It's been 3 weeks since I've written a blog. Man...I can tell I'm getting old. I've been working my job hard here in Vegas this last month...and putting all my time, mind and energy in this job. By the end of the day, I'm drained; and just feel like being at the apartment here and not working on anything else. So all this online stuff, and filmmaking stuff has been on hold these last few weeks.....
In fact...to be honest...this is kind of refreshing. It feels good to be living a regualar life for change. Making a living. Working a job. Making a buck. It feels good.
I really want to get a lot done while I'm here in Vegas. Really need to start marketing Mother's new STRIPPER book. I know we're sitting on a gold mine here. I've just got to find time in the evenings to spend an hour or two each night online to promote and work the book. It's online on Lulu to sell; and if people just knew about it, we would be set financially. Gotta work it....
Trying to get the early stages set for our new film festival here in Vegas too. I know an underground film festival will go over here in town. Gotta find time to work on this...
Film wise, a lot's going on. Our new hit short film FUCKIN' OLD BITCH continues to rock the fest circuit worldwide. The film played Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival last week; and has played over 20 festivals worldwide this year since premiering in Orlando in March. Hopefully, it'll play Sundance or Slamdance in January!
As well, my brand new short film PAYDAY LOAN is submitted to Sundance and Slamdance. Want it to premiere at one of those fests. Should know the results by Thanksgiving. And then start submitting to festivals.
Later this year, I'll be shooting our next short film THE TRICK here in Vegas; and this winter, shoot our new tv pilot here in Vegas. Lots going on.
I just need to find time and energy outside of work to start working other things. It'll come....
This has been one awesome week. Busy; non-stop; draining; restless; but very satisfying as an independent filmmaker, and as a free spirit.
I'm now in Las Vegas. Will be for at least the next 6-8 months. I've got 3 film projects lined up here in Sin City over the fall and winter; and have a lot more going on as well.
Opal took the drive out here with me; and will be here for the next week before she heads back to Missouri. We'll be shooting footage of her here in Vegas while she's here for our upcoming feature documentary THE OLD STRIPPER. So some good filmmaking lined up here over this next week....
Our short films are rockin' the festival circuit right now. Too much is going on. This week, our new hit comedy short film FUCKIN' OLD BITCH is playing the Atlanta Underground Film Festival; next week, our award-winning cult comedy short PHONE SEX GRANDMA has its Australia premiere at the Sydney Underground Film Festival; and this morning, I just got word that FUCKIN' OLD BITCH will have its Alabama premiere next month at Birmingham's Sidewalk Film Festival! Whew....plus, before I headed out here to Vegas last week, I got our submissions sent off for Park City 2010....sent FOB and our brand new comedy short PAYDAY LOAN to Slamdance; and submitted PAYDAY LOAN to Sundance. So we'll know by Thanksgiving (right around the corner) which ones make the Park City cut for January. I'm really crossing my fingers, and hoping that we'll have one short at each fest this time around. It would be a blast to have a film at both Sundance and Slamdance the same week! Anything's possible....
All this, plus trying to do some edits for Mother's new STRIPPER book that's available on Lulu. Over these next 6 months, there's going to be some major book expos, adult expos and conventions here in Vegas and Los Angeles. And I think it'll be a perfect opportunity to market and promote Mother's new STRIPPER book to the book and adult entertainment industry. And at the same time, we'll be able to promote our hit shorts and upcoming documentary THE OLD STRIPPER. Exciting times coming...I'm feeling really good about things.
This last week has been nutso out here in farm country. As usual, I'm busy non-stop...and my crazy life continues. This last week alone, we've been shooting on THE OLD STRIPPER, doing distribution for our films, and most importantly....officially got my name changed!
First things first....this morning, it became official. The court ruled that my name be legally officially changed to Jack Truman. Thank God. This has been a long time coming. I've been going by Jack Truman for over 10 years; I was born with my deadbeat dad's name John Kerney; but that life is now behind me. I'm born again with a new name; the name everyone has been knowing me by. Jack Truman is my identity on everything except my birth certificate; everything; license, social security, property, voting card, utilities...and more...everything; except my birth certificate. Now I can get that changed. Woo hoo! It's about time. Today is a great day, and a cause for celebration.
Film distribution: Distribution is flowing for our first films - PHONE SEX GRANDMA, THE OUTHOUSE, THE 60 YEAR OLD STRIPPER, THE ACCEPTABLE SIN and THE X-RATED GRANDMA. All are now available on DVD. And only through Amazon and Createspace. This is a job in itself; I'm trying to work one film at a time with online distribution; but I'm limited in the time I can spend online working marketing. Last week, promoted THE OUTHOUSE. Trying to pick which film to work this next week.
Film shooting: As a filmmaker, I love having control over my films. Until I start making money, I'll continue making films my own way as a filmmaker. Case in point: my current feature film THE OLD STRIPPER about my Mother Opal. We've been getting some footage shot these last few days about us talking of her old stripper days. It's great when I can get Mother in the mood to get on camera and discuss her old dancing days from the 70's and '80's. We've shot a lot over these last 3 years. And the film still has a ways to go before shooting is done. But we're chipping along, getting as much shooting done as we can right now with no money.
Yesterday, I worked a little with our online liberal church the Universal Equalitarian Church; did the first podcast, wrote a new blog, and update the church's Myspace site. Usually don't have any time to work on the church, with all my filmmaking work; yesterday was the first time in over a month. But hopefully, by the end of the summer, I'll have an online foundation for the church set up to start working from in my spare time.
Also, as a filmmaker, the film festival waivers have been flowing in this last week; for many of my beginning films - such as PHONE SEX GRANDMA, THE OUTHOUSE and THE ACCEPTABLE SIN. I don't pay waivers for festivals anymore, unless it's a huge fest that I just happen to have the money scraped together for (i.e., Sundance). But the fests keep coming along. And speaking of festivals, screenings are getting lined up for the fall already; and it's only July. August we'll have FUCKIN' OLD BITCH in Seattle and Atlanta; in September, PHONE SEX GRANDMA has its Australia premiere in Sydney; and more to come. Plus, I've got to get together next week my submissions of PAYDAY LOAN and FUCKIN' OLD BITCH together and sent off to Slamdance. Park City 2010 is just around the corner. I'm praying and crossing my fingers that next January, I'll have shorts playing across the street in Park City - at both Sundance and Slamdance.
All of this, and applying for college teaching jobs all over the country. I really should get back to teaching. These last 25 years...all I've done and accomplished...as an artist, filmmaker, director, writer, actor, teacher, speaker....I've got a lifetime of experience to help develop the next generation of artists, speakers and filmmakers. Hopefully, I'll be teaching somewhere this fall. We'll see....
Gotta go for now....wanted to just take a little time and reflect, write and update what's been going on this last week as a filmmaker out here in the boonies....
I'm living proof - anyone can make a movie....
Watch the YOUTUBE trailer of Jack's upcoming documentary THE OLD STRIPPER:
For an independent filmmaker who's broke, poor, living in the middle of the country, in the boonies, far away from the artificial life of Hollywood or the rat race of NYC, and making movies all alone in a ghost town, it's been crazy, fast paced, and unforgettable.
2 major things have happened this week: distribution of my first documentary film on DVD, and shooting beginning for my first narrative feature film.
First things first: my first documentary film, the 9 minute hit short film THE 60 YEAR OLD STRIPPER, is now on DVD! After playing film festivals these last 2 years from California to New York, the film about my Mother Opal, an old stripper, sharing her thoughts on nudity, pornography and religion is now available on DVD only online throught Amazon and Createspace. It's a great feeling when as a filmmaker you have complete control over your film; at all levels; when you shoot it, edit it, release it, and distribute it.
And the second thing: my first feature comedy film JUNK has begun production! We started shooting this week, about 3 days ago. It feels good after so long to begin shooting a feature narrative film, here in my backyard, my own way, with no money. Fuck Hollywood. Fuck the big studios and production companies. Sure, it's a lonely life making films alone, by yourself, your own way, with no help. But when you envision something no one else can see, until it's completely done, this is the way you have to do it sometimes. It's gonna be hard making this movie; but it's going to be worth it.
These 2 projects have kept my hands full all week; I wish I could clone myself; but I'll get done what I get done.
Make your movie. No matter what. Screw the negativity. Just do it. Like Tom Hanks said in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: "It's supposed to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great."
It's funny how people are, when you're a filmmaker, making your movie. It's just like anything else in life. People say they want to help you, and want to be a part of what you're making or doing. But when it comes down to making it or doing it, and you have no money, you're on your own. My Grandad always said, " When you've got money, everyone's your friend. But when you're down and out, no one wants to help you". He's in his grave now; but he's right on the money.
I'm making my movies. My own way. My first 5 short films are living proof there's an audience for my art; now I've got a built in audience for my first feature when it comes out.
It's hard....but it's happening.
What an unforgettable week for this crazy liberal vegan wacko filmmaker....the son of a stripper....
Own Jack's hit documentary short film THE 60 YEAR OLD STRIPPER on DVD:
We've got a lot going on with PHONE SEX GRANDMA!!!!!
After going on 4 years since this hit 9 minute short film premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival, PSG is still rockin' around the world!!!!
A lot continues to go on, and new things are coming! Here's the latest:
To date, PSG has played over 100 festivals worldwide, and continues to rock the festival circuit. This week, PHONE SEX GRANDMA opens San Diego's OutFest Gay Film Festival! And more fest screenings are coming up! Stay tuned...
We have the feature script written! In fact, we just submitted the feature script to Slamdance's Screenplay competition. You can find out more about the upcoming feature film on our Indiegogo page at:
Also, we are trying to make a television series of PHONE SEX GRANDMA! On cable! The pilot script for PSG is being submitted to TV series competitions. Keep posted on updates for the upcoming TV series!
And finally....
You can own the hit short on DVD! We have partnered with Createspace, and PHONE SEX GRANDMA is now available to own on DVD. With each sale, we receive a substantial amount of revenue. And all income we generate from each sale will go directly to production of the feature version!
If you don't know yet, Opal, aka PHONE SEX GRANDMA, has written a book! Her new book THOUGHTS OF A STRIPPER, an autobiographical journal of her intense thoughts as a burlesque dancer while on a 6 year dancing circuit in the 1970's, is now available online. Check out the new book at:
It's hard trying to make a buck out here as a filmmaker in the middle of nowhere...
But I'm trying.
I'm working hard every day promoting Mother's new book THOUGHTS OF A STRIPPER online; for hours every day. Been doing this for over a month now. And have now sold one book yet. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. But I'm trying.
I've got 5 short films that have played over 200 festivals worldwide, and continue to play. Last week, one played Pennslyvania. This week, one in Florida. Next week, one in California. Festivals are already lining up for the summer. 5 internet distributors selling our short films; and I'm trying to sell them myself. Haven't made a dollar yet with them this year.
No jobs around here....scraping by financially day to day....
But at least, if nothing else, I'm making my movies.
I've now got the new book trailer made for Opal's new STRIPPER book. Hopefully, that will start generating some sales. Just created a new YouTube site to promote the production company, and try to get work making films. Got a lot I need to try to do to make money. I don't want to have to move back to a big city right now. I'm working these things too much. I know I could do a lot of this anywhere, but if I was working a regular job, it'd take away a lot what I'm doing.
Every day is a struggle....but it's worth it.
Been shooting a lot of footage these last couple of months for the OLD STRIPPER documentary....but there's not much to film right now, until I can raise some money for the footage of the road trips...
And suddenly, there is interest in getting my narrative feature film JUNK made....so at the same time, I'm working pre-production for JUNK at my own pace...and if everything goes as planned, we will be able to make this no-budget narrative feature this summer out here in the middle of nowhere.
I'm living proof that anyone can make a movie with no money, anywhere, find an audience, and become a well-known filmmaker....
This is some great news: tomorrow, our new hit Slamdance short THE OUTHOUSE will be having its New York City premiere! It'll be playing the Rooftop Film Festival in Brooklyn. I don't know who'll be in NYC, but if you're there tomorrow night, here's the Rooftop link for details about the screening:
OUTHOUSE will be playing NYC again in September, at the ACE Film Festival in Manhattan; but tomorrow night's Rooftop screening is the film's first screening in NYC.
I love that town....and they seem to love my films. PHONE SEX GRANDMA played there at 6 different film festivals over the last 2 years; and now THE OUTHOUSE is starting there....
Well....I wonder how our film did in Shreveport today?
Our new hit documentary short THE OUTHOUSE played Louisiana's Moviesauce Film Festival today. I'll be finding out from the fest in the next few days how well it did. This is our follow-up short to our hit short comedy PHONE SEX GRANDMA. THE OUTHOUSE premiered in January at the Slamdance Film Festival. Since January, it's played over 10 fests worldwide. This summer, it has screenings already lined up at festivals in Dallas, NYC, and Atlanta, with more to come! And PHONE SEX GRANDMA's still playing the fest circuit. It's a great feeling to know that even though I can't afford to be at the screenings, I can be a poor man, and be making films that's playing worldwide, blowing people's minds!
