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

Filmmaker John Valley joins In the Room 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.He breaks down the making of The Pizzagate Massacre, how the film went from festival rejection to viral controversy, and how self-distribution, SEO, and timing changed everything.The conversation also dives into his latest project, American Dollhouse, a psychological horror film, along with lessons on raising money, navigating the industry without connections, and creating work that actually gets seen.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.