IndieGoGo: Blog: 6Q with Jack Truman of Phone Sex Grandma @ Florida Film Fest

Q1: Can you tell us about your film. What were the goals for the project?

JT: Fuckin’ Old Bitch is a 3-minute comedy short about a sixty-something woman who gets woken up too early in the morning. It was made as a follow-up to the last film, Phone Sex Grandma. We have a cult following with our shorts, and I want to keep my audience interested. I am currently working on The Old Stripper a feature documentary about a 60-something former burlesque dancer who takes a road trio to visit her old dance venues from the ‘70s and ’80s.

Q2: How are you identifying, targeting, and building your audience?

JT: As a filmmaker I don’t try to target a certain audience. I make films that are close to me - real films that others are afraid to make.

Q3: What role has the Internet and social media played in your DIWO (Do-It-With-Others) filmmaking?

JT: I use the Internet constantly for networking, socializing, updating, and communicating with my fans and network. The Internet is valuable because I am in Missouri – Bible Belt Country, and the Internet allows me to connect to the world quickly. My house is so rural, I cannot even get high speed Internet, so I spend 3-4 hours a day in town at the coffee-shop or library emailing my fans and contacting festivals. I use about 50-60 different social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, Current TV, MetaCafé, MyBlogspot, IndieGoGo and more… All my social media promotion has helped my 5 shorts play at over 200 festivals world-wide. The festivals now contact me. I do not pay festival entry fees anymore.

Q4: What tools or tactics would you recommend to other filmmaker for fundraising or promotion?

JT: Always keep your email contacts updated. I have 3 to 4,000 email addresses.

Become one with your fan-base; that’s why I spend so much time emailing them.

Be Bold! – Most filmmakers are afraid of being a salesperson pitching their stuff, but you can not be afraid to be forward with marketing your content.

Q5: What was the budget for your film? Can you tell us about any creative techniques for fundraising?

JT: The budget consists of sweat equity, including plenty of my own time and personal equipment. I suggest trying to make your film as best you can without the money because it is so hard to raise the dollars. Try to get help from people who are passionate about what you are making.

Q6: What is your plan for distribution? Do you have a plan for self distribution?

JT: Phone Sex Grandma has distribution through Bside, IndieFlix, Underground Film, and Indiroad.net, but in 3 years and thousands of views, I have yet to earn any money. I am now distributing myself on Createspace as well, where I sell my DVDs for $9.95, and make a 50% margin. But I have no distribution plan for my current short, Fuckin’ Old Bitch.