Paul Sam Johnston

I moved around a lot as a kid, so every few years I had to acclimatize to a new reality, and I think as a sort of people pleasing survival instinct, being performative and a bit of a clown became my default. I was inherently shy and acting up and playing characters was a way I could comfortably find a connection with people. And SHOCKER that shy kid who liked to clown around ended up in theatre school.

After graduating I started acting professionally in TV, Films, and commercials. I got to work with Todd Haynes, I bought New Balances after I saw him wearing them. I thought there was something iconoclastic about sensible footwear grounding an art house giant. I went out to audition for 'strange friend', 'weird guest #2', and 'creep' over and over.

Though often there was a lot of time between roles. Time to sit around, worry, and question everything. Sadness. During one of these existential spirals I decided the cure was to explore making my own work. I was lucky to have a friend who knew what he was doing with a camera and we collaborated and made a few things that weren’t awful.

Filmmaking isn't something one can just go out and practice alone like baking or smiling, so I've learned through collaborating, stumbling, doing, screwing up, listening, and following my instincts and trusting that what visuals move me, will move you. Many little projects later I now find myself smitten with directing commercials, and now here you are reading about it.

I enjoy embracing deceptively simple observations in order to reveal a truth we can all identify with. This can result in playful humour, or find an empathy that adds a depth of emotion or humanity to a story. No matter the tone, well observed details and moments are what great storytelling is all about. I love creating work that feels both timeless, and very right now, this very moment, and I believe a strong visual language meaningfully rooted in the feelings we wish to emote, is essential.