John Valley: From Small-Town Iowa to SXSW, The Pizzagate Massacre & Indie Filmmaking

<p>Filmmaker John Valley joins <em>In the Room</em> to share his journey from a small town in Iowa to premiering films at SXSW, and what it really takes to build a career in independent film.</p><p>He breaks down the making of <em>The Pizzagate Massacre</em>, how the film went from festival rejection to viral controversy, and how self-distribution, SEO, and timing changed everything.</p><p>The conversation also dives into his latest project, <em>American Dollhouse</em>, a psychological horror film, along with lessons on raising money, navigating the industry without connections, and creating work that actually gets seen.</p><p>This episode is an honest look at indie filmmaking, creative risk, and what happens when you stop waiting for permission and make the film anyway.</p>