Tucson Filmmakers Unveil Groundbreaking Documentary on the Untold History of ‘Postal’

A Tucson-produced documentary titled “Going Postal: The Legacy Foretold” exploring the controversial video game franchise “Postal” will premiere at the Phoenix Film Festival on March 29. The film, created by local production company Running with Scissors, focuses on the game’s origins and evolution.

Co-director Jason Sikorsky highlighted the importance of showcasing creativity from Tucson. He stated, “It’s always intriguing to see the artistic endeavors happening around you, especially in a city like Tucson.” Sikorsky expressed pride in representing his hometown and the local industry through their work.

The original “Postal” game, released in 1997 by Ripcord Games, features a character called The Postal Dude in a fictional Arizona town overrun by violence. Known for its unapologetic violence, the game sparked significant debate, drawing both fervent support and criticism. The latest installment, “Postal 4: No Regerts,” which came out in 2022, fell short of expectations and received a poor critical reception.

Co-director Tad Sallee noted the documentary’s evolving narrative as they followed the developers during the creation of “Postal 4.” Initially expecting a success story, the reality of the game’s failure transformed their documentary into an “underdog story” about resilience and the challenges faced by independent developers.

Sallee and Sikorsky’s partnership began not at the University of Arizona, where they both studied, but while working on a project for Clinique. Their shared passion for video games brought friendship and collaboration. Sikorsky recalled a pivotal conversation with an acquaintance that led them to connect with Running with Scissors through one of its founders, Mike Jaret.

After hearing the fascinating backstory of Running with Scissors over ramen with Jaret, the filmmakers realized that a brief piece wouldn’t capture the full narrative. Thus, “a simple idea” evolved into a more extensive exploration spanning 25 years of company history.

Production commenced in 2019, coinciding with the development of “Postal 4.” The filmmakers initially aimed to gather $25,000 for their project but succeeded in raising nearly double that amount, eventually resulting in a budget of $100,000.

After five years of dedicated work across multiple countries, the documentary highlights significant moments in the “Postal” saga. Following a successful screening in Santa Fe, the film will make its primary debut at the Phoenix Film Festival. Additionally, viewers will have the opportunity to pre-order the documentary’s Blu-Ray DVD, which will also be available for streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.