Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnathan Brownlee.
Johnathan, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m from Toronto, Canada and went to NYC on a scholarship right after high school, splitting my time between Hofstra Theater & NYU Film Studies then graduate school at Brandeis in Boston. I worked on and off Broadway as an actor/singer with greats like Luciano Pavarotti & Kristen Chenowith. I also paid the bills as a stunt guy jumping off buildings and getting punched in the face a lot. I moved to LA where I was on tv series like Seinfeld and The Larry Sanders Show and worked with Helen Hunt, Angelina Jolie, Richard Gere, Aaron Paul and Rashida Jones, to name a few. I started commuting between LA & Vancouver where I had my own first TV series, “Johnathan Brownlee’s at Home” which was Canada’s #1 home renovation series (They called me the “Bob Villa” of Canada. Except I can actually build houses) at the time and ironically sold the first 5 seasons to Mark Cuban here in Dallas.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a filmmaker and I’m lucky to wear different hats when necessary. I write, direct, produce, shoot and sometimes mentor young filmmakers on their first films (“Uncle John”). Whatever it takes to get it done on time and on budget. I often call myself a “Carny” … meaning that what we do in the entertainment world is to set up a tent and entertain you for 90 minutes and then go in to the next town and the next project. Art is an interesting phenomenon and means many different things to many people. Film is a true Art form and is a tremendously flexible pallet that can be used to entertain, educate and inform. We can scare you, make you laugh or cry. It always starts with a great script and is truly magical when a team of artists, comes together to translate that script to screen. Sometimes we provide entertainment and sometimes film stirs conversation and controversy.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Don’t say you are a filmmaker if you are not making films. Art is doing…so go out and make a film. No one has any excuse to not make a film if you want too. There is no technical barrier to entry and you can make a film for $1. Just do it. Film has to be seen. It is no good sitting on paper or in your head. Every film you make teaches you new lessons on how to tell stories but also how to start and finish something…I call it building your own “Film Factory.” Another key point to our business is just that…it is a business. If you want to continue to make your art you have to monetize your art. This is often the hardest thing to teach filmmakers or any artist for that matter. But fortunately, film is a team sport. Find like-minded folks who have skill sets that compliment yours. Don’t put 4 directors in a room together, put a writer, producer, director and actor in a room…that’s how you make a film.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My film & television shows can be seen in the theaters, on TV and online platforms such as NETFLIX, Amazon, iTunes. We release at least one film a year in theaters. Our next film, “Puppet Master,” opens in theaters on August 17th. You can support my work by supporting ALL filmmakers in Dallas….by supporting the growth of our industry which employs a diverse workforce and by supporting the Dallas Film Society and the Dallas International Film Festival who champion filmmakers and the art of film.
Contact Info:
- Address: Dallas Film 110 Leslie Street #200
Dallas TX 75207 - Website: 320 N New Hampshire
- Phone: 2137922889
- Email: torfootfilms@gmail.com
- Instagram: johnathan_brownlee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Torfoot
- Twitter: @ubiquimedia
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnathan-Brownlee-897587b/
Image Credit:
Photo Credit, Jeff Berlin
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
