Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson is a relatively new filmmaker, at least within the past 10 to 15 years. His first feature film, Brick, was written and directed by him, and was made independent of any major film studio. He’s only directed three feature films to date, but he wrote all three films. Rian Johnson is what I would consider to be an auteur filmmaker, because not only does he make the films he wants to make, but he fully understands the highly collaborative environment of the film industry. He grew up making short films with friends and family, so when he started making feature films, he was already used to having the film fully realized in his head; however, he’s learned that in addition to his plan, he’s prepared to listen and observe.[1] In an article he wrote on Film School Rejects, he lists six filmmaking tips. The final tip he gives is in regards to making a film that you care deeply about. He explains that when you try to match what others are doing, you tend to lose sight of what you’re trying to do. He says, “At the end of the day, the movie that got me noticed was something that nobody was asking for […] but it was 100% mine” (Johnson, 2012).
One of Johnson’s relatively unique approaches to filmmaking is his delicate mixture of genres. He’s certainly not the only director to have done this, but he blends some of his more admired genres to bring a level of uniqueness to his films. His most recent film, Looper, had premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012; the film itself combines sci-fi, action and time travel. The Director and CEO of the festival, Piers Handling, recognizes Johnson’s ability to “…[combine] different genres to give [Johnson’s] projects an original spin.”[2]
Johnson may be at his best when he’s making his own films; however, he’s often considered writing a script and sending it off to someone else, or to find a script and direct it himself, because he didn’t want to wait too long before making another film.[3] Making his own films seems to be working for him. He even realizes this when Jack Giroux of Film School Rejects asks him if he only sees himself directing his own scripts in future film projects: “That’s just the thing I’m used to. […] Right now I’m resigned to telling my own stories, even if it takes more time. It’s what makes the machine run for me.”[4] Although his second feature film, The Brothers Bloom, wasn’t received as well as his first and third films, he still has three pretty solid films under his belt, and a positive outlook for the future of his auteur filmmaking career.
[1] Johnson, R. (2012, October 12). 6 filmmaking tips directly from rian johnson. Retrieved from http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/6-filmmaking-tips-directly-from-rian-johnson.php
[2] McCue, M. (2012, July 24). 2012 toronto international film festival opens with rian johnson’s looper. Retrieved from http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2012/07/2012-toronto-international-film-festival-opens-with-rian-johnsons-looper/
[3] Rubin, P. (2012, September 27). Why looper is director rian johnson’s best film yet. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/09/pl_looper/
[4] Giroux, J. (2013, January 9). Director rian johnson explains the difficult path to ‘looper’. Retrieved from http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/rian-johnson-jgiro.php
Caleb Popper 