Becoming a filmmaker is tough business. Yes, if you know anything about the film industry, it’s obvious that becoming a director that gets projects greenlit is the equivalent of winning the lottery. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, as is seen in the new documentary “Clapboard Jungle.”
As seen in the trailer for “Clapboard Jungle,” there are plenty of people in the industry that will tell you how difficult it is to get the money to make a film. And most of the people who will tell you that are other filmmakers. Even folks like Paul Schrader, Richard Stanley, and Guillermo del Toro will be the first to say that becoming a director that gets to make films is nearly impossible. But that won’t stop the poor soul in the documentary that is doing everything he can possibly do to become a real-life director.
In addition to folks like Schrader, Stanley, and del Toro, there are industry professionals and filmmakers like Tom Savini, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Michael Biehn, and more that are featured in “Clapboard Jungle” telling their stories of struggle and persistence as they tried to rise through the ranks in the film industry. The film is directed by Justin McConnell.
“Clapboard Jungle” arrives on Digital/VOD on January 19. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
An emotional and introspective journey following five years in the life and career of an independent filmmaker, supported by dozens of interviews, posing one question: how does an indie filmmaker survive in the current film business? Featuring interviews with Guillermo Del Toro, Richard Stanley, Barbara Crampton, Paul Schrader, Tom Savini, George A. Romero, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Michael Biehn, Frank Henenlotter, and many more.