Meet arthur Johnson | An actor, writer, filmmaker, director, podcaster.

We had the good fortune of connecting with arthur Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi arthur, how do you think about risk?

What do I think about taking risk and the roles it played in my career?

Taking risk is my forte. It’s what separates me from the pack. I’ve been taking risks since I was a kid, it became second nature. You can’t lose when it comes to taking risks… if you succeed at the impossible, or the unknown, in which, the majority of people would be scared to conquer… you would greatly reap the benefits. But if you fail… you can try again, take another path, or choose another goal, or go back to what you was doing before the risk. Nothing gained is not a lost. Taking risks is what made me, who I am today… a person that never gives up at achieving my goals, even if the odds are a million to one. I can’t live with the “what ifs.” Taking risks has made me more creative, as an actor, writer, filmmaker, and most importantly, makes my comedy films unique, taking the audience to a place of confusion, something they haven’t seen before, in a good way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I consider myself, a man of many talents. I’m an actor, writer, filmmaker, director, and podcaster. I’ve been in the entertainment business for over 30 years, in some form of fashion, starting out in Japan, where I was raised for 10 years, at an early age, and was in my first major film, The Drifting Classroom, a sci fi, where I played a significant role as Kenny, during that span, I was involved in media appearances, commercials, dance shows, all over Japan, enjoying my young childhood, with no plans on becoming an actor, making it a career. Being raised in Japan, played a significant role in my comedy career, making me a hybrid of comedy, before I started pursuing it. Living on base, we were forced to watch one American channel, with the rest of the channels in Japanese. Thank God for VCR’s, I found myself watching a lot of archives of old school comedy slapstick films, from all over the world, International to America. Right then, I was hooked, there’s films out there that can make you cry laughing. I knew that’s what I wanted to do someday. Next thing you know, I always found myself adding scenes in my head to make the movies funnier, thinking I can do them better.
After I left Japan, and a brief stay in Wichita Kansas, I knew it was my time to pursue acting as a career, so I applied to American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a prestigious acting school in L.A. I got accepted and moved to L.A, and ended up finishing school at the top of my class, getting the lead role in two of the end-of-the-year plays, achieving my Denzel status as an actor.
Thanks to AADA, it made me more well rounded, adding more elements to my repertoire, which came in handy because the acting opportunities dried up, and I got tired of waiting, so I became phantom of the game, and learned every role and aspect on how to produce a film from start to finish.
I started writing comedy, the comedy I’d come to love and learn, and after several years, I finished my 1st screenplay called, Marbles, The Day In The Life Of A Top Dog Marbolist, a comedy about a Marble world, where little glass balls can make you a God amongst Men.
I got a sponsor, right away, Marble King, from the east coast, then I hired a production crew to go the Independent route, like Napoleon Dynamite did, producing it myself, and bringing it to Hollywood. If I can only get one face to go on my product, I’ll be satisfied, which is hard to do. My crew got to work, next thing, we get our 1st face, Debra Wilson, Mad tv, she’s to play my Mom, then we get Gary Busy, he’s to play MarboJordan, then we get Tony Todd, Candyman, he’s to play Marboki, then Marty Klebba, Rawle Dee. I couldn’t believe all these famous actors were jumping on board, we’re all on cloud nine, thinking we’ve made it… the only problem, our budget was ballooning, which I ignored, so when it came down to get the loan, I was rejected. The biggest let down ever was, to tell my crew, and sponsor, Marbles wasn’t going to get made. I went from jubilation to crying almost everyday for a month, I hit rock bottom, everyone dropped off my project, I was all alone. I did learn a valuable lesson, never jump the gun and get a head of myself in producing films, and always make sure the money is in the account before you reach out to hire actors. .
Anyway, one day, I prayed, on the verge of quitting everything, to give me a sign, the strength to keep going. I woke up the next day, realizing how close I came, and I saw first hand on the magnitude of what Marbles could’ve been like, and that was my 1st screenplay. So instead of giving up, I started on my next comedy screenplay, The Black Ones, about two whacky detectives, on the hunt for a satanic jellybean killer, who kills his victims with the black ones. I play the lead detective, Larry, and Steven Michaels, plays my partner, Robert. I put a concept on Instagram, a min soap opera, shot in minute clips, to give Hollywood an idea and potentially picking it up.
With the success of our show on Instagram, and everyone loving the curiosity behind the name, I decided to make The Black Ones a brand, that consist of:

Comedy films, the dramedy type, dark, satiric, over the top, that makes fun of everybody. Nobody is excluded from satire. Just think of me as a Black Mel Brooks.

Comedy Podcast, The Black Ones, my alter ego… an energetic, infectious, raw, full of new and old school comedy, w/ radio style sketches, turning PC into Non again, making the irrelevant, relevantly funny. It’s on all podcasting platforms, Spotify, iTunes, Iheartradio, Stitcher, Google Podcast, Amazon Music, etc.

Uncomfortable Merchandise, The Black Ones… that clothing where the words can make you uncomfortably funny. Don’t judge a comment until you’ve read the entire phrase, it’s only candy.

The Black Ones variety comedy show… coming to San Diego in the summer of 2022. We’re bringing back the funny… taking it to the stage. That comedy everyone is waiting to see again… the likes of Carol Burnett, Flip Wilson, Monty Python, Hee Haw, Mad Tv, The Dave Chappelle show, that Mel Brooks stuff. The Black Ones is about to take you on a wild ride of comedy.

Look at The Black Ones as… those nasty jellybeans, makes you uncomfortable, but once you swallow, you’ll admire the flavor of comedy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If you have a friend visiting in town, what are some spots you would take them?
If my best friend was visiting me for a week, in San Diego… my itinerary list won’t be long, it’ll be short and simple, because I’m not a beach or sightseeing guy.

First, we’ll hit Hinotez, my favorite Japanese restaurant, great food, great happy hour, and lot’s of Japanese whisky.

Another day, we’ll hit up Portside Pier, on the Harbor, great food, great happy hour prices.

Another day, we’ll hit up Dave and Busters, great food, great happy hour prices, and great atmosphere.

Another day, we’ll just chill at my pad, drinking and reminiscing.

Lots of drinking and chilling will round out the vacation, which is what we prefer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shout out to my partner and crime, Steven Michaels… my acting partner, business partner, and great friend. We been acting together over 15 years… he was one of the 1st actors I casted to be in my 1st short film called, The Obsessed Fan. He did such a great job… our acting relationship took off from there. I started writing roles for him, to play alongside myself. We’re like Abbott and Costello, on screen, with unbelievable chemistry.

My crime comedy, The Black Ones, on Instagram, Steven plays my partner, Robert, in helping me track down the jellybean killer.

The Black Ones podcast, Steven, started off as my cohost, putting us on the map. Although, he’s no longer a co host, he’s a huge part of my success, making my transition to becoming solo, a breeze.

Steven, will also be cohosting, The Black Ones variety comedy show, with me. We’ll be the main acting fixtures, the show will evolve around us.

If The Black Ones becomes a huge success, Steven, will be right next to me.

Website: theblackones.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_black_ones_/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-johnson-21296076/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegiftedone32

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblackonez

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/marboclepto/featured

Image Credits
Steven Michaels