East Bay Filmmaker Jayson Johnson Looks at The Alt-Right' Through A Cinematic Lens

8/30/2019 East Bay filmmaker Jayson Johnson looks at the ‘alt-right’ through a cinematic lens | San Francisco Bay
atic lens | San Francisco Bay View
East Bay filmmaker Jayson Johnson looks at the ‘alt-

right’ through a cinematic lens
December 8, 2017
by Nevin Long
Every artist has a process, a ritual they go through before working.
Some meditate. Some eat a ritual meal. Others listen to a specific kind of music.
Director Jayson Johnson, whose credits range from Bollywood films to

Lego commercials, prays and eats peanut butter. Lots and lots of
peanut butter.
Standing opposite a painting evocative of Jackson Pollock which he

created, the 40-year-old Batavia, Ill., native gave a toothy grin and
showed off a jar he had just purchased three days prior. Jayson Johnson, director of “Redress,”
erupts in trademark laughter at a
recent interview at his El Cerrito home.
It was over half gone. Johnson hopes his latest project can
serve as a conversation piece in
dealing with issues of race and
“That’s a lot, right?” Johnson said, laughing. extremism. – Photo: Betty Rose
Livingston, SF Bay View
Johnson relaxed persona and easy laugh belie the seriousness with
which he approaches films like “Redress,” his most recent. Indeed, the film is a departure from the
rest of his filmography, which trends toward the lighthearted.
But after a recent brush with racism, he began to get interested in more serious subjects. His car had
broken down when he was shouted at.
“Some guy told me ‘Go back to Africa,’” Johnson said.
That night he couldn’t sleep, and instead sat up searching the internet for answers. His curiosity was
piqued by the “alt-right,” a far-right political movement known for its racism, white nationalism and
right-wing populism. One final article talked about a potential rise in domestic terrorism.
It was then that Johnson decided he had something to say, and the result was “Redress,” a cinematic
short about one man’s descent into violence and hate.
The film takes an unorthodox trajectory, one that Johnson says was intentional. His main character,
Jake, though hateful and potentially violent, starts out a respectable family man. Johnson says he felt
he needed to give his audience something to which they could relate, rather than a cardboard cutout.
“Everyone is a bad day from doing something they would never dream of doing,” Johnson said.
In writing the role, he thought of a friend from back home, who went from clear headed and lucid into
a rapid, downward spiral of crack addiction.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To nd out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Close and accept
https://sfbayview.com/2017/12/east-bay-filmmaker-jayson-johnson-looks-at-the-alt-right-through-a-cinematic-lens/ 1/4
8/30/2019 East Bay filmmaker Jayson Johnson looks at the ‘alt-right’ through a cinematic lens | San Francisco Bay View
The “Redress” lead character Jake (left), played by Jason Kyle, becomes “racialized” after an encounter
with a white supremacist, played by Mick Hodder. – Photo courtesy Strike Five Films
“I just saw his descent go way down,” Johnson said, “and I started to think, ‘Why would a clear-
headed, level guy, family guy, go into something so low as to put a pipe bomb in something?”
It just made sense to Johnson that the trajectories were so similar. Johnson hopes that by giving his
audiences characters with which they can feel an affinity, he might be able to cause people to second
guess some harmful courses of action.
Johnson hopes that perhaps someone will say to themselves “I was going down that path and
someone intervened, and now I no longer believe that.”
“Everyone is a bad day from doing something they would never dream of doing,”
Johnson said.
Though he now hails from the predominantly middle-class town of El Cerrito, Johnson remembers a
childhood in Batavia that wasn’t always so easy.
“We grew up on the seedy side,” Johnson said, “All my friends were into all kinds of trouble.”
But Batavia wasn’t all bad. Johnson fondly recalls playing G.I. Joes and ninja tag with his friends in a
local cemetery around the ages of 6 and 7. It wasn’t long before he began writing backstories for his
Joes and giving his friends stage directions.
“We always had these creative things to do as kids because we didn’t have much,” Johnson said, “and
I think out of that came the idea of storytelling.”
By 10 or 11, a seed was planted, but it would take time to germinate. Johnson became captivated by
the 1985 Martha Coolidge comedy “Real Genius.” Johnson became obsessed, watching the film nearly
every day, studying not just plot and character, but the film’s technical aspects as well.
Still, the leap from Batavia to Northern California was one that would take a while to happen. Johnson
had no idea how it would happen as he had no contact with anyone in the film industry.
“We always had these creative things to do as kids because we didn’t have
much,” Johnson said, “and I think out of that came the idea of storytelling.”
“Most of my role models were drug dealers, people that robbed banks,” Johnson said.
So he got practical. He went to culinary school and became a chef, but soon began to tire from the
late nights and bad hours. Eventually, almost through happenstance, he found himself back in school
at Eastern Illinois University. It was there he began working for the campus TV news station. Close and accept
He also began cartooning for the campus paper, but between drawing cartoons the editor found
objectionable and filming subjects which had nothing to do with the stories he was assigned, it didn’t
take long for Johnson to be shown the door.
And, after a brief run as a bartender, he found himself in the Bay Area and soon took a job as a wine
steward for Coppola Wines, the Napa venture of famed director Francis Ford Coppola, another job he
was ill-suited for.
He was, however, able to make a move to Coppola’s mailroom, a job which brought him into contact
with the mixing team for American Zoetrope. He then parlayed that contact into an internship on
Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film “Marie Antoinette.”
He knew the approach might leave some people cold, but after getting some sage advice from fellow
director Terry Zwigoff, who told him just to be himself, he decided he had no choice but to be fearless
in the production of “Redress.”
Jake, played by Jason Kyle, peers through the rear window of his car at his intended victims. – Photo
courtesy Strike Five Films
“I don’t want to sell out because I’ve worked too damned hard to get to this point,” Johnson said.
He recognizes that some people might not find this approach palatable, but that he says to do
otherwise would be to create something less than art.
“When you can tell the truth when you cover something, and you can put your head on the pillow at
the end of the night and you know you did the right thing, I think it’s all worth it,” Johnson said.
And that is what Johnson says drives him – a search for truth.
“I want to try to be fearless to the point where my truth doesn’t get watered down by what other
people, critics, might think,” Johnson said.
Nevin Long, a San Francisco State University journalism student, is an intern with the Bay View. He
can be reached at nevin@sfbayview.com.
   More
Related
Close and accept
Allen Temple homelessness forum Community tells Sutter, ‘Close Community pushes for equity in
reveals Oakland leaders place low Alta Bates? No way! Save the cannabis licensing
priority on housing birthplace of the East Bay’ November 2, 2017
September 24, 2017 December 4, 2017 In "Local News & Views"
In "Local News & Views" In "Local News & Views"
Close and accept

East Bay Filmmaker Jayson Johnson Looks at The Alt-Right' Through A Cinematic Lens

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

East Bay Filmmaker Jayson Johnson Looks at The Alt-Right' Through A Cinematic Lens

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

8/30/2019 East Bay filmmaker Jayson Johnson looks at the ‘alt-right’ through a cinematic lens | San Francisco Bay

atic lens | San Francisco Bay View

East Bay filmmaker Jayson Johnson looks at the ‘alt-

Every artist has a process, a ritual they go through before working.

Director Jayson Johnson, whose credits range from Bollywood films to

Standing opposite a painting evocative of Jackson Pollock which he

“Some guy told me ‘Go back to Africa,’” Johnson said.

Close and accept

Close and accept

Close and accept

You might also like