Anyone Can Make a Movie

Anyone can make a movie. You just have to make your movie.

There's a lot of resources out there to help the aspiring filmmaker. You don't need money. You don't need to go to film school. You don't need a big crew of people. If you have a camera and a computer, you can make  a movie with little to know money and be a well known filmmaker.

I'm living proof.

No-Budget Filmmaking. There's nothing like it.


No Budget Filmmaking
Written by Jack Truman
Releasing January 2013 at the Sundance  and Slamdance Film Festival

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING BOOK TO RELEASE AT SUNDANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NO-BUDGET FILMMAKING BOOK TO RELEASE AT SUNDANCE

Award-Winning Filmmaker to Launch New Book In Park City

Burbank, California – Anyone can make a movie. With no money. And be a well known filmmaker.

That's the premise of the new filmmaking book NO BUDGET FILMMAKING: Or How to be a Well Known Filmmaker and Be Broke at the Same Time, written by Jack Truman. Truman, an award-winning independent filmmaker, shares valuable tools, tips, and secrets of the industry trade in a book designed to help any aspiring moviemaker make their movie.

“It's not hard to make a movie. You just have to make your movie”, Truman stated in press materials. “Everyone has a story to tell. And there is an audience out there for your film. You just have to make it and get it out there. I wrote this book with the objective to help anyone make a movie with no money and become successful in the independent film world. I'm living proof it can be done. If I can do it, anyone can”.

An informative, alternative, out-of-the-box reference book for the film industry, NO BUDGET FILMMAKING covers a wide range of tips and tools: from proven filmmaking techniques, valuable industry resources, and more, this book guides the aspiring filmmaker from concept to distribution on the film festival circuit, and beyond. A must-have resource for anyone who needs help with making a low budget film on their own, NO BUDGET FILMMAKING is a breakthrough book for the next generation of filmmakers.

Author Jack Truman is an award-winning filmmaker and 25 year veteran of stage and film. A former professor at Texas A&M University, Truman has also appeared in several television series and major motion pictures. His film directorial debut, the award-winning hit cult short film PHONE SEX GRANDMA premiered at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival. Combined, Truman's films have screened at over 300 film festivals worldwide to date. Jack was recently on the Short Film Jury at the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING will be released in January at Park City in conjunction with the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Contact Director Jack Truman at dixiefilms@gmail.com

A Dixie Production

How to Make Short Films, Movies and Web Series

You can make a movie.

Anyone can make a movie. Everyone has a story to tell. You just have to get off your ass and make your movie.

Our films have screened at over 300 film festivals worldwide. And have a cult following. We've just made 2 more short films within the last 3 months, and they're beginning to explode on the film festival circuit. Just lanched a brand new web series on Youtube, Blip TV and Funny or Die. And now shooting a new documentary film, and lining up a new shoot for a web series in Las Vegas this fall.

And on no budget.

Be an underground filmmaker.

No budget filmmaking is a dream come true. Get a camera and start shooting. There is an audience for your film.

THE OUTHOUSE

Award winning documentary short film

Directed by Jack Truman

A $99 Slamdance Film

Featuring Opal Dockery

Making Movies and Leading by Example

In this humble filmmaker's opinion, if you want to teach someone, do it by example.

So here we go.

My brand new short film is getting ready to explode on the film festival circuit. It's been about a year since I made a film that got out there, so I knew it was time to make another one. And this time, in a rare twist, I'm starring in the film as well. Was an award winning stage and film actor for over 15 years before turning over to the Directing role. It's fun exercising those old acting chops after about a 10 year rest.

WOODY THE REDNECK will be having its World Premiere next month in Cape Cod at the Woods Hole Film Festival. 3 weeks later, its Southeast premiere in Birmingham at the Sidewalk Film Festival. Then 2 weeks later, its West Coast premiere in Las Vegas at the Cine Vegas Film Festival. Just finished making this little 5 minute mockumentary about 2 months ago and began sending it out to festivals around the world. My films to date have screened at over 300 film festivals worldwide. So I've already built and established a global film audience. And they wait constantly for my next film. So no more film submission fees. And complete freedom to make my own films my own way.

WOODY is going to shock the world. At least, to those who see it. And more shocking than anything, the character and film is based on actual events.

Lead by example. That's the way I look at things. This 25 year veteran film/stage artist has a lot to teach. And still a lot to create.

Filmmaking 101

Anyone can make a movie. Anywhere. It's up to you how passionate you are about telling your story.

I lived in Los Angeles for years, trying to make my first film. Nothing was happening. Finally I said 'screw this town. I'm going to go back home and make my own movies, my own way'. Well, here I am. Seven years later. And my films have screened at over 300 film festivals around the world. I've got a global audience for my movies, and they're waiting every year for a new one. I don't make any money yet with my films....but I'll be honest. I am living my dream. Making movies, and sharing them with an audience around the world.

You can too. It's not that hard. True, I've got a big background. Coming from a theatre background, 25 years in the film and stage business, running a theatre company in Chicago, and being a former college professor, along with a Master's in Communications and a degree in Business has it's advantages. But you can make a movie too. Anyone can be an independent filmmaker. Anywhere.

When I went back home to the Ozarks to make my movies, I used books as my tool on how to make the films. You don't have to go to film school. You don't need a degree. Go to your local book store, and go to the film section. You'll find a wealth of help.

Make your movie.

Paying It Forward.....

There is a world out there for independent film. My films....they've screened at over 300 film festivals around the world.

I want to pay it forward.

Do you have a story to tell? To share with the world? You can do it.

Withoutabox is a filmmaking resource to share your film on the film festival circuit worldwide. There's thousands of film festivals around the world. Check out Withoutabox. They're an awesome resource, with detailed info on over 5,000 film festivals around the world. Here's their link:

https://www.withoutabox.com/

Pay it forward. All of us have a story to tell. Make your movie.

THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY PROJECT - Crowdfunding with Indiegogo!!!

We've just partnered with Crowdfunding giant Indiegogo for a major fundraising campaign with our new feature film documentary THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY PROJECT!

Click on the widget below to find out more about the campaign. Help us make our movie about Childhood Obesity!!!!

THE CHILDHOOD OBESITY PROJECT
Directed by Jack Truman
A Dixie Film

THE PHONE ROOM GANG - A New Comedy Web Series

This new web series is gonna rock!

We're going to be shooting THE PHONE ROOM GANG, a comedy web series about a group of telemarketers that work in a phone room in Las Vegas. Shooting begins next month.

Totally rad!!!

This underground filmmaker can't wait to begin shooting....

Vegan Filmmaking in Los Angeles: What a Weekend

You can't beat this with a stick.....

What a life. I love being a truly underground indie filmmaker.

Case in point: today is one for the books. Heading out to a PETA event in Hollywood, then an industry party in Silverlake this afternoon, followed by a screening in North Hollywood tonight of our award winning documentary short film THE ACCEPTABLE SIN. In fact, it'll be the North Hollywood premiere of our Animal Rights/Environmental short film. The film's screened at over 40 film festivals worldwide...and counting.

Did someone say this was a holiday weekend? Not for this underground vegan filmmaker!

Underground Documentary Web Series - STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER

You talk about being underground....

Season 1 of the new documentary web series STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER is now out on Blip TV!

http://blip.tv/stories-from-an-old-stripper

Episode 6 from Season 1, STORIES FROM AN OLD STRIPPER - The Ropes of Life:

Indie Filmmaking in L.A. During Pilot Season

It's been about a month since I've written at all here. I'll tell you what....being an underground, independent filmmaker in Los Angeles is tough in this commercial, artificial and fake city....but very satisfying.

I've got 9 projects I'm working on right now: 2 feature films, 3 web series, a staged reading and book events. Crazy times. And making a living at the same time with the day job.

It's a beautiful thing when you can share your creativity. But hard to get things done when you're wearing a lot of hats. John Steinbeck got it right: he said 'Ideas are like rabbits. You get one or two, and learn to manage them, then pretty soon, you have a dozen'. I've got hundreds. Thousands back in my office in Missouri. Hundreds in my Idea Book here in Los Angeles.

Since returning to L.A. from being a judge at the Slamdance Film Festival in January, this last month has flown by. My body is still healing from being run down in that winter weather. Over a month later. But.....there's too much to do. Having a hard time tapping into the commercial industry business here in town. But that's okay. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing, and making my films out here.

Making movies is my life. Doesn't leave time for much else.

Check out the award winning hit cult short film THE OUTHOUSE: a Slamdance $99 Film Project. Screened at over 100 film festivals worldwide...and counting:

3 Weeks After Sundance and Slamdance in Park City

Well, the Park City madness has come and gone. It's been 3 weeks now since the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals have graced our presence to start out 2012. I'm back home, working on projects. Sick as a dog, fighting off the Park City cold/flu/etc. bug that's normally received while there. And fueling my creativity.

Got a lot to do. Wish I could clone myself. But I can't. When you make your own movies your own way, you only have so much time in the day. It would be great give up some of this control for some money. But until the paycheck comes, I will have total control.

That's the great thing about making movies. Everyone has a story to tell. Anyone can make a movie. There's an audience out there for every story. You just have to have the balls to make it.

Being on the Film Jury at Slamdance last month really fueled my creativity. Now I'm on an obsessive, neurotic mission to get these projects made. It starts with this feature film documentary. And the rest will just have to sit in my back pocket for now.

The Top Super Bowl Ads: From an Underground Filmmaker's View

I couldn't believe it yesterday.

My, how the times have changed. Remember when we used to watch the Super Bowl for the commercials? And how the ads put the game to shame? Well, not this year. From an underground independent filmmaker's view, in a nutshell, the Super Bowl ads this year sucked. Big time. No other way to put it. Actually, to be honest, I thought the game turned out to be a darn good one.

But I always tune in for the Super Bowl ads.

The bright spots from the Super Bowl commercials were few and far between. But in my opinion, 3 commercials stood out. And, ironically, all three ads starred dogs. Yes, dogs. I'm not making this up. The dogs stole the show last night in Super Bowl 46; in my opinion.

Here are my top Super Bowl ad picks from last night:

Actually, I had a tie for Second place. But ties don't stick. So after hashing out second and third place, here's the rankings:

#3: Sketchers: Go Run Mr Quiggley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlYCBJSYWBQ




#2: Bud Light: Rescue Dog - Here WeGo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyFWSys3TJU



And my top Number One pick for the 2012 Super Bowl Ads goes to:

Doritos, hands down...titled Man's Best Friend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3bqbJduK2w



The top 3 Super Bowl ads, from an Underground Filmmaker's view...

Park City 2012: Slamdance and Sundance Madness: From a Film Juror's Perspective

The Park City madness for 2012 was insane, fun and unforgettable.

This time around, instead of having a film play there, I was a Film Juror. It was a blast being on the Short Film Jury. Great films, good friends, and cool times. Too much to write about in one blog. But as an underground filmmaker, I must give my top film picks from the festival:

In this humble film juror's opinion.....

Best Feature Film: HEAVY GIRLS, directed by Axel Ranisch, Anne Baeker, producer

Best Short Film: DEAF BLIND, directed by Ewan Bailey

Best Animated Short Film: VENUS, directed by Tor Fruergaard

Honorable Mentions go to feature films OK, Good directed by Daniel Martinco, starring Hugo Armstrong; COMFORTING SKIN, directed by Derek Franson, starring Victoria Bidewell; and the short films LITTLE HORSES, directed by Levi Abrino; I AM JOHN WAYNE, directed by Christina Choe; and PARK, directed by Liz Cambron.

Good films. It felt great this year helping other filmmakers with their movies, and paying it forward. Slamdance rocks.

I do have to say....Park City is nothing like it used to be. When I first started going there seven years ago with my first films playing there, it had a cool indie feel to it. Underground. Independent. True times for the independent filmmaker. This year, it was so 'L.A.', if you know what I mean. Clickity click. Snooty snoot. People thinking they're shit doesn't stink. And I'm talking about the Sundance crowd. Thank God Slamdance stays to their indie roots. But the times, they are definitely a'changin'....

Stay tuned for more stories from Park City: 8 days of madness, insanity, fun and cool times. More to come....

Get Ready for the Park City Madness

I love Park City. The madness of Sundance and Slamdance is unforgettable. Like nothing else in the world. My films have played there over the years with their debuts, to set the stage for their worldwide global cult status on the film festival circuit. Anyone can make a movie. And be an independent filmmaker. You just have to make your movie.

There is an audience for your movie.

These next two weeks will be unforgettable. I can't wait to be back there. And this time around, as a Film Juror for the festival.

I Love Making Movies

I am a filmmaker. An underground filmmaker. I make movies that shock people, make them think, and open their eyes.

Declare your independence. Let your voice be heard. The world deserves it.