why?

Become a breakfast cereal? Like mascot? I’d say Cap’n Crunch. He knows what’s good.

Have you ever been told you look like a famous person? Who was it? Do you agree?

I’ve heard that guy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine… Andy Samberg? I don’t see it myself, but multiple sources have told me.

What was the worst style choice you ever made?

I dyed my hair red (only in the front) in high school to impress my now wife, Caroline. We were going through our obligatory “punk” phase before the much-needed “actually we’re just nerds” phase that arrived shortly after and has since stuck.

In your opinion, what is the best name for a cat?

We have 3 cats with the names: Ernest, Rupert, and Walter. Old man names are the best.

If you could be on any reality TV show, which one would you choose? Why?

Nathan for You because I’d like to know what kind of hilarious hair-brained scheme he could come up with to improve our business practices. lol.

If you could have your very own personal assistant, what would you have them do?

All the bookkeeping we need for our business, haha!

What do you miss the most about being a kid?

The bills in the mail were for my parents and not me. lol.

Thanks for sharing with us, neighbour Josh.

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Next week, we welcome Danielle Colacci.