Clapboard Jungle Review: Canadian Film Fest 2020

By Steven LEE On Jun 7, 2020

Clapboard Jungle, 2020 © Federgreen Entertainment

Clapboard Jungle is a 2020 documentary that showcases the unique world of indie filmmaking.

Filmmaking is undeniably something that many people are passionate about, but it’s not really easy to turn it into a career. Justin McConnell’s latest film Clapboard Jungle really digs deep into that concept. After having its world premiere at the Canadian Film Fest, it is a compelling documentary that shows us what it takes to make it as a filmmaker, which is undoubtedly a very complicated and risky industry. It features in-depth interviews with writers, directors, producers and/or actors such as Guillermo del Toro, Richard Stanley, Barbara Crampton, Don Mancini, George A. Romero, Paul Schrader and Larry Cohen, and they all offer their personal insight into this particular business. Many have the ambitious dream of wanting to make their own movies, but they also must know that it’s a lot more than just holding a camera and filming something.

McConnell, who is best known for writing and directing the really fun horror flick Lifechanger, truly showcases the unique world of indie filmmaking from start to finish. The film chronicles five years of his life, while also presenting the development of his career. Since the age of 15, he has always wanted to make movies, and you really do feel his passion and ambition for it. It’s always interesting to see a person’s growth as time goes on, which is something the documentary shows extremely well. You even get to see his creative process with his hard-working collaborators such as Serena Whitney and Avi Federgreen. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get a feature made, and it’s admirable to witness someone work really hard for it. Even the behind-the-scenes footage of him on set is intriguing to look at, especially during the production of Lifechanger. A filmmaker’s struggle is not easy to be captured in front of a camera, but McConnell wants to stay truthful regarding his past experiences in the industry, and it’s actually quite emotional at times.

For anyone who wants to be a filmmaker, it is highly recommended that you watch Clapboard Jungle and learn some new things that you may not have thought of. From pitching screenplays to getting a production budget to premiering at film festivals, you really get to see everything that’s happening in the industry. All the people being interviewed bring up some good points on how to truly thrive while making movies. It’s all about hard work, patience and perseverance. Life is full of ups and downs, but it encourages you to never give up.

Clapboard Jungle is a great documentary for anyone who wishes to be in the film industry and learn some new things about it. McConnell is not stopping anytime soon, which is quite inspiring to see him grow as a filmmaker. The whole process of moviemaking is unquestionably fascinating, and it’s an aspect that they explore really well. It’s an aspiring and engaging journey of one man’s dream turning into reality.