Doomscroll with Joshua Citarella Doomscroll 45: John Wilson
Apr 13, 2026
John Wilson, filmmaker behind How To and The History of Concrete, explores urban life and infrastructure with a dry, observational eye. He talks about choosing a “boring” subject, pitching and funding challenges, and the material and climate crises tied to concrete. Conversation also covers affordable housing, scaffolding and city policy, and reviving neighborhood movie theaters.
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Test Your Title Out Loud First
- Do test a title publicly to judge whether an idea has resonance or humor.
- John Wilson tells friends the film title at parties and gauges reaction; laughter (even pity-laughter) signaled viability for The History of Concrete.
Commit To Boring Ideas And Mine The Humans
- Do embrace seemingly boring subjects by committing and finding human stories within them.
- Wilson chose 'boring' concrete, then dug for surreal characters and structural metaphors to make a compelling film.
Peanut World Came From An Atlantic City Store
- Anecdote: Wilson named his production company Peanut World after an Atlantic City boardwalk store.
- The store sells old bootleg Sharper Image items and peanuts; the name also tied into a film line mentioning peanut shells in concrete.
