Jayson Johnson

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).

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.