Episode Details

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 – Instagram
Julian Sol Jordan – YouTube
Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive filmmaking insight each Sunday.