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!
Links from the show:Julian Sol Jordan – InstagramJulian Sol Jordan – YouTubeSign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.
