This Is Independent Filmmaking.
No backing. No limits. Just imagination, grit, and the drive to bring original stories to life.
CURENT PROJECT
"Darkness"
When the world shifts, not everyone survives the change.
Darkness is an upcoming independent feature exploring isolation, human resilience, and the unsettling transformation of a once-familiar world. Atmospheric, grounded, and unrelenting — this is JFT’s most ambitious chapter yet.
Casting and auditions are currently underway as production moves into its next phase.
For updates, audition information, and behind-the-scenes content, visit our official Facebook page.
Film Showcase
Maunel "Manny" Both-Hanz- A Star Wars Fan Film
Independence film making
It's all for fun!
At JFT Film Productions, we’re an independent, low-budget studio creating films purely for the love of filmmaking. From writing and producing to editing and practical effects, we handle every part of the process ourselves — No corporate backing. Just pure filmmaking.
Joel Trujillo
Independent film writer and director
As a kid, Joel had always imagined himself becoming an inspired comic book artist, spending hours sketching characters and dreaming up stories. But the moment he started experimenting with a VHS camcorder, he realized that filmmaking allowed him to bring those stories to life in an entirely new way. Through the lens, he could combine visuals, characters, and imagination into something bigger than drawings on a page.
Throughout his early teenage years, Joel spent countless hours filming small projects with friends and family, learning through trial and error. Every short clip and homemade scene became part of his informal education in storytelling and visual creativity. This hands-on experimentation helped him develop not only technical skills but also a deeper understanding of how stories could move people.
By 1993, what had started as a hobby had grown into something more serious. That was the year JFT Film Productions was born. Founded on a love for independent filmmaking and creative freedom, the company became the outlet for Joel’s ideas and storytelling ambitions.
Today, the creative force behind JFT Film Productions, Joel Trujillo writes, directs, and develops original films driven by bold ideas and an independent spirit. Every project reflects a hands-on approach and a commitment to authentic storytelling, continuing the same passion that first sparked when a young filmmaker picked up a camcorder and began imagining the possibilities.
T-Films
Where Vision Meets the Lens
T-Films represents the creative identity of Joel Trujillo — a platform for original storytelling and independent film projects developed without studio backing. Built on passion and imagination, T-Films brings bold ideas to life on screen.
CDI (Conservative Dark & Illusions)
Making the impractical practical
CDI is the special effects division behind JFT Film Productions, focused on practical effects, dark visuals, and creative illusion work. From atmospheric details to experimental effects, CDI enhances each project with a distinctive edge.
Where It All Began
From VHS to Vision
JFT Film Productions began in 1993 with a VHS camcorder and a homemade zombie scene filmed with family. What started as experimentation quickly became a lifelong pursuit of storytelling through film.
From stop-motion with action figures to filming high school sports, the camera was always rolling. As technology evolved from VHS to Mini-DV, the craft evolved alongside it — transitioning into digital editing in college using early iMovie software before moving into Adobe Premiere and After Effects — and ultimately stepping into professional-grade cameras, equipment, and lighting.
Entirely self-taught, the education came from studying the art itself. Behind-the-scenes specials and special effects documentaries became mentors — breaking down matte painting on glass, stop-go animation, forced perspective, editing, and practical effects.
Cinematic influences included filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Ron Howard, Robert Zemeckis, and George Lucas.
But the greatest philosophical influence behind the camera has always been George A. Romero. His independent approach to filmmaking — creating bold stories outside the Hollywood system — became the blueprint for JFT Film Productions and the reason many of its films return to the living dead.
When it comes to storytelling and writing, the foundation runs even deeper.
Stephen King’s character-driven horror and grounded realism shaped the emotional tone of many stories. But above all, the writing influence that resonates most is Rod Serling — creator of The Twilight Zone. Serling’s ability to craft moral tension, layered themes, and unforgettable twist endings — like the iconic reveal in Planet of the Apes — left a lasting mark. That love of the unexpected turn, the final reveal, the perspective shift continues to echo in JFT films today.
Between 2004 and 2005, three independent Star Wars fan films marked a turning point. In 2006, the first feature-length film, Dusk of the Living Dead, brought everything full circle — incorporating original 1993 VHS footage into a fully produced Mini-DV film with auditions and actors. That moment solidified JFT Film Productions as more than a hobby — it became a studio.
Since then, numerous independent films have followed:
Dusk of the Living Dead
Fields of the Living Dead
Disco of the Dead
Retro of the Dead
Eclipse of the Dead
Reality of the Dead
Serpent Lake
Serpent Lake 2
Blue Harvest
Maunel "Manny" Both-Hanz- A Star Wars Fan Film
Among those projects is an original anthology series inspired by the spirit of The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, and Amazing Stories — titled Joel Trujillo’s Parables of the Parallel Universe. Blending moral tension, speculative fiction, and unexpected twists, the series pays tribute to the storytelling traditions of Rod Serling and George A. Romero’s anthology work. Two episodes were produced, marking a special chapter in JFT history — the first time collaborating creatively with family. The debut episode was written by Chloe Trujillo, continuing the storytelling tradition into the next generation.
While JFT Film Productions is driven by passion rather than contracts, filmmaking is not confined to nights and weekends. Professionally, Joel Trujillo serves as Head of Video Production for a telecommunications company in Central Minnesota — producing commercial content, directing shoots, and editing projects for regional and national clients.
The experience gained in professional production strengthens the craft behind JFT Film Productions— combining independent storytelling with real-world production expertise.
From VHS to Mini-DV.
From iMovie to Adobe Creative Suite.
From backyard experiments to independent features.
Now, the next chapter begins with Darkness.
The story continues — and there’s always one more twist.