Meet Martin Russell Johnson | Filmmaker
We had the good fortune of connecting with Martin Russell Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Martin Russell, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in sunny San Diego, in one of our nation’s most diverse communities that spoke 40 different languages. However, that same community was marred by poverty and daily struggles for basic necessities and safety. Food insecurity was a constant reality, and many nights were spent wondering where my next meal would come from. This instability shaped my early years, full of stress, social anxiety, depression, and helplessness as I watched my single mother valiantly try to support her four kids.
Living in a neighborhood plagued by gang violence, I witnessed the devastating impact that crime had on my peers. Friends I grew up with were often caught in the crossfire, and some were tragically murdered, leaving a void and a sense of loss that still haunts me to this day.
These adverse childhood experiences had a profound impact on the development of those from my community. The pervasive sense of danger and loss made it difficult for many of us to envision a future beyond survival. For many of the BIPOC youth in my community, their ability to create meaningful lives was stifled as they were trapped in cycles of despair and limited opportunities. Systemic inequities turned my friends into statistics, and I couldn’t ignore it.
Being a glass-half-full kind of guy, these obstacles soon fueled a transformative journey for me as I evolved into an artist that inspires change. The adversity that my community and I faced became a catalyst for my creative expression and the driving force behind telling stories that would shed light on the struggles of underserved communities, while simultaneously inspiring hope and resilience within anyone facing adversity.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a visionary filmmaker, I am deeply committed to crafting socially conscious cinema that gives a voice to underrepresented communities. At 18, my first short film called Jaded Love highlighted the internal conflict of a Vietnamese American girl torn between two worlds. This project marked the beginning of my dedication to using film to shed light on societal issues that often go unnoticed.
A few years ago, I became the Head of Production/Program Director for a local non-profit organization that used filmmaking and storytelling to help underrepresented youth artists confront and overcome their trauma while cultivating their creativity. For over three years, I developed and produced 17 short films that illuminated BIPOC stories about mental health, abandonment, incarceration, and abuse. One of the greatest moments in my career up until this point was creating a national screenplay competition for foster youth across the nation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I produced the winning film from the competition, Bully, which was so impactful that it attracted high-profile talent such as Ariel Winter (Modern Family) and Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) to act in the film.
After I left the non-profit in 2022, I became a commercial producer and director, which allowed me to direct social ads for Amazon, sharpening the directing skills that I hadn’t used in a few years. I then had the opportunity to develop and produce an Instagram and TikTok news show aimed at improving policies affecting unhoused communities across the globe, which resonated with me because both my older brother and estranged father passed away on the streets.
Jumping back to the world of narrative filmmaking, in 2023, I had the opportunity to produce a short film called Flight 182 with my best friend Rippen Sindher, who won the CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) New Writers Fellowship. Earlier this month, I experienced my new “greatest moment of my career.” I won my first screenplay competition and will be directing the film this summer. It’s an Afrofuturism short film that touches on how the BIPOC community will deal with death and grief as technology advances.
My achievements and experiences up until today may seem to effortlessly flow together in a straight line, but what you just heard was a 19-year journey filled with major ups and downs. From layoffs and unemployment to a major pandemic, four strikes, and two recessions—life has been challenging. My advice to anyone that wants to work in the entertainment industry is that they need to be comfortable with the unknown. This isn’t an industry that I’d recommend to anyone unless storytelling and filmmaking is something you’d never be able to walk away from. Then, you have no choice but to continuously overcome the adversity that comes your way.
Find jobs that allow you to stay connected to film as you navigate your career. I managed operations for film festivals, stage-managed a show at Sea-World, and was an assistant at the Directors Guild of America just so I could keep a roof over my head. Although these jobs weren’t my dream job, they gave me access to high-profile connections that I knew I’d be able to call upon when the time was right. My last piece of advice—if you want to be creative, get rid of all your debt because that’s one less burden hanging over your head preventing you from achieving your goal. Don’t give up.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start the weekend adventure off in Los Angeles because, let’s face it—I’m probably picking them up at LAX on a Thursday during rush hour traffic. And although my friend has heard so much about In-N-Out, we will not be stopping at the one near LAX because that line is unbearable. Instead, we’d stop at Road To Seoul in Koreatown for Korean BBQ, because let’s face it, there’s a good chance my friend from out of town doesn’t have a gluten allergy. After that, we’d head to the Westwood area for ice cream sandwiches at Diddy Riese (nothing to do with the rapper). If they’re still hung up on it, there’s an In-N-Out there that’ll be less packed.
The next day we’d start off with coffee at Priscilla’s in Burbank for our caffeine high, followed by a hike at Runyon while the 9-to-5ers are occupied. I’d have to tell them that the trail is 40% exercise, and 100% model runway. We’d then find our way to the Walk of Fame, Academy Museum, Beverly Hills sign, and then off to Manhattan Beach to enjoy the nightlife.
On Saturday morning, we’d stop at Silverlake Coffee for more caffeine, and then head 2 hours south to San Diego. We’d wave at Disneyland on the right, say hello to the “boobs” in San Clemente, and then finally make it to Torrey Pines for one of my favorite hikes. Afterwards, it’s off to Trujillo’s Taco Shop by SDSU. If you know, you know. Then we’d take a stroll in Balboa Park to check out the museums and maybe a show at The Old Globe Theatre. After a much-needed nap due to the several cookies we received at check-in at The DoubleTree, we’re off to the Gaslamp District for food, drinks, and whatever else we can think of.
On Sunday, we’d take a nice, quiet trip east to a small town called Julian for their famous apple pie that we won’t be able to get enough of. After a few hours there, we head back to San Diego to Old Town for food, drinks, and then a 10-minute debate as to whether or not they are brave enough to take a tour at The Whaley House. After that, I take my friend to the San Diego Airport because I definitely would have advised them to fly out of San Diego instead of LAX for a second time in 3 days. After they’re gone, it’s one more stop at Trujillo’s to pick up a California Burrito for the road as I head back up to Los Angeles.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to a non-profit organization in San Diego called The Playwright’s Project (PWP), whose mission is to empower people of all ages and backgrounds to voice stories through theatre, inspiring individual growth and creating meaningful community connections. My experience with this program showed me a path forward when I was in the 10th grade. At the time, I was a lost young boy struggling to find direction as the allure of gangs tempted me. As a kid, I knew that I wanted to become an artist of some sort who told stories, but I lacked the confidence and support to follow my dreams. The PWP gave me the creative access I needed to ignite the creative spark within me. The program showed me just how powerful my voice could be, and writing my first stageplay with the organization was a transformative experience that changed my life.
In addition, I need to credit my teacher, Karen Rogoff from Crawford High School, who brought the program to my class and pushed me to participate in it. Ms. Rogoff was the first person to acknowledge my writing abilities, giving me the confidence and strength I needed to pursue my passion. Three years later, I found myself attending The Los Angeles Film School, where I had the chance to write, direct, and produce my first film at 18 years old. Ms. Rogoff was the instrumental driving force behind helping the school district approve my request to direct my first film on the same campus that I graduated from. Without PWP and Karen Rogoff, I would not be working in the entertainment industry today.
Website: https://vimeo.com/showcase/10256775
Instagram: @martinrusselljohnson
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ubthepodcast?si=5K7kDk7ufSRd3Cz7
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