Digital Video Student Aims for Top Movie Job
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WCC digital video student Brian Johnson hopes to become a movie director.
Editor’s note: This article is an exclusive web preview for the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of WCC’s Career Focus magazine.
WCC digital video student Brian Johnson has big dreams. And Michigan’s booming film industry might help make them happen.
In 2007 just three films with budgets totaling $2 million were made in Michigan. Then the state legislature approved an aggressive tax incentive that produced immediate results. In 2008 35 films were produced in Michigan, and expenditures totaled $125 million. In 2009 the numbers rose even higher, to 52 film projects totaling over $200 million, according to the Michigan Film Office.
But even with tax incentives, when studios are deciding whether to shoot a film or video in Michigan they need to know that the talent is here to support the project. “We need more technically trained people to support these films coming to the state,” said Ken Droz, communications manager for the Michigan Film Office. “In most cases the studio will hire between 20 to 70 percent local, but a new project in Pontiac will be 100 percent local. We hear that the studios are loving what they’re getting here.”
That’s where Johnson, 21, comes in. He’s hard to miss, with his old-fashioned motorcycle goggles pushed up on his forehead and his slightly rumpled clothing. You might think he was an artist, and you’d be right. Although he’s a digital video student now, Johnson started out wanting to be an astronomer.
“I was in the first video class my high school offered and I fell in love with it,” Johnson said. “Then it was bye-bye telescope and hello wide lens. The whole creativity of it clicked right away for me. Now I create visually appealing stories. Every part of the process is tedious but fun. I get a chance to make something come to life.”
Johnson has a dream of being a film director one day, even though that may be the most elusive path in the film industry. He knows he’ll have to start at the bottom and work his way up, but he has faith that the quality of his work will help him stand out.
“I want to be a director because then you’re the boss in the field,” said Johnson. “You’re in charge of the scenes, the sequences, the actors, everything that involves an artistic view. It’s like clay in your hands. Besides, I’m not good money wise—I’d leave that to the producer.”
But Johnson isn’t a control freak. He said he likes to work collaboratively, and he admits to improvising. Something else he likes is nature. His dream internship would be with the National Geographic Channel or BBC America.
When he’s not in class, Johnson is working on his first independent video project, which would teach Microsoft Certification Prep via the web. When asked what his ultimate goal is, Johnson doesn’t miss a beat.
“I want to win an Oscar.”