Making a Movie in the Middle of Nowhere

Anyone can make a movie.

Anywhere.

Look where I am. I just left Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, and have returned back home to my property in the Ozarks in a ghost town of less than 20 people. Making a feature film here over the next 6 months.

Check it out:

https://www.facebook.com/junkthemovie 

Make your movie.

If you need help, let me know. Email me at dixiefilms@gmail.com

Need help making a movie? Check out my new book

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING:

THE OUTHOUSE

Award winning Slamdance $99 Short Film!!!

Directed by Jack Truman

Screenings, Shooting and Editing - Underground Film Projects

Director Jack Truman

at the 

2014 Sundance Film Festival

2014 is starting out with a bang.

True independent film. Underground. No budget filmmaking.

I love it.

It looks like the new short film will be edited by the end of the week. Then we can start submitting to film festivals to start sharing the new film with the world.

Our feature film has begun shooting this month in Las Vegas.

My current films keep rockin' on the film festival circuit. Last week, a screening in Florida. The week before, a screening in Canada. Next week, a screening in Texas in Austin.

Life is good for making movies. With no money. Sharing a voice and opening people's eyes.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

By Jack Truman

Screenings in Canada, Florida and Texas

It's an insane start to the new year for true indie underground filmmaking.

I've been back from Sundance for 4 weeks now. Busy working on the new feature film and editing the new short film. And over the next 3 weeks, screenings of 3 different films in Canada, Florida and Texas:

Last Friday, on Valentine's Day, PHONE SEX GRANDMA played the Sexy Film Festival in Ottawa, Canada.

This weekend, THE ACCEPTABLE SIN screens in Florida at the Central Florida Christian Film Festival.

The first week of March, the short documentary film TITS screens Austin at the RXSM Film Festival.

Canada, Florida and Texas screenings over 3 weeks. 3 different films. From a mockumentary, to a religious festival, to a women's rights film. Talk about variety.

And things keep getting better and better.

What a life.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

By Jack Truman

Now on AMAZON, LULU and BARNES & NOBLE:

Sundance 2014 - The Last Day

With my good friend Michael Tully

Sundance 2014

The last day is over.

And I'm so glad I'm out of that damn town.

Every year I go to Park City for Sundance, it gets worse and worse. Every year becomes more Hollywood industry driven instead of true independent film, if you know what I mean. Every year I return as a Slamdance alumni, it reminds me why I have nothing to do with the Hollywood shit, and avoid what Sundance has become. By this afternoon, I was ready to get the hell out of Dodge.

It's about midnight. I'm in my Vegas place unwinding, going through notes and recapping what's happened over these last 6 days. A lot's been done. A lot's to be done.

And it feels so damn good to be around real city folk verses that fake Hollywood shit.

Sundance is nothing like it used to be.

That's another story.

Let's recap how the final day went today at Sundance and Slamdance in Park City:

This morning, I woke up in the Motel 6 room about 6 in the morning. After taking a shower, I drank a pot of coffee to wake up while sorting the final day's schedule sitting on the bed in the Motel 6 room. Sorting through the schedule, I looked at the trades to make a short list of the Sundance films today that have stars. And there were films there scheduled all day with movie stars from 10 in the morning until about 11 that night. I hate the Hollywood shit, but I made a schedule list of the films with stars I thought might help my next narrative film, and make a rough schedule in case I wanted to randomly try to meet any today. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, John Turturro, Mark Duplass, Ted Danson, Liz Moss, Kristen Stewart, Luke Wilson, Kristen Wig, Lena Durham, John Hawkes....just to name a few for the day. You get the picture. This is a celebrity film festival. Not an indie film festival. But I think in the back of my head, if I can come across a star that might help our film, it'd be worth it. I can't stand this part of the business though. I really want to keep everything truly independent.

However, it would be great to have Kristen Stewart star in our next film. She'd be perfect.

After hashing out the list, and lining up the entire day without the list, it was time to head to Park City. So Opal and I packed up the rental car, checked out of Motel 6, and headed to Park City for the final day at Sundance and Slamdance.

We did the normal early morning routine: parked the rental car downtown by the Sundance Marriott headquarters, took a piss and a dump on the Sundance headquarters restroom, took the shuttle to Main Street, and walked up the Main street hill to the Treasure Mountain Inn for the Slamdance breakfast.

Walking down Main Street

Sundance 2014

The final breakfast we were at started out a little weird. Barely anyone was there. A few staffers seemed in their own world. Opal and I had some coffee, juice, I ate a bagel and a bananna, talked to one or two people, and was getting ready to leave the breakfast when Peter made his way over. Opal and I had a really nice talk with Peter for about 15 minutes before heading out of the Treasure Mountain Inn. I'll tell you something. Even with some of the changes over the last 8 years, Slamdance's roots are still there. The reunions I have with the friendships I've made over the years when returning every year make the trip worth it. Just for that.

In the Treasure Mountain Inn

Leaving the Slamdance breakfast

By the time we got out of there, there was no time to get over to the Yarrow to try to meet Philip Seymour Hoffman with God's Pocket. So we crossed the street to the Sundance Channel headquarters, had a cup of coffee and some chips, and hashed out a few things.

Opal relaxing at the Sundance Channel headquarters

Since there was a little time to kill, I thought we would go down to the HP Music in Film Panel event at the cafe area where we check emails every day. This experience was just another layer on the cake why I hate Sundance so much. The greeters stopped us and refused to let us into the event because we had a Slamdance badge, not a Slamdance badge. I was surprised, but it was no big deal. I figured we'd go over to the computers and check the daily emails in the other room. I wasn't on the computer 2 minutes when a security guard came over and said we had to leave. We couldn't be there using the computers. I told the guard I didn't know what the problem was. We've been coming in there every day for 6 days doing this. He told me he was just doing what he was told. The greeter that wouldn't let us in the Music film panel came over and said we had to leave the building. Now, keep in mind, these computers were in a coffee shop area that's open to the public. A worker there talking with Opal said to the lady, "isn't the cafe still open to the public during that panel?" The greeter said "Yes, but they can't be in here. They're with another festival. They're with Slamdance." That just came across to me like poison that's rotten to the core. I didn't even want to be in there anymore surrounded by that poison negative. Some nobody who thinks they're somebody trying to show some dumb 'nothing' snooty snoot authority. Now that I look back on it, it's pretty comical, thinking about those snooty snoot Sundance idiots. But I was really pissed off. It was just the principle of the thing. I could have cared less about being there. We were just there to kill some time. Piss on 'em.

So we walked across the street to the Youtube lounge, drank some coffee, juice, and I tried to sit and just cool off for about 40 minutes. I don't why I let things like that affect me. 6 days of great things going on, and I let one dumb idiot affect my mentality. It's a waste of brain power.

After cooling off, it was about time to go to the Filmmaker Lodge to meet with Michael after his panel. Before going in, I went next door to Dolly's to get the remaining No Budget Filmmaking books, get paid for what was sold and give Sue a book. Now that went really well. Made some money, and got some great news. Dolly's wanted to keep my books at the store to sell, and invited me back next year for another book event at Sundance 2015. What a boost for my ego.

Leaving Dolly's bookstore

Sundance 2014

Leaving Dolly's, I went to Mike's panel. It was great to see him. The first time we met was years ago when our first films played at Cucalorus. Now, 7 years later, we're both in Park City. Me as an alumni at Slamdance, with a filmmaking book at Sundance, and him with a hit feature film at Sundance, his new film Ping Pong Summer. It was a relaxing panel, but I really enjoyed chatting with him and catching up a little after the panel. That was the main reason I wanted to stick around today. To reunite with my friend.

With my friend Michael Tully 

By the time we left the Lodge, it was after 3 in the afternoon. Opal and I were hashing out what to do next: should we spend the next 5 to 6 hours shuttling around town hitting a list of films with stars with the random chance of meeting with them? Didn't sound good. Neither one of us wanted to spend the entire evening going around town just for the remote chance we may come across a star to be in our film. I really wanted to meet with Kristen Stewart, but more than likely, she probably isn't still in town. In fact, this late in the festival, most of the stars probably aren't in town with their films. They're probably back in Hollywood. Or we could get an early start heading back west and get back tonight. That sounded much better. Both of us were done and ready to get out of town. Today was really hard going around doing this industry crap. So we took the shuttle back to the Sundance headquarters and got in the rental car. While sitting in the car, before we took out, Opal came up with a great idea for a new short film. I jotted it down on a napkin. We were done. Done with Sundance 2014. Done with this town for this year. Ready to get the poison off our bodies. So we headed out of town about 4:30 to 5:00, heading back west.

It felt great driving out of that town. Once we got outside Salt Lake City, and started making stops to get gas, take a piss or a dump, it was a great feeling to see regular people and be around civilization for the first time in 7 days. It felt like salve was being taken off a wound.

Around 11 tonight, we started making our way into Vegas. Stopped at Food 4 Less and got a few groceries, then headed over to the Vegas place to stay tonight. I'll tell you. Just going into the supermarket felt great, getting groceries. It felt like forever since I'd been around regular people.

I can't stand that Hollywood industry shit. I can't believe that's what Sundance has evolved too. And it's easy to tell. It's just going to get worse and worse.

By the time we got to the place, unloaded some stuff from the car, it was close to midnight. Opal and I are both zapped out. Glad that this week is done. Glad Sundance is over. Glad to be back to civilization.

Looking back, I'm glad we went to Sundance and Slamdance again this year. It's changed a lot. Not for the better. Those festivals are nothing like they used to be. Sundance, not at all. It's a Hollywood studio industry event, with 90 percent of the films with stars, 5 to 10 million dollar budgets, studio films that have an opening screening there, artificial, fake and the L.A. environment/mentality. Sundance is no longer an art house independent film festival. It's really a shame what it's become. Slamdance still stays with the unknown, which is still the same. They try to keep it the same. I just can't believe how much this week has changed over the last 8 years. It's sad what it's become. I'm so glad I first experienced everything I did when I did. Or I would have always thought it was like this. Having to be on a list to get into something. Having to have tickets to get a drink at a party. Having to show your ID to get into a party. No swag along the streets. No people out promoting their films. No originality. If just feels like the big film studios have moved up here for the week and taken over what used to be a week of true indie film all centered around the filmmaker.

Not anymore.

The last day is done. 6 days in Park City. Did a lot. Got a lot to do.

And now the year starts. Until next January.

NO BUDGET FILMMAKING

By Jack Truman

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