Money wise, things are rough. Here in cattle country. Can't find a job. Not making any money. Working almost every day online applying for good jobs, bad jobs, teaching jobs, filmmaking jobs, and more....but still unemployed and broke.
Still making movies and exploding on the festival circuit....got about 20 fee waivers to festivals worldwide to mail my films out these next couple of weeks; our new hit comedy short FUCKIN' OLD BITCH screens this month in festivals at Atlanta and Seattle; trying to film footage when I can for my documentary of Mother, THE OLD STRIPPER; and trying to figure out ways to get these other film projects done, and make money with what I've already made.
Trying to sell Mother's new STRIPPER book to the world; have it online, on a website, with total control of sales; trying to get the book set up with Createspace so it's available on Amazon.com; but I'm having major issues with Createspace right now. And it doesn't seem like there's any time to really put aside to work the book hard online.
Have over 60 social networks online that I haven't had time to visit or network in months...
Working out at the house; going through years of storage, and hashing through buildings of things; trying to get my properties cleaned up.
Seriously considering moving back out west. Financially, nothing has been working for me around here for over a year; need to make a change.
All of this going on....and more.
I've got so much to do as a filmmaker and as a person living life...films to make, money to make, books to read, messages to get out, and more.
Life to live...movies to make....decisions to make....life is tough.
But it goes on....
The YouTube trailer for Jack's upcoming film THE OLD STRIPPER:
Own the award-winning hit comedy short PHONE SEX GRANDMA on DVD at:
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:
Still have a lot going on with these non-film related legal issues; starting self-distribution for our hit short film PHONE SEX GRANDMA on DVD; in pre-production for our first feature film comedy JUNK; and trying to sell Mother's STRIPPER book. A lot's going on....
Simply put, I just don't have time to do things. Most of what I have to do in online based; I can just get dial-up internet that's limited to websites out at the shacks; so I have to come here in town to a public place to work these things for a few hours. And that's not near enough time to work on these things I need to get done.
Some of these things I'm just gonna have to put on hold; I have to figure out how to take one thing at time, and get things done. I'm gonna try to just focus on distribution of the DVD version of PHONE SEX GRANDMA this week; if I can get some money generated with that, then I can get some more of these other things done.
It's a hard life, filmmaking when you're poor, broke and in the boonies; but you do get to do things your own way; just don't have any help.
I don't think I'm alone either. I see it all over the country.
To be honest, I'm broke. I don't any money coming in. Don't have a job; and can't find one here in farm country. Want to move somewhere to get some work; but can't afford to move. So for now, I'm stuck out here in the boonies, with no money.
But I am getting things done.
Thankfully, my Mother Opal is a great film subject! It's hard as hell to manage all these projects....it's maddening, really.
I've been trying like hell these last 2 months to sell Mother's new STRIPPER book online. We aren't making money yet; but at least it's getting out there to the world for them to know about it.
Trying to find a good agent for our new feature screenplay PHONE SEX GRANDMA, based off the hit short...
Working as much as is possible on production of THE OLD STRIPPER, my first feature documentary, about Mother's old stripping days....been shooting this going on 3 years....
Trying to get pre-production done for JUNK, a feature unscripted comedy that can be filmed easily out here in the boonies....plus trying to sell the pilot TV script for JUNK...a rockin' script, if I can say so myself....
Working here and there on self-distribution of THE X-RATED GRANDMA....
Finishing post for our new comedy short PAYDAY LOAN, which we'll be pushing this next year as our Oscar qualifying short....
And working my first 5 short films worldwide on the festival circuit; along with getting ready soon to making 4 of the shorts available online on DVD through self-distribution!
Busy times, huh?
Along with all of this, when I can find time, I need to start writing my upcoming book NO BUDGET FILMMAKING....who knows when that'll be!
I'll tell ya...it was so much easier when I just had my first film, the hit short PHONE SEX GRANDMA, that I was working. Now I can't seem to get about anything done. But I keep busy non-stop, with film projects, even though I am broke.
John Steinbeck was right...he said 'Ideas are like rabbits. You get 1 or 2, get to know how to handle them, then pretty soon, you have a dozen."
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:
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...we now have a new website for our film project THE X-RATED GRANDMA....
INDIEGOGO!
Indiegogo has partnered with us to help us raise money to make our new feature film. It took me over 2 years, but I finally filmed the movie, and got that done...7 different short films of my Mother Opal, aka PHONE SEX GRANDMA!
We've got to raise just a little more money to get the editing done for this film, so we can start getting it out on the film festival circuit. Indiegogo is going to try to help us make this happen.
PHONE SEX GRANDMA, THE OUTHOUSE, THE 60 YEAR OLD STRIPPER, THE ACCEPTABLE SIN....these little short films I've made have played over 60 festivals worldwide....now we just need to finish editing our first feature...and we'll already have a worldwide film market for THE X-RATED GRANDMA to play!
Well, it's Sunday out here in the sticks...and I can't believe the day I've had. Out here in the middle of nowhere.
I think this is a record day for me as a filmmaker....acceptance wise.
I got up late. This frozen shoulder bone has been killing me for months, and I haven't been able to sleep for shit. But after I got up, had my coffee, and a vanilla cigar smoke, I went to check my emails...
My new film THE OUTHOUSE got 2 acceptances today from festivals; at San Francisco's Frozen Film Festival, and Washington's Washougal Film Festival. It'll be the state premieres of THE OUTHOUSE in California and Washington. That makes 15 festivals this year for the new short so far.
Then, if that wasn't enough, I got an invitation for PHONE SEX GRANDMA to Spain's largest Gay and Lesbian Festival.
Then, on top of that, I received an update email of our Dallas screening next week of THE OUTHOUSE.
And on top of that, I have several fee waivers from festivals for my new short THE ACCEPTABLE SIN.
Things are nuts out here. I don't know how I get everything done. I feel like I'm going mad; promoting PHONE SEX GRANDMA like hell on YouTube, getting THE OUTHOUSE and PHONE SEX GRANDMA promoted on the film festival circuit, getting my new short THE ACCEPTABLE SIN submitted to festivals, getting this new project finished for Slamdance next year....keeping all my blogs and social networks going....and trying to make a buck with all of this as well. Plus, working on trying to start shooting my first narrative feature film this fall. And that doesn't even include the lists of things I need to get done that aren't even being touched.
It's a crazy life out here in the boonies....especially when you don't have anyone else working with you, and are doing everything yourself....but I love it. I have total control, and am making my films my own way.
But things are becoming so large, they're getting out of my hands and out of my control. I think that's a good thing.
John Steinbeck once said, "Ideas are like rabbits...you get one or two, learn to control them, then pretty soon, you have a dozen." How true that is.
Well....the rehab continues here in farm country....
Today makes 30 days without having a drink. I can't remember the last time I've gone more than 30 days with no liquor. I can think of times I've gone 2 or 3 weeks; but never this long.
That's not a good thing. I remember back over the last 25 years of my drinking since I graduated high school in 1983...in the last 25 years, I always remember having a drink....this rehab time out here in the boonies is a much needed time.
It's probably a good thing I'm not in NYC right now for the AMC screening of my film PHONE SEX GRANDMA. If I was there, I'd probably be getting shit-faced with the free booze at the parties. I know this time is a good time for my body.
You'd think with me being vegan and so health-conscious, that I wouldn't drink either, because it pollutes my body. Isn't that something?
These last 4 weeks, I've had so much trouble sleeping too. In the last week, I don't think I've slept a total of 10 hours. I just toss and turn at night, and my mind won't stop working while I'm in bed. These last few days, My head and face has been numb and throbbing a lot. I sometimes have to take aspirin or Benadryl to make myself relax and go to sleep. I wonder if this is a withdrawal symptom from not drinking?
If it is, I just have to have the withdrawals...I'll get through it. I can sleep when I'm dead.
I just have to think of my life, my films, and PHONE SEX GRANDMA:
Well, my first film is still playing the festival circuit....
Today, it returns to New York City. It's playing Newfest in Manhattan's AMC Theater this afternoon. I wish I could be there. It's played gay and lesbian festivals before, and the gays go nuts over this little 9 minute short. I wish I could see their reaction in Manhattan today! I bet they go nuts.
It's amazing what's happened with PHONE SEX GRANDMA in just a little over 2 years. It's played over 40 festivals, is still playing the festival circuit, has won top festival awards across the country, over 200,000 people have watched it on YouTube, and it has started my career as a filmmaker. I'm making more films now, and people are already comparing my work to cult film directors. When my new film THE OUTHOUSE played last month in Atlanta, one critic stated, "Jack Truman could be the next John Waters! He is perverse!"
I love it. This is the message I'm trying to get out there. One of my messages, anyway...
Here's PHONE SEX GRANDMA on YouTube. You can watch it for yourself:
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!
