Meet Michael Johnson

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

Hi Michael, how do you think about risk?
“Burn ships, build bridges.”

I’ve taken a lot of leaps throughout my professional career. I had always been taught to always weigh out the consequences for career changes, relationships, and daily decisions. There are benefits to considering the pros and cons of every major change in your life but over analysis usually leads to decision paralysis. At some point, you have to ‘just make the choice’ and sometimes knowing 70% is better than trying to get to 100%.

For me, taking the risk was only the first hurdle. When I left for the military as a teenager I always had this thought that I could always “go back home” if things didn’t work out. Ultimately, things didn’t work out and I did return home feeling directionless. I slowly approached the idea of going all-in whenever a major divide would shape my life. Theoretically, you can always start over and begin again – so why not commit 100%?

This mantra of “burning ships” helped shape my perspective that “I must succeed because failure isn’t an option”. It forced me to push myself and completely commit to the film industry. Pushing and committing myself to my craft has awarded me so many opportunities that I normally wouldn’t have access to had I not taken a risk.

Taking the leap of faith is the easy part. The difficult journey is walking blindly, day by day, and committing to the decision you’ve made. Risk taking isn’t just one simple jump; it’s a marathon, running blindfolded up a mountain. Sometimes you get a peak at hurdles you’ve overcome but for the most part, you have to trust your instinct and you have to keep going. Sometimes you’re running blind for miles. Sometimes it’s your entire life. This is what it’s like to be an artist. You have to believe in what you’re doing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up disadvantaged; it’s a fact that’s haunted me in different ways. My father came from a poor, abusive family and my mother is a South Korean immigrant who speaks broken English. I often felt discouraged because of the isolation poverty created. Being poor is simultaneously a source of disconnection and point of co-adoption from my peers. “Starving artist” isn’t a badge of honor if you’re literally starving or aren’t having your core needs from Maslow’s hierarchy met. It’s not an uncomfortable truth that art is a privilege of the wealthy. It’s difficult to focus on writing, or painting, or filmmaking when you don’t know how to pay for groceries. Regardless, art is just as essential to life as breathing. I commend people who are resourceful enough to make art and survive!

It’s my mission in life to create art and stories that reflect my personal background – families who struggle deciding whether to pay for rent or pay for food. Blue collar narratives of characters of many different ethnic backgrounds intrigue me. And as rare as most mainstream Hollywood would like you to believe – my stories feature many different kinds of people surviving together.

I grew up with Indigenous adoptees, white kids, European refugees, Middle-Eastern immigrants; everyone from all walks of life – equally struggling to keep food on the table. Because I grew up surrounded by so many different cultures, difficult and often racist conversations would break out – but we’d work through them. Taika Waititi once called out that stories featuring groups of every conceivable ethnic group and color were unrealistic. I’m sure many people living isolated experienced this isolationism, but diversity is real life. It’s important to highlight this in storytelling. Diversity is not wokeness. Diversity imitates life and proves that we can overcome and survive difficult conversations together.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Truly, my success comes from the relationships and experience I’ve built at Chapman University’s MFA film program. It could be any school really – but the lessons learned have helped to shape my maturity in my mid-thirties. Bill Dill, ASC, Johnny Jensen, ASC, and Jurg Walther are three empathetic and foundational figures in my life. They’ve formally introduced me into the film industry but have been personal mentors in the short time we’ve spent together.

The MFA program at Dodge College is a unique island at Chapman. Everyone has become a lifelong friend and I still seek their guidance and counsel on a daily basis. Coincidentally, my employer also was a guest lecturer at Chapman. It’s an added bonus that we both have reflected on. Literally for me, without having any direct connection to the film community in Los Angeles; being a poor military kid from Aurora, CO – going to and actively participating at Chapman has been one of the defining moments of my life.

I wouldn’t have committed to the program if it wasn’t for my wife (who is far removed from film and television as humanly possible). You need to have someone who supports you and sees your internal struggle. They may not be able to directly help you; but knowing someone who knows your backstory and struggle is hugely emotionally supportive. Find people who love you, see you for who you are, and encourage you to grow.

Website: https://www.harabek.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hyon-johnson-69863039 

Twitter: https://x.com/harabek?mx=2

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/harabek 

Image Credits
Thaddeus Newman, Darian Michael Garey, Darius Johnson, Josh C Loudermilk, and Hannah Kwon in BLACK METAL Produced by Open Screenplay and The M Film Lab