Jayson Johnson
Directing
Jayson Johnson is an American independent filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and author based in Richmond, California, and the founder of Strike Five Films, LLC ("every no is just a strike, so keep swinging").
Born in St. Charles, Illinois, and raised in Batavia, he earned his BA in communication studies (Radio, Television, and Film concentration) and MA in communication studies from Eastern Illinois University. In the Bay Area, he worked as Creative Marketing Manager for Francis Ford Coppola's companies, where Coppola encouraged him to pursue filmmaking. Skipping film school, Johnson bought a $35 camera on eBay and taught himself production and editing on his comedy web series The Jayson Johnson Show (2008) while working on Bay Area sets as a location PA (Blindspotting, 2018) and camera PA (Sorry to Bother You, 2018; La Mission, 2009).
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Through Strike Five Films, Johnson has written nine short films and directed eight—Beyond Glory (2009), The Blue Rose (2011), Rendezvous (2012), K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid (2013), Black Rodgers: Love from the 80's (2014), Bloodline (2016), Redress (2017), The Bad Bunch (2017), Lifeline (2018), All Who Are Weary (2019), Air Rangers (2021), and T.H.O.T? (2021)—and co-wrote 10 Am (2015). His shorts have screened at 90+ festivals worldwide and won six awards, including Best Romantic Short at the Las Vegas Film Festival (T.H.O.T?) and the Diamond Award at Mindfield Film Festival Albuquerque (Redress). He also produced, directed, and edited Dan "Gonzo" Machanik's special Best of the West Tour with Dan Gonzo Machanik (2025).
In May 2026, Johnson published two filmmaking books: Forget Film School: 23 Ways to Skip Film School, Save Money, and Launch Your Filmmaking Career and Director's Book: A Practical Guide to Stay Organized and Focused During Filmmaking. He has published essays in Offscreen ("The Work Before the Work"), Raindance ("Forget Film School: 7 Lessons You Can Only Learn by Making Movies" and "From Doubt to Daily Wins"), and Stage 32 ("Navigating Pre-Production as a First-Time Indie Director"). His debut feature comedy, R.O.G.E.R. & Me, is in pre-production alongside his 530 MacDonald Ave creative hub project in downtown Richmond.
Press, Reviews & Podcasts:
- TV & News: KRON4 Live! In the Bay, HuffPost, Richmondside (Aug & Dec 2025), Richmond Standard, Oakland Post / Post News Group, Max It Magazine, Daily Republic, Vallejo Times-Herald, Vallejo Sun, Contra Costa Pulse, and California Preservation Foundation.
- Profiles: Authority Magazine, NY Weekly, The LA Note, Voyage LA, Shoutout LA, CanvasRebel, Bold Journey, Indie Activity, Exeleon, Enspire, About Insider, Occhi Magazine, The Celebrity, Cult Critic, Otaku no Culture, and Search My Trash.
- Reviews: Film Threat, The Independent Critic, UK Film Review (T.H.O.T?), and Film Carnage (Redress).
- Podcasts (23+): The Story King (iHeart), Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino, Watch In It Pod, Almost Plausible, Unsolicited Perspectives, Spirits & Stories, Night Beat Media, Derek Duvall Show, Wanda's Picks, Franky Corcoran, Marc the Shark, Endless Journey of Growth, Adeptus Advisors, Stop Look & Listen, Your World of Creativity, Achieve More, Late Boomers, Papamutes, Successful Quitters, Audio Branding, Retro Movie Roundtable, Barracks Media, Sara Nunez Bee TV, FAME Studios, and Main Street America.
Known for
Behind the camera14
- 2025Best of the West Tour with Dan Gonzo Machanik Director, Producer, Editor
- 2021Air Rangers Director, Writer, Producer
- 2021T.H.O.T? Director, Writer, Producer
- 2019All Who Are Weary Director, Writer, Producer
- 2018Lifeline Director, Writer, Producer
- 2018Sorry to Bother You Assistant Camera
- 2017Redress Director, Writer, Producer
- 2017The Bad Bunch Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
- 201510 Am Writer, Producer
- 2013
