Biografia
Newsweek Magazine named Jerry Johnson "one of America's most incisive, dedicated filmmakers." Beginning in live television in the mid -1950's, Mr. Johnson is a true veteran of the television and motion picture industry. As a Director and Producer, his career has combined an EMMY Award-winning creative production background with strong team management skills.
In 1971, after a notable dozen years as a Producer and Director for a major network broadcast group, Mr. Johnson joined David L. Wolper Productions in Hollywood. As Producer, of the weekly series "The Explorers," he worked extensively in Europe and Asia. Later, he produced the six-hour miniseries "Men of the Sea". Mr. Johnson left Wolper to serve as Executive Producer and Production Executive of the feature motion picture "A Likely Story" starring Harvey Lembeck and Cyril Cusack. This picture was filmed in Ireland with Oscar winner Billy Williams as Director of Photography.
Over the next several years, Mr. Johnson concentrated on the production of TV specials and motion pictures designed for television syndication. He then Produced and Directed the "Leslie in Love," specials starring singer Leslie Gore. He also Directed the pilot of the "Jack Anderson" TV series for 20th Century Fox and Produced the "Biography of B. F. Skinner", for PBS written by Oscar winner David Seltzer. He then served as Executive Producer for twelve, ninety-minute action adventure films of the "Neptune Journals" series for Technicolor/Goldkey. The centerpiece of this noted series was the award-winning film "Of Sharks and Men". Returning to Ireland, Mr. Johnson Produced and Directed the ninety-minute film "Land of Celtic Ghosts." The following year he produced the "Doomsday Chronicles" TV feature film for Technicolor. During this time, he continued to direct TV commercials for such clients as Chapstick, Pepsi Cola, Rockwell, and the Discover America campaign.
For the 1981 television season Mr. Johnson served as Series Producer of "You Asked For It." With both creative and financial responsibility for this 150 show series, he managed more than a dozen production teams based around the world. Shot on nearly a hundred locations, this was one of the first independent international series to be shot entirely on video and distributed by satellite.
In 1983, Mr. Johnson joined Columbia Pictures/Jack Haley Jr. Productions as Producer on the ABC Television Series, "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" starring Oscar winner Jack Palance. With the exception of a leave of absence, when he was asked to personally direct the multi team filming of President Reagan's historic trip to Ireland, England, and France, Mr. Johnson remained with the "Ripley's" series until production was completed at the end of 1985.
During 1986-87, Mr. Johnson returned to Europe to direct the television series "The Chef's Apprentice." Filmed in England, France, and Italy, this major Western Civilization History high budget series took nearly a year to complete and was telecast world-wide.
Mr. Johnson then returned to Hollywood and founded The Hollywood Post House. During his tenure as President and CEO, this high-end digital video facility provided graphics, 3-D animation and motion control post production services to the major studios of Hollywood. Notable projects included "The Lion King" and "The Terminator" as well as the "Hunter" and "Wise Guy" TV series.
Mr. Johnson is also founder of MICRODOLLY HOLLYWOOD. This innovative Camera Support Company is a leading designer and manufacturer of ultra-light Camera Jibs, Dollies and Mounts for the video/film industry. Today there are thousands of MICRODOLLY systems working worldwide in more than a hundred countries. Presently, Mr. Johnson divides his time between a home in the Berkshires and his home in Beverly Hills, California.
