In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker Julian Sol Jordan to talk about his self-made debut feature Real Life — an 82-minute hybrid narrative-documentary that was shot, directed, edited, colored, and mixed entirely by himself.
The film, which screened recently at the Texas Theatre in Dallas thanks to a generous grant from David Lowery, is a raw, poetic exploration of early adulthood, nostalgia, and the struggle to find meaning in your 20s.
Throughout our conversation, Julian and I unpack the entire creative process, from rediscovering dusty VHS tapes in his attic to crafting a structure out of chaos with no script in hand.
Topics covered include:
- How Julian shot 80% of the film alone using everything from a Blackmagic to an iPhone 4
- The value of embracing lo-fi footage and imperfections to elevate emotional truth
- Why David Lowery funded the premiere and how their mentorship began
- The unexpected benefit of not writing a script — and when to start one next time
- How old home movies became the emotional anchor of the film
- Why guerrilla filmmaking might be Julian’s path forward
- Much more!
This is Episode 253: Making A No Crew Feature Supported By David Lowery With Filmmaker Julian Sol Jordan
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Links from the show:
Julian Sol Jordan – Instagram
Julian Sol Jordan – YouTube
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About Author
Noam Kroll
Noam Kroll is an award-winning Los Angeles based filmmaker, and the founder of the boutique production house, Creative Rebellion. His work can be seen at international film festivals, on network television, and in various publications across the globe. Follow Noam on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more content like this!
