Here's a review of "Grindstone Road" that touches on many of the same issues/criticisms raised on this message board: http://www.suite101.com/content/film-review-grindstone-road-2008-a87843
As someone in another IMDb review wrote about the film's direction and screenplay, "A "script supervisor" position is obviously not the best experience for direction, just as a "sound editor" most likely has no business jumping into writing screenplays."
Indeed.
havent seen the film, so i cant parse the veracity of the review, but i do want to take something to task that you quoted...
"A "script supervisor" position is obviously not the best experience for direction, just as a "sound editor" most likely has no business jumping into writing screenplays."
it is a bit unfair to criticize the film based on previous credits unrelated to the director/screenwriters current post. the assumption made in the review (and this is aimed at that review, not yourself) is that the previous position was an end in and of itself, and that the skill set displayed in that job was in some way germane to the failings in the current film, presumably because the directors truest talent must be as a script supervisor, as thy did that first.
in reality, as anyone who is involved in film knows, it is not an industry where you typically jump in and jut get to direct a film. the list of people who were working as carpenters or cab drivers or, yes, waiters before they got their first gig as a screenwriters, actor, director or what have you, would be pages long. its not an industry where you start as a PA and work you way up through the ranks. its a tough grind, and rankly, most people are just trying to pay the bills with whatever they are doing before their first professional gig. the fact that she had some credits as a script supe or anything else in the business is smart simply because, as you hear over and over, contacts in the movie biz are as important as talent. the fact that she worked on some sets prior to her first job is noteworthy only because it might have helped her establish some contacts that opened some doors for her. to go after her simply bc she had another job on set is as related to the issue as saying that being a waitress or bartender or any job other than director or screenwriter has some basis on the quality of the film. its really just a cheap shot that has no basis for any relevant criticim.
other than that, though, the review may be spot on. i dont know. i havent seen the film. i can jut say that if it has fairuza in it, then at leat the shots where she is on screen will be pleasant...