Independent filmmaking is never easy, but for writer and director Kevin Kraft, making The Second Coming of John Cooper nearly became impossible.
Joining me on The Buzz, Kraft opened up about his long journey from radio producer to filmmaker, the challenges of making an independent comedy in today’s entertainment landscape, and the terrifying moment when he thought his entire movie might be lost forever.
Set to release on June 9, The Second Coming of John Cooper follows a washed-up former celebrity attempting to revive his career after losing everything. The mockumentary-style comedy centers on John Cooper, a former star who finds himself blacklisted from the industry and living on the couch of his biggest fan. Armed with little more than bad ideas and misplaced confidence, Cooper sets out to reclaim his former glory.
“It’s essentially a stupid dickhead trying to get his career back,” Kraft joked during our conversation.
While the premise is hilarious, the road to getting the film completed was anything but.
A Filmmaker’s Worst Nightmare
During production, Kraft faced a scenario that would make any filmmaker sick to their stomach.
After filming the movie on a modest budget in just thirteen days, a catastrophic hard drive issue threatened to erase a significant portion of the footage. For months, there was uncertainty surrounding whether the material could even be recovered.
The ordeal stretched on for nearly six months while technicians worked to salvage the files.
As someone who understands the challenges independent creators face, I couldn’t help but imagine the frustration of seeing months of work potentially disappear.
Fortunately, the footage was eventually recovered, allowing the film to move forward and begin its festival run before finally securing distribution.
Why Comedy Has Become a Tough Sell
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation focused on the current state of comedy.
According to Kraft, independent distributors often gravitate toward low-budget horror and science fiction projects because they are considered safer investments. Comedy, particularly R-rated comedy, has become a much tougher genre to sell.
That surprised me.
As someone who has spent years building an independent podcast, I found myself relating to what he was saying. In many ways, independent creators across entertainment face similar obstacles. Whether it’s film or podcasting, it often feels like only certain formats get attention unless a major studio, network, or celebrity is attached.
Kraft remains hopeful that audiences are ready for comedy to make a comeback.
And honestly, I agree.
We could all use a laugh right now.
From Howard Stern to Hollywood
Before becoming a filmmaker, Kraft spent years working in radio, including a stint with Howard Stern before later joining the Jason Ellis Show.
Despite being surrounded by major personalities, he quickly realized that success in radio didn’t automatically translate into opportunities in film.
Eventually, he took a chance on himself, moved to Los Angeles, and continued writing screenplays while working in broadcasting.
When the time finally came to make a movie, he leaned on relationships he’d built over the years. A simple lunch with filmmaker friends led to introductions, crew members, and ultimately the production team that helped bring The Second Coming of John Cooper to life.
It’s a reminder that nobody hands you your dream career.
At some point, you have to take the leap yourself.
New Jersey’s Growing Film Industry
As two Jersey natives, we also spent time talking about the growing film industry in New Jersey.
With major studios expanding operations in the Garden State and new production facilities being built, Kraft believes the state’s future as a filmmaking hub is bright.
And if the opportunity presents itself?
He’d gladly return home to make movies.
Considering New Jersey’s growing role in the entertainment industry, I can’t blame him.
The AI Debate
No conversation about entertainment in 2026 would be complete without discussing artificial intelligence.
Kraft didn’t mince words.
He expressed concerns about AI replacing creative jobs and questioned whether audiences would remain interested in content generated entirely by machines.
While technology can be useful as a tool, both of us agreed that creativity is ultimately about human connection.
People connect with stories because other people create them.
That’s not something a prompt can easily replace.
Final Thoughts
What stood out most about Kevin Kraft wasn’t just his passion for filmmaking.
It was his willingness to keep pushing forward despite setbacks, uncertainty, and obstacles that would have convinced many people to quit.
After years of writing, producing, learning, and betting on himself, The Second Coming of John Cooper is finally making its way to audiences.
Watch the trailer for the film below:
The Second Coming of John Cooper arrives June 9 on digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Google TV.
Watch the full interview with Kevin Kraft at the top.
