Sundance & Slamdance 2014: Day 5 - The Madness Continues

With Opal Dockery & Tiffany Shlain

Sundance Women in Film Youtube Party

Day 5 is in the books.

I'll tell you something. I try to look at this Sundance and Slamdance film festival stuff with a mentality of fun, reunions and networking. But I'll be honest. It's not fun. It's not a vacation. It's a job. If you're at Sundance in Park City in January, and you're just having fun, you're not doing your job. Yeah, you'll have fun. But this shit is a lot more than that. And I don't have the body I did 20 years ago. I'm closer to 50 than 40. So I gotta watch myself. Thank God I don't drink anymore.

It's a little before midnight. I'm back in the Motel 6 room in Salt Lake City, sitting on the bed, hashing through the day's work, making notes on business cards and sorting out what's been done and what needs to be done.

A lot happened today.

Where do I start?

Let's start from the beginning:

The early morning routine started about 6 this morning. Got up, showered, drank a pot of coffee while sitting on the bed, waking up and lining up the day for the Sundance and Slamdance stuff on Main Street. Woke up Opal around 7:15, got in the rental car and headed to Park City.

Once downtown, did the normal routine of parking the car by the Sundance Marriott headquarters, took a piss and dump on Sundance in the Marriott restrooms, got a few new trades upstairs, then we got on the shuttle to ride over to Main Street.

On Main Street walking up the hill to Slamdance 

When we got to Main Street, Opal and I walked up to the Treasure Mountain Inn to start the day on Main street with the Slamdance breakfast. Had some coffee, carrot apple juice, a bagel and bananna. Chatted with a few people and had some good conversations. Met and got to know Francois and Thomas from MAMU. Those fellas are a couple of nice guys. Also chatted a little with Azita. And I did something I've been wanting to do for the last couple of days. I gave Peter one of my No Budget Filmmaking books. The main reason I wanted to give it to him was as a symbol of how important Slamdance has been to me over the years as a filmmaker. It was because of them I got my start with my first movie. It was because of them I've been able to be a member of the family, make great friendships, relationships and learn everything I've learned over the years to share my films with the world and build a global audience on the film festival circuit. It's because of them my films have screened over 300 film festivals around the world. It's because of them that I have a filmmaking family. Slamdance is my filmmaking family. I hate Sundance. Even with all the changes over the last 8 years with both Sundance and Slamdance, the Slamdance group is my family, and tries as hard as they can to keep it real. And I wanted to share with Peter the book as a token of our friendship.

With Allan and Abby at the Slamdance breakfast

After the Slamdance breakfast, Opal and I walked across the street to the Sundance Channel headquarters to chill and relax for a little while. Had some great coffee and potato chips. I'll tell you. Coffee and tater chips. They taste pretty awesome together. You should try it sometime.

Relaxing at the Sundance Channel Headquarters

Around 11:00, we walked across the street to the Sundance New York Lounge. There was a production panel with James, Jake, Mauro, Brian and Alex. From what I heard, there was some things I might want to catch in the panel. And it was a pretty good one. Some good tips on marketing, using communities where filming, and a few crowdfunding tips. It was good after the panel to chat a little and get to know James and Mauro. And also got to know Kyla a little bit. It was a pretty good time.

By the time I got out of that panel, the Anarchy shorts had been going on at Slamdance for about 15 minutes. So I went over there to get in a little late, to catch some shorts I really wanted to see. And it was packed. Standing room only. I couldn't even see the screen. That's great. So glad that those filmmakers had a packed audience. But no chance for me to see those films. So Opal and I decided to grab a Morningstar burger.

We went next door and wolfed down a quinoa burger. Then I had about an hour or so to kill. So I walked down Main street to the HP building to check emails on the computers. Nothing pressing. Nothing too important. After checking emails, I went by Dolly's and checked with Sue to see how the books were going for the week. Things were selling good. So there was an ego booster for me on Main street. By the time I left Dolly's, it was time for the Youtube panel event.

The Sundance Youtube panel was about how to build an audience on Youtube. I thought this would be good to check out to help us with our web series that we have online. Our series WOODY THE REDNECK is not generating any views, and I thought I could pick up a few tips to help build our audience online. And I'll tell you something. There were a few good tips. But most of what they said were things I've known about for years. Basically, Gwen and Matt showed and read a powerpoint presentation, and you had to write notes fast to jot down just a little of what was said. It was called a '10 Fundamentals' presentation, but basically, they had some outlines, charts, headings, a few tips, and showed Youtube videos of some of the most successful Youtube channels. I was really disappointed. Now, there were a few good tips. But overall, it felt to me like a waste of 90 minutes. I met with Matt after the panel, but he pretty much dodged around the questions I was asking.

I've pretty much figured out a few things over these events and panels. I've come to a conclusion that most of these companies that have these events aren't here to really help anybody. They're basically here to advertise, market and promote their business, and if you get on board with them, it's the 'you're on your own' mentality. You still have to do the DIY stuff. Nobody is going to help you unless there's something big in it for them. And until they see you're being a success with it, they're not going to help you. That's just my opinion.

The Sundance madness on Main Street

And another thing I've figured out. Now I don't know if this is true or not. But I've come to the conclusion that a  lot of these panels, the people on the panel are paid to be on the panel. I can't tell you how many times after a panel is over, and I go to meet someone on a panel to chat, they don't want to have anything to do with me. They don't want to talk to anyone. They just want to get out of there. And the majority of the time the panels are like that, it's when during the panels the panelists are just sitting up there telling old stories, not taking about any questions from the audience. They sit around telling old stories for 90 minutes, take 2 or 3 questions, then are ready to get the hell out. Something seems fishy to me. Doesn't look to me like they're wanting to help the next generation of filmmakers. It's all about them, putting in their time and getting out of there. Sounds like an easy payday to me. But that's just my opinion.

After the disappointing Youtube panel, it was time to walk back up to the Treasure Mountain Inn for the daily Slamdance mixer. When I got there, I chatted with George a little bit about his company, our Childhood Obesity project, and us working together. Then at the mixer, I mingled a little bit, chatted with some friends, and made a few new ones. Met Ben, chatted and got to know him. Looking forward to helping him get his new Slamdance film out on the film festival circuit. Then Peter introduced Shane to the crowd with his new film book. When Shane was talking to the crowd, my creative juices started flowing in my brain. I started exercising my mind. And got some creative ideas to help with promoting the new No Budget Filmmaking book. I met with Shane, got to know him and offered to help him get his book out on the book circuit. I'm looking forward to helping him.

After about an hour or so, it was time to walk down Main street to Tiffany's event.

My friend Tiffany invited me to her Sundance Women in Film Youtube party. I had been looking forward to this. It had been some time since I'd seen Tiffany. And with our new old time burlesque documentary film, I thought this would be a great event to go to, so we could network with other women in film with our upcoming important women's burlesque documentary.

They started with a panel, then had the party. It was good seeing Tiffany again. I'm glad that she's being so successful, and busy. A lot is going on with that girl. She's making it happen. We had a good chat. Also met Rose McGowan, and am looking forward to working with her. It was nice to get to know Mamrie, Marci, Ann, Kamul, and a few other people. It was a constructive event. Didn't get as much done as I wanted, but I'm glad we went. I really need to get Opal in this community of women in film. She can be a pioneer in this hot new genre. Opal, Lynn, Tiffany.....this is just the start.

By the time Opal and I got out of Tiffany's event, both of us were feeling wiped out. Opal's pushing 70. I'm pushing 50. We're no spring chickens. All this work. It's a job. It's a drain. It was time to call it an early night.

We walked down Main street and had a quick quinoa burger at Morningstar farms for the road. It was Morningstar's last day here at Sundance, so we wanted to make one more final stop. And decided to have 2 burgers each instead of one. I think I overdid it. They were great. But the second one made me feel nauseous.

After Morningstar, we walked to the Main street terminal, took the shuttle to the Sundance Marriott headquarters, got in the car, and headed back to Salt Lake City. We got back to the Motel 6 room around 11 to 11:30. It felt good getting there early tonight.

On the shuttle, heading back to the rental car

Day 5's wrapped. One more day to go. I wouldn't mind driving back out west first thing in the morning. I am just done with all of this for the week. I'm ready to get the hell out of dodge. Feels like we've been here a long time. Both of us want to head back west and start getting back to the normal filmmaking life. But there's a few things left to get done. Mainly, tomorrow I want to see Mike.

Tomorrow comes the last day.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

By Jack Truman

Sundance & Slamdance 2014: Day 4 - A Day of Panels

This was a busy day.

One for the books.

I'll try to put in all in one sentence.

It was a day of panels.

It's about midnight, I'm back in the Motel 6 room, sitting on the bed and recaping the day. Did a lot at Sundance and Slamdance today in Park City. Where do I start?

Everything started this morning, getting up around 6:30 a.m. here in the Motel 6 room. Showered, woke up with a pot of coffee while lining out the day on the bed. It helped getting to bed early for a change last night. Felt a little better this morning. After waking up Opal, we headed out on our 30 minute drive over to Park City for the fourth day. There was a decision to make: do we do a full day of Park City madness on Main street, or spend the day with a book signing on the other side of town with Opal's new Childhood Obesity book? Opal decided it would be more constructive to do the madness. I felt bad us taking away her book event. But there was just too much to do today, and if we did the book event, it would take up pretty much the entire day. So that decision was made.

Getting into Park City, we did the normal early morning routine of parking the car by the Sundance Marriott headquarters, taking the shuttle to Main street, and doing the morning walk up the hill to the Slamdance breakfast at the Treasure Mountain Inn.

With Opal on Main Street

But before the breakfast, we had a couple of things to do right off the bat while Main street was a ghost town:

There was a panel and industry meeting with Cloud 21 down at the other end of Main street. We got there about 15 minutes late, and nothing was even set up yet. They were putting up coffee, juices and setting up chairs. So we took a dump, got a cup of coffee, sat and waited for about 10 minutes, and nothing was happening yet. So it was time to hit the road to get other things done.

Next door, I stopped by the Atticus bookstore, and talked to the owner Randy. He's interested in having the No Budget Filmmaking book next year at Sundance 2015. So in about a week, I need to touch base with him to discuss that.

After leaving Atticus, it was time to walk back up Main street. On the way up, we walked by Dolly's and saw my book in the front window of the store. A great feeling to start the day here on Main street.

Heading up the hill on Main Street

Walking to Slamdance

By the time we got to the Slamdance breakfast, there was only about 15 minutes to have some coffee, munch on a bagel and chat with a few buddies. Just like that, it was time for the Slamdance DIY distribution panel in the screening room, moderated by Dan.

That was a good event. I'm so glad I went to it. While sitting with Opal and Abbey, I found out a lot about how Vimeo and Gather can help us with self distribution of our films. This really looks like a good avenue to sell our newest women's rights documentary short film TITS, and sell our compilation collection of 7 short films. I also had a chance to meet Jeremy with Vimeo, and Scott with Gather. Also, I let Abby know about the Shark Tank deal for her boyfriend's vegan ice cream business. So this was a great hour.

By the time the DIY distribution panel was over, there was no time to go over to the Filmmaker's Lodge to meet with William Macy, Mark Duplass and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Also, there was no time to hit the Butcher's Chophouse event on Main street. I had to go next door to meet with Carlton at the Film Financing panel in the New York Lounge. That ended up being a good 45 minutes spent. In fact, the panel was a good panel. Got some good tips on crowdfunding, investors, financing, and quite a bit more. Some of these things are going to really help us with our new burlesque documentary film. I also had the chance to meet and talk with Carlton of 23rd Street Films, Emily with Seed & Spark, and Marc with Indiegogo. I'm looking forward to working with Carlton and Mike soon, too. By the time all of this was coming to an end, it was time to run over to the Filmmaker Lodge.

The Sundance Filmmaker Lodge was having a panel event called How Many Wrongs Make a Right. Now, I didn't care that much about the panel. I just wanted to get to know a few of the guys there on the panel to get a chance to work with them. As far as the panel went, it was just these guys sitting around telling stories. Nothing to write home about. But there were some inspirational experiences they talked about that gave you a shot in the arm. I was fighting to stay awake for 90 minutes. By the time it was over, there wasn't much time left to speak to many of them. But I did get to meet with Tom Quinn, Tom Rothman, and John Battsek. I loved John's film Searching for Sugar Man. So at least I got a chance to meet with a few guys and get to know them. Hopefully we'll be able to work together soon.

By the time we got out of the Filmmaker Lodge, I had to run next door to the Wrap event at the Youtube lounge. Got there about 25 minutes late. And couldn't get in. There was a guard at the door, and said they were at capacity. And I was on the list. So screw that Hollywood crap.

That gave me a little time to walk over to the HP building and check emails on the computers. Wasn't too much there to check on. I emailed the book event to cancel the afternoon event, emailed Ben, posted some Sundance updates for the new burlesque documentary THE OLD STRIPPER on our new Indiegogo page, Facebook page and Twitter. And emailed Oklahoma Film Commission.

By the time I was done with that, it was almost 4:30 already. Wow. So I had a stretch of a couple of hours to get some things done by 7:00. This is what I got done in a couple hours:

We walked up to Morningstar and had a free quinoa burger really quick. Then walked and took the shuttle to the car to drop off the bags we had on us. Took the shuttle back to Main street, and went up to the San Antonio Film mixer. Now that was a good mixer. Good food, good people, good environment, good crowd. Relaxing. Met and networked with a few people. And met Herbert with the Slamdance film HUNTINGTON'S DANCE. I'm looking forward to helping him get his film out on the festival circuit. After a nice chat, it was time to run next door to the Slamdance mixer, and spent the last 30 minutes of that event there, meeting some new people and unwinding. I love Slamdance. It's real.

By the time this was done, it was around 7 p.m.

It was time to see Peter's film.

I'd been looking forward to seeing my friend's new short film DIY. It was done well. Had a lot of interviews with fellow Slamdance alumni filmmakers who are now success stories in the big budget film world. So that was good to watch. After DIY, we watched the documentary film WAITING FOR MAMU. By the time that got out, it was around 9 p.m.

We had an animated feature to see at 9:20 called Cheatin', but Opal was starting to fade, and I really needed to get her back to the room to rest. Plus I was really feeling wiped out from the day. If we stayed for the next film, it wouldn't be until 2 in the morning we'd be getting back to the room. So we decided to call it an early night. Walked next door to Morningstar and had a quinoa burger for the road, walked and took the shuttle to the Marriott Sundance headquarters, got the car, and headed by to Salt Lake City. Got back to the room here at Motel 6 around 11:20 p.m.

It's been a long day. Gotta line up tomorrow.

Tomorrow starts Day 5 at Sundance and Slamdance.

2 days left to go.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

Written by Jack Truman

Sundance 2014: Day 3

Filmmaker Jack Truman

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING Book Event at Dolly's Bookstore

Sundance 2014

Day 3 is in the books.

I decided to call it an early night tonight. It's about 11 p.m., I'm sitting on the bed in the Motel 6 room here in Salt Lake City, recapping the day today at Sundance and Slamdance, and lining up tomorrow's schedule. Today was a good day on Main Street.

Today, it was all about the book event.

Here's the daily recap:

It all started today around 6 in the morning, waking up, lining out the schedule for day here on bed in the Motel 6 room, waking up with a pot of coffee and starting with a little under 3 hours of sleep the night before. After getting everything lined out for the day, I woke up Opal, warmed up the rental car in the 10 degree morning SLC weather, and took the 30 minute drive to downtown Park City.

After parking the car, catching the shuttle at the Marriott Sundance headquarters, and getting off on Main street, we started our morning walk up the hill towards the Treasure Mountain Inn. Walking by Dolly's bookstore, I saw the flier in the front window for my book signing event there today with the new No Budget Filmmaking book. That was a great feeling to start the day at Sundance and Slamdance. We got up to the Treasure Mountain Inn, and had a nice quick Slamdance breakfast of coffee, juice, bagels and fruit while chatting with some old friends and making a few new ones. That's the great thing about Slamdance. It's a family community, and whenever you see people you know, and meet new ones, it's real. Not fake, artificial and snooty snoot like that other festival down the street.

Jack Truman at Dolly's Bookstore

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING Book Event 

Sundance 2014

While at breakfast, I had a good chat with Ed, and it looks like he'll be a great Michigan connection for our new documentary film THE OLD STRIPPER when we shoot there this summer. I need all the help I can get, and want to work with people I like. Ed Stencel is a great, cool guy.

After the Slamdance breakfast, it was time to hit Main Street. First stop: Dolly's Bookstore. My No Budget Filmmaking book event was scheduled at 2 this afternoon, and I wanted to get there today when they opened the doors this morning to meet up with them and get everything set for this afternoon. After getting there, they told me that people had already been in the store asking about the book and wanting to buy some. I had my case of books with me, so I left them there, and got everything set up for the book event this afternoon. Then it was down the street to the Airhub lounge to check out their place. Nothing to write home about. I crossed the street and went to the HP building to check emails there in the coffee shop. Checked them, nothing major, updated the Facebook, Twitter and Eventful pages about the book signing this afternoon, and looked at the watch. Damn. I couldn't believe the time. It was already after 11:30, and there were more things to do this morning, but no time left. Had to miss meeting with Maggie Gyllenhaal and Paul Reiser at the Sundance Channel headquarters. Also couldn't stop by the Sundance Filmmaker Lodge for a meet, or the Youtube lounge to check a couple of things. There was a time to make a choice: go to the Queer brunch, the Chapman reception or the Women in Film brunch. It was an easy decision. The choice was the closest one, about a block down the street. It was time to head to the Women in Film brunch.

At the Sundance 2014 Women in Film brunch

The Sundance Women in Film brunch on Main street started at noon. And I'll be honest. I was disappointed. Right away, once Opal and I got in there, it was like we were in an industry event in Los Angeles with the Hollywood players. Artificial. Fake. Snooty snoots. Tee hees. Not our cup of tea. It just wreaked of a packed shoulder to shoulder building of people looking for people they can use. Not an environment of real people. You know what I mean. The food....what food? There were a few crackers, a little bit of fruit...I thought this was supposed to be a brunch. The coffee pots were out, empty pitchers of water, I'd walk up to the bar to ask for something to drink, and the person behind the bar would turn their back to me and walk away. Another snooty snoot L.A. example. Opal and I were getting fed up with this crap, just 15 minutes into being there. We decided to make a quick round to just see what we came across. I'm glad we did. I saw Andrea from the Missouri Film Commission, first time I'd seen her since my first film played Slamdance here 8 years ago. We had a nice talk, and she wants me to speak to film schools in Missouri back home with my new filmmaking book. Met Andrew, the director of the Sundance short RICH HILL, and got to know him pretty well. Finally met Lise, one of the Slamdance founders, had a nice chat, and found out about her Slamdance film this week called Kinderwald. Looking forward to seeing that. Met a couple of other people, had some nice conversations, and before I knew it, it was around 1:30. Time to get to Dolly's.

At the NO BUDGET FILMMAKING Sundance 2014 Book Event

Dolly's Bookstore

I got to Dolly's bookstore around 1:30. And was there until 3:30. And I'll just put it like this. It went great. The book event exceeded my expectations. When I got there, books had already been sold this morning. Throughout the book event, there was a steady stream of traffic, books were sold, friendships and conversations were made, and it was real. I love it when it's real. After the event, Dolly's told me they wanted to keep the books there for the rest of the Sundance Film Festival the entire week. That made me a happy man.

After leaving Dolly's, I had to find out how the Broncos game went. I felt bad that I had to be at the book event right in the heart of the Broncos / Patriots AFC championship game. There was a bar 2 doors down. When I went in, there were 2 minutes left in the game, and Denver had won. What a great feeling. My man Peyton did it. I'll tell you. Having a filmmaking book event at Sundance on Main street, walking out the door and having your team go to the Super Bowl...it doesn't get much better than that.

It was about time to grab a bite to eat. So Opal and I walked up to the Morningstar Farms building and had a couple of free Mediterranean quinoa burgers with some tea. After wolfing them down, it was time to walk next door to Slamdance.

During the Slamdance mixer, I saw some friends and made quite a few new ones this time. Saw Ed, George, Peter, Dan, Paul, DC, Abby, Allan, Chris, Simon, and several others. Met quite a few people from the Slamdance film SKANKS, including Brendan and Flannery. Met Michael, producer of the short film THE CHAPERONE, seems like a really good guy; got to know Jake, the DP from the Slamdance short MEET MY RAPIST; got to know Ash and Dennis from the Slamdance short PUNCHES AND PEDICURES; met Clara and Bobby; and several others. it was a good time.

At the Slamdance Mixer

Once the mixer was over, there was about 45 minutes to kill until the film at Slamdance to watch, so Opal and I headed back next door to the Morningstar Farms building and had another free burger. I love that place.

I'll tell you, it's something else. I came to Park City this year with a to do list: a book signing event for my new No Budget Filmmaking book, 2 alumni passes for Slamdance, parties, events, and networking, and launching our new inspirational documentary burlesque road trip feature film THE OLD STRIPPER with Indiegogo at Sundance. And everything's right on track.

After wolfing down the burgers, it was time to see the feature film GOLDBERG AND EISENBERG at Slamdance. The short before it was a film called MILK AND BLOOD. That was a great short. And I'll tell you something. GOLDBERG AND EISENBERG was the best film yet I've seen at Slamdance. That was a good film.

Once the film was over, it was after 10 p.m.; we had another film to see at 10:30, but Opal was really starting to fade, and I was winding down. I don't have the body I did from 20 years ago. I'm pushing 50, not 30. So we decided to call it an early night. We stopped by the Morningstar Farms building and had another free burger for the road, walked to the terminal, caught the shuttle to the Sundance headquarters, and drove back to the Motel 6 room here in Salt Lake City.

It's about midnight. Time to hit the sheets. Not too shabby of a day.

Tomorrow it all starts again.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

Written by Jack Truman

Sundance 2014, Slamdance 2014 - Day 2 - The Park City Madness

With Ben Kasulke and Opal Dockery

2014 Sundance Film Festival 

Well....

Day 2 is in the books.

This has been a full day today at Sundance and Slamdance in Park City. It's about 3 a.m., I'm back in the room at Motel 6 in Salt Lake City. Wiped out. Ready to conk out in bed. But need to recap the full day.

I've been going nonstop for about 15 hours now. We just got in Park City a little over 24 hours ago, and it seems like Opal and I have been here for days. I'm amazed at everything we're getting done at Sundance and Slamdance on no budget. As underground filmmakers. This is just our second day up here. And the first full day on Main Street.

Where do I start?

I woke up this morning around 6 a.m. to structure the day's outline here in the Motel 6 room. It took about an hour to wake up from about 3 or 4 hours of sleep. While structuring and outlining the day on the bed, I woke up a little with a pot of coffee, woke Opal, and then it was off to Park City.

After parking the car and getting the shuttle at the Sundance headquarters, we got off at the terminal and started our morning walk up Main Street, heading to Slamdance for breakfast at the Treasure Mountain Inn. Got there about 9:30, and spent about 45 minutes drinking coffee, eating some fruit, chatting with old friends, meeting a few new ones, and networking while waking up. It was great catching up with Ed, getting to know Rezeta and Fernando from their Slamdance film Rezeta, and Allan  with his film Glenna, just to mention a few. After breakfast at Slamdance, Opal and I went across the street to the Sundance channel headquarters for some coffee and potato chips, then walked over to the NY Lounge on Main Street. Wasn't much there.

Opal Dockery at the 2014 Slamdance Breakfast 

After breakfast at Slamdance, coffee and chips at Sundance, and a visit to the NY Lounge on Main street, I walked down to Heber to check emails at a Sundance tent. Nothing but junk. I try to make a routine during the Park City madness here at Sundance and Slamdance to just check emails once a day, but there's usually nothing pressing. If anything, just an email here and there about being invited to some Sundance event this week to network. But it's so busy around here with so much going on around the clock all week, that it's hard to find time to check emails once a day. I like just being away from computers for this week up here in the mountains.

After checking emails, it was off to the Youtube Indiegogo panel on Main. It was a constructive couple of hours. The event started almost 40 minutes late. I'll tell you. So many ways this fuckin' town has become so Hollywood. Not for the better. Starting late, people getting to places late, is such an L.A. thing. And here it's no exception. Sad to see what this town's become. But you have to deal with it if you're going to be a part of it. I hate that part. But while waiting for the panel to start, it was time for a Sundance event around the corner at the Frontier Microcinema with my friends Tiffany Shlain and Chris Horton. So Opal stayed at the panel while I went over there. Couldn't get in. It was packed, and there was a wait line of over 75 people. Here's another example of why I can't stand Sundance. Screw this. I walked back to the Youtube Indiegogo panel, and it had just started. It went well. Made an announcement to the crowd for our new crowdfunding project of the feature documentary burlesque film THE OLD STRIPPER with Indiegogo, networked and made some new connections, got some advice and tips, and had some great conversations with new friends Ross Freeman, Freddy Wong, Lena Waithe, and Marc Hofstatter. All in all, it was a constructive 2 hours.

By the time I got out of the Youtube Indiegogo Sundance event, it was too late to meet up with Lea Thompson or go to the Gen Art event off Main, so Opal and I headed down to Indiegogo's lounge on Main to drop off some new fliers of our Sundance Indiegogo launch of THE OLD STRIPPER burlesque documentary film. When we got there, it was a mob of a line going in for a private event with some other company. Here's another example of the L.A. scene that I can't stand. Yesterday, when I came here to the lounge for the Indiegogo mixer, I was told they would be here all day for the next 4 days. The very next day....there's something else here. Another example of how the times have changed.

By now, Opal and I were ready to rest a few minutes. So we walked up Main to the Morningstar farms building and had a couple of great Mediterranean quinoa burgers. After wolfing them down, it was time to catch a film at Slamdance next door called Forever Not Alone. We were able to catch about an hour of the film before we had to leave to catch the Chris Nolan event.

Opal waiting with me in line at the Morningstar Farms building 

I'm glad we left when we did. We weren't in line for 3 minutes until there became a mob of a line. By the time the event got there, the place was packed. People sitting on the floor. It was nice to see Chris get the Founder's award. Peter had a good conversation with him. It's nice to see fellow filmmakers from the Slamdance family come back to visit their roots after they've made it big. It would have been nice to have some more time to get to know Chris today, but you know the L.A. thing.....

After the Christopher Nolan Founder's Award event at Slamdance, it was time for a busy evening: 3 events and a film, starting down the hallway at the Slamdance mixer. Opal and I were there for about 40 minutes, networking, visiting with old friends and making a few new ones. It was really cool seeing Deron at the mixer. I hadn't seen him since we met a few years back at the River's Edge Film Festival in Paducah, when both our films screened there. And I couldn't believe it. Got to catch up with my buddy Simon Mercer. It was great to find out he had a short film here at Slamdance this year. We first met a couple of years ago when our shorts screened together in Venice. It's amazing how small the independent film community really is. Then we walked across the street to the Austin Film party. That was about an hour of fun. Saw some great friends we hadn't seen for some time: my good friend Todd Rohal, who's in town with his new short at Sundance, Rat Pack Rat; Zach Carlson, programmer at Fantastic Fest in Austin, where our hit Slamdance short film THE OUTHOUSE screened years ago; Mark Bell, my friend from Film Threat; several others. And made friends with Theo Love and Bryan Storkel, while finding out about their Slamdance films. It was a great environment. Wanted to spend more time there, but had to cut it short to make it across the street for a little while. We left the Austin party and walked across Main Street to the North Carolina Film party. And when we got there, I couldn't believe it. It was feeling like a Cucalorus reunion. My good friend Dan Brawley from Cucalorus stopped us, and we had a great talk. It had been the first time I'd seen him since PHONE SEX GRANDMA rocked Cucalorus back in 2006. After chatting with Dan for awhile, Opal and I made a couple of rounds at the party, visiting with a few old friends, making some new ones, munched on a couple of crackers, had a cup of ginger ale, then it was time to cut it short.

Opal with Dan Brawley at the Sundance North Carlina Film Party

We were pressed for time. I had to go back to the car to drop off a bunch of stuff so I wasn't loaded down later tonight. By the time got back to the car, dropped off my bags, took the shuttle back to Main street, and walked up the road, it was about 30 minutes before the late film we were going to see at Slamdance, by buddy Allan's documentary film Glenna. So we stopped next door at Morningstar farms and grabbed a quick quinoa burger before heading to the film.

I'm glad I'm wearing my Broncos cap. It's a conversation getter. Every year I come to Sundance and Slamdance, I wear a ball cap through the entire film festival. It's always been my grungy Boston Red Sox cap. But this year, for a change, it's the new Denver Broncos cap. Peyton's my guy. The big game's tomorrow. And there's nonstop comments and conversation from strangers on Main Street and wherever I go. It's a great ice breaker here in town.

On Main Street with the Broncos cap

Allan's film Glenna was great. I really liked that film alot. It was very personal to me. And the short film along with it, Punches and Pedicures, was good as well. They went good together. By the time the films were over, it was after midnight, close to 1 in the morning. Opal was fading, and I was starting to get woozy. So it was time to call it a day.

We walked down Main street, got on the shuttle to head back to the car, and while we were riding the shuttle, I heard these 2 guys talking that were sitting next to Opal. And I did a double take. There was my good friend Ben Kasulke. I hadn't seen him since our shorts screened together at Slamdance back in 2008. God, it was great to see him. We talked each other's ears off. I'm so happy of all the success he's been having with Lynn's films at Sundance every year for the last several years. I really want him to work with us as a DP for our new film. It was so great seeing him. That was a nice way to end the evening at Sundance and Slamdance in Park City before calling it a night and heading back to the room.

Opal Dockery and Ben Kasulke

On the shuttle at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival 

By the time Opal and I got to the car, drove back to SLC and were in our room at Motel 6, it was around 2 in the morning. Opal went right to bed. I had to stay up another hour going through what I'd got done for the day, making notes on business cards, and reviewing what was in store for Day 3 tomorrow.

It's after 3 in the morning. I have to call it a night.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

By Jack Truman

Sundance 2014 - Day 1 - Underground No Budget Filmmaking

Day 1's over. And in the books.

It's about 2 a.m., and I'm back in my room at the Motel 6 in Salt Lake City. A full first day of getting up here from a 450 mile trip from Hollywood, to checking into the room, getting to Sundance on Main Street, and putting in a full evening of first day experiences at the Sundance and Slamdance film festivals on Main Street.

I've been coming up here almost every year since my first film played Slamdance 8 years ago. And I'll tell you something. This damn city changes every year. And that's not a good thing. It's not for the better. Before we start here, I'm not trying to be a pessimist. I'm trying to be a realist. The best thing to do for others is to keep it real. So it can help you the best way filmmaking can.

Things have changed so much in this town over the last 8 years. I miss the way it was 8 years ago. Damn, I miss the way it was just 6 years ago. As a no budget filmmaker, it's been unreal the changes with Sundance just over the last 2 years. And each year gets worse for true independent filmmakers. One thing I've noticed right off the bat on the first day is that over 80 percent of the films at Sundance this year either have major film stars, studio film budgets of 2 to 10 million dollars, or a studio behind them. That's not independent filmmaking. This town has evolved over the years to being a mecca for Hollywood to bring their 'low budget' studio films under 10 million to a town to screen. It's drifted away as a mecca for true art house indie film. That's shame to see. But I try to come up almost every year to have a reunion with my Slamdance friends and family, make a handful of new friends, see what's evolving on the indie film scene, and get a project out there.

Okay. It's just the first day. And I haven't got about any sleep over the last 24 hours.

Last night, I reviewed my calendar schedule for Day 1 at Sundance, packed the rental car, and went to bed around 11 p.m....and tossed and turned all night. The last few nights, it's been a struggle to rest. Finally, I made myself get up around 3 in the morning. Drank some coffee, and hit the road with Opal. The weather was great driving up. We got in Salt Lake City around 2:30 in the afternoon and checked into our room at the Motel 6.

After checking in and unloading the car, we headed to Park City. Now, Park City's only about 25 miles from SLC. So taking our time on I-80, it only takes about 30 minutes or so to drive over there to the downtown area and park near the Sundance headquarters at the Marriott. But once we got downtown, it took us over an hour just to find a parking spot. That was weird. Usually it's not like that.

Once we found a parking spot, we walked over to the Sundance headquarters at the Marriott, got some of the trades that were out for the first day, took a dump and a piss on Sundance in the restroom, got a couple of Sundance schedules, and hopped on the transit bus heading to Main Street.

When I got to Main street and started walking down the street to the Treasure Mountain Inn, I was shocked. The street was like a ghost town. Barely anyone walking on Main street the first night of Sundance and Slamdance 2014. Amazing. It was weird. Something just didn't seem right. Usually this street is mobbed with foot traffic. I walked past Dolly's Bookstore where my book signing event will be Sunday for the new No Budget filmmaking book. And the store had a flier smack dab in the store window there in front. That was pretty cool. A big boost for the ego right off the bat. Opal and I continued walking up Main Street until we got to the Slamdance headquarters at the Treasure Mountain Inn.

Once we walked in the door, it felt like we were back home. Going to the office, we saw Anna, got our alumni badges, and I chatted with Peter for a few minutes. Then it was off to walking down Main Street to the Indiegogo Sundance party. Indiegogo partnered with us to launch during Sundance 2014 our new crowdfunding campaign for my passion project, the inspirational old time burlesque documentary film THE OLD STRIPPER. In fact, the campaign just launched this morning on Indiegogo to coincide with the opening of Sundance 2014. I've been working with them for some time, so I had to make the party. By the time we got down there, only about 15 to 20 minutes were left for the event. And it was a madhouse. Mobs of people in there partying, drinking and mobbed shoulder to shoulder. I don't drink anymore. Haven't had a drop of liquor in over 3 years. It's fun to watch people. Anyway, spent about 15 minutes there, and had to get out. Between the loud music, the shoulder to shoulder mob mentality, it felt good just making an appearance and leave it at that. I can tell I'm getting old. I don't have the body I did 20 years ago.

After the Indiegogo party, Opal and I walked up to the Morningstar farms building and had a great free vegan quinoa burger. They started having the Morningstar farms building last year right across the street from the Egyptian, and it's great. The people there are so nice and cool. And you can come as many times as you want through the day and get a free burger. I love it. The food was great. And I loved the price even more.

Once we finished eating, I walked up to the Treasure Mountain Inn and got our tickets for the films we planned to see over the next 6 days at Slamdance. Got tickets for 11 films. I hope we have time to see all of them over the time we're here. We've got a lot to do.

Then it was off to the Montana Film reception on Main street. It started at 8. We got there around 8:30. There wasn't about any food there at all we could eat. Maybe a couple of crackers. Did a little roaming, circling and networking for about an hour.

Once heading out of there, it was time for the Slamdance 20 year reunion opening night party. This year, instead of having the party at the headquarters, they had it at the Deer Valley Lodges, an uppity resort down the road. I was surprised. We took the shuttle to the party, and went to the back of the lodge where the party was. It was in a garage. Not in the lodge. In a garage. Cars were parking in the garage during the party. It was weird. Some people, it would come across cool. To me, it was weird. I'll just leave it at that. At the party, it was great seeing some old friends: Ed, DC, Adrian, Dan, Peter, and many more; and made some neat new friends. That part's always the best.

Opal and I got out of there about midnight, went back to the car, and headed back to SLC. We got back to our room at the Motel 6 around 1 in the morning. Once back in the room, I reviewed the stuff that happened over the day, made some notes on biz cards I got from new friends, and kind of reviewed what we have planned for tomorrow.

I've got a different mentality here this year at Sundance and Slamdance. Damn. Every time I write that word. Sundance. It just puts a rotten taste in my mouth. The word Slamdance gives a real feeling. Anyway, it's a different mentality here this year. My focus is on the new No Budget filmmaking book and 1 film project, The Old Stripper. Not the normal slamming the streets, parties, events, and so on. It's more about seeing old friends, making a few new friends, having a reunion with Slamdance, having a success with the No Budget filmmaking book in town with the book signing at Dolly's, and getting our new burlesque documentary film out there this week with Indiegogo at Sundance and Slamdance.

We're here.

Day 1 is done and in the books.

The madness is only beginning.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

By Jack Truman:

Sundance and Slamdance 2014: Heading to the Annual Hustle in Park City

Well, it's that time of year again.

Time for the Park City madness.

I love this time of year. In less than 48 hours, I'll be renting a car, driving up north from Hollywood to the snowy mountains of Park City, Utah, and welcoming the annual hustle of the independent film business: at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

But take it from this true underground independent filmmaker: Sundance doesn't hold a candle to Slamdance.

The Slamdance Film Festival has been a part of my family since my first film premiered up there back in 2006, the award winning cult short film PHONE SEX GRANDMA. Slamdance laid the foundation and the standard to how film festivals are supposed to be. Over the last 8 years, this will be my 6th time heading to the Sundance and Slamdance insanity. There's nothing like it. But I will be honest. It's nothing like it used to be. And that's not a good thing.

They call that week the week of independent film. Sundance has gotten away from what it used to be, and it's so Hollywood, artificial, and industry/celebrity driven. When you're on Main Street around anything with the Sundance environment, you feel like you're in L.A. working the film industry. And that's not a good thing. Especially for independent film.

I hope this year's different. I'll find out in a couple of days.

Got the annual routine of hustling about set up: my annual RSVP's to over 35 private parties and events over 3 to 4 days. My outline of what industry events to go to. Once I get there, I'll figure out what films to see. It's always great to watch the Slamdance films and get to know the new up and comers, the new members of our film family. I try to spend as much time as I can around the Slamdance environment, and try to avoid the Sundance environment, except for when there's things I really have to go to.

Hopefully, some good connections will be made this year. Last year was really weird. I hope it's better this year.

For me, it'll start out with a bang. On Sunday, I have a major book event for my No Budget Filmmaking Book during Sundance and Slamdance at Dolly's on Main Street. From what it's looking like, that event is going to be a mob. I can't wait.

Starting Friday, for 4 to 5 days, it's going to be time to be back in the mode of the annual hustle of filmmaking. And I love it.

Sunday, January 19th at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING EVENT

at Dolly's Bookstore:

https://www.facebook.com/events/179224402287143/ 

Book Trailer: No Budget Filmmaking

Sundance / Slamdance 2014 No Budget Filmmaking Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NO-BUDGET FILMMAKING EVENT AT SUNDANCE 2014

Award-Winning Filmmaker to Have Book Signing at Dolly's Bookstore

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.

Dolly's Bookstore in Park City will be hosting a special book signing event of Truman's new book on January 19^th, 2014. The event will be on Main Street in conjunction with the 2014 Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals.

“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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING or How to be a Well-Known Filmmaker

& Be Broke at the Same Time

Jack Truman

Category: Filmmaking / Entertainment / Movies / Film / Educational

ISBN: 978-1-300-61518-7

6 x 9 inches / 200 Pages