SMOKY MOUNTAIN PICTURES PRESENTS
ALMOST TRYING
One unpredictable day. One driver. Everybody has somewhere to be.
A character-driven dramatic comedy set in the Great Smoky Mountains.
On location during Pizzodyssey.
Our Story
Built from a love of movies, places, and the people who make them matter.
Smoky Mountain Pictures grew from a lifelong love of film and the belief that the best movies create a world you can actually feel — where the places, people, humor and imperfections matter as much as the plot.
The Great Smoky Mountains have always had that feeling for me. They’re beautiful, but they’re also strange, funny, unpredictable and full of personality. That connection eventually became Almost Trying, a film designed to let the Smokies become part of the story rather than simply a backdrop.
Smoky Mountain Pictures was created to make personal, character-driven films with personality and a strong sense of place. Almost Trying is where this chapter begins, but the goal is much bigger:
Make movies people actually remember.
OUR FILMS
Past. Present. Next.
COMPLETED
Victims of Fun
The Barlow House
Darkness Has Covered My Light
IN PROGRESS
Tread This Fantasy
Pizzodyssey
Crying To The Stars
UPCOMING
Almost Trying
Blessed Are The Dead
The Youth Knows No Pain
Production Journal
News, announcements, and behind-the-scenes updates from Smoky Mountain Pictures.
August 26, 2026
Meet Kevin Baker as Chaz Mercer
Kevin Baker joins Almost Trying as Chaz Mercer, the rideshare driver at the center of one very unpredictable day in the Smokies.
September 2026
Almost Trying Moves Toward Production
Casting, crew, locations, music, and preparations are coming together as Almost Trying heads toward production.
September 2026
Introducing Roll With It
Go behind the scenes with Roll With It, the companion documentary following the making of Almost Trying from the inside.
Work With Us
Film is collaborative. We’re always looking for the right people, places, and partners to help bring our stories to life.
CASTING
Current and upcoming acting opportunities.
CREW
Production crew opportunities and calls.
MUSIC
Submit original music for consideration.
PARTNERS
Locations, sponsors, and business partnerships.