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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13 Comments
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atThe discussion about building a feature film from the ground up is fascinating, especially the way the creative process can evolve when one person handles so many different parts of the project. I enjoy seeing that same kind of thoughtful process applied to game design and player experience as well. This Block Blast gameplay guide offers a straightforward look at how the game works.
Dr Nichol
atI really enjoyed the idea of making an entire feature film with no crew. The use of old VHS footage and different cameras like the Blackmagic and iPhone 4 sounds especially interesting, and it shows how much creativity can come from working with what you have. It’s also fascinating how light, cameras, and visual techniques can shape the way we experience a story. Physics Fundamentals is a great place to explore more about the science behind light and cameras.
krillion
atThis episode really resonated with me, especially Julian’s approach to embracing lo-fi footage and imperfections to elevate emotional truth. As someone who’s also exploring guerrilla filmmaking techniques, I find his journey both inspiring and validating. The fact that David Lowery supported the premiere is a testament to the power of authentic storytelling. It’s interesting how the lack of a script allowed the narrative to emerge from chaos, which reminds me of how krillion sometimes offers answers in unexpected ways. I’d love to hear more about how Julian decided when to start scripting in future projects. Thanks for sharing this insightful conversation.
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atShooting 80% of a feature solo with an iPhone 4 is honestly insane. Definitely curious to hear how he managed to make that look cohesive.
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atUsing an iPhone 4 for 80% of a feature is actually wild.
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atusing an iphone 4 for a feature is wild. lo-fi definitely hits different for nostalgia stuff.
Shacora Barnett
atWow, what an inspiring podcast episode! Julian Sol Jordan’s insights into making a feature without a traditional crew are both refreshing and empowering. I loved how he emphasized the creativity that arises from constraints—it’s such a game-changer for indie filmmakers! Plus, hearing about David Lowery’s support really highlights the importance of community in our art. Thank you for sharing these valuable discussions, Noam! I’ll definitely be diving deeper into this topic on platforms like block blast free to explore more about no-crew filmmaking. Keep up the amazing work!
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