Seven Signs - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Possessed by a vision similar to that of the tent-show evangelists down in Dixie, Colonel J.D. Wilkes (the charismatic frontman and songwriter for the Legendary Shack*Shakers) sets off with a camera crew to prove that the older, stranger South still exists in all of its eerie, time-worn, & gothic glory...despite the expansion of the "New South's" urban sprawl.
Colonel J.D.'s "Seven Signs", a Southern documentary akin to other such films as "Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus" and "Dancin' Outlaw", has officially begun shooting. "The first wave of our taping was a huge success," declares Col. J.D. Wilkes, first-time filmmaker and full time frontman for his equally Bible Belt-influenced rock 'n roll band.
"Foreshadowing is an important tool in movie making. It's also important to give our fans a heads up about my new project," Wilkes said.
"This movie seeks to give resonance to the voices of true, southern individuals...each one unique, fearless and most importantly intelligent. This is NOT an exploitational slam-job on the South. This is about the humanity of my homeland. These are my people."
The film's first 10-day shoot was completed in Summer of 2006 by Kentucky's indie film teams Tuckywood Productions and JuddFilms. But the final project won't be released until sometime late in 2007."
"The editing process is extremely time-consuming and difficult, especially when you live on the road most of the year," said Wilkes whose band tours almost constantly. "Thanks to technology, though, I can do a lot of it on my laptop or a DVD monitor."
"We have a couple of independent Kentucky theatres that have agreed to help promote and premiere it locally, too."
The movie hits film festivals this Fall.

My Interests

Makin' movies, music and mayhem.

I'd like to meet:

Jesus. Hoboes. Singin' preachers. Haints. Visionaries. Hookmen. Fiddlers. Sword swallowers. Foot washers. Boogiemen. Monkey men and more. Wait, we just met ALL of 'em!

Music:

Dock Boggs, Pine Hill Haints, Legendary Shack*Shakers, Munly, Dex Romweber, Felix Bellar, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, "Fast" Layne Hendrickson, Scott H. Biram, Buster Turner.

Movies:

Athens GA Inside Out, Dancin' Outlaw, Devil's Playground, If Footmen Tire You What Will Horses Do?, Marjoe, Vernon Fla, Who is Bozo Texino?, Searchin' for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus, The End of an Old Song, High Lonesome Sound.

Television:

KET, Discovery Channel, A & E, History Channel, HBO.

Books:

Wise Blood, South from Hell-fer-Sartin, Ghosts Along the Cumberland, The Bell Witch of Tennessee, Foxfire.

Heroes:

Rev. Estus Pirkle

My Blog

Seven Signs WINS "Best Featurette" & travels to CANNES, baby!

In the first of what shall surely be a long line of accolades and awards, the "Best Featurette" award was presented to "Seven Signs" by Philadelphia's Backseat Film Festival. As a result, our film wi...
Posted by Seven Signs on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:04:00 PST

Seven Signs at SXSW!

FYI:Be sure to catch JD's film "Seven Signs" at this year's South by Southwest (SXSW) Austin Texas music conference. The film will be shown in the Obsolete Industries screening room, Tuesday March 11...
Posted by Seven Signs on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:46:00 PST

Tennessean’s Bill Friskics Warren article on "7S"

Friday, 12/28/07Film casts artful light on SouthPremiere screening is free at BelcourtBy BILL FRISKICS-WARRENStaff WriterJ.D. Wilkes' new documentary, Seven Signs: Music, Myth and the American South, ...
Posted by Seven Signs on Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:17:00 PST

7 Signs DOUBLE FEATURE in KY!

Following the tremendous success of our Belcourt premiere, we've decided to carry the film onward into Kentucky for TWO showings at Lexington's ivy-league Transylvania University campus. So for those...
Posted by Seven Signs on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 09:51:00 PST

Seven Signs to Unofficially Screen Dec. 30!

Hello independent film fans!Ducking in right under our 2007 deadline, "Seven Signs" is slated to unofficially "debut" at Nashville's historic Belcourt Theatre on December 30, 2007; from 7 to 9pm. Tha...
Posted by Seven Signs on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:10:00 PST

SEVEN SIGNS is a WRAP!

That's right, "Seven Signs" has finished filming and is ready to hit the film festival circuit. Stay tuned for more updates regarding this intense, personal labor of love...the love of the American S...
Posted by Seven Signs on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:57:00 PST

"SEVEN SIGNS" and "SEARCHIN'" SHOWDOWN!

Check it out,Have I started a feud with the "Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus" crew? Read on:--- [email protected] wrote:> Hi - I'm Steve Haisman - I 'wrote' and made the> Searching for the Wro...
Posted by Seven Signs on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 10:25:00 PST

Seven Signs Teaser online at Staythirsty.com

Check out the new Seven Signs teaser clip featuring an audio interview with yours truly, Colonel JD at STAYTHIRSTY.COMStayThirsty.com is a terrific arts, culture & music magazine, whose writers were k...
Posted by Seven Signs on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 01:17:00 PST

7 Signs Brief

NEW TEASER ONLINE!

Colonel J.D. Wilkes (frontman for th' Legendary Shack*Shakers) is proud to announce the arrival of an online film teaser for his upcoming, southern documentary "Seven Signs"...now posted at JDWILKES.C...
Posted by Seven Signs on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 08:46:00 PST