about
Where it all began
Cinema. Film. The ‘Movies’. If you are anything like me, you will appreciate every aspect of this incredible art form. I hope my pieces educate or (at least) remind you of the drama, the horrors, the thrill of the adventure... and, most importantly, the excitement and nostalgia it all brings.
Enjoy,
Rich
Resume
As a D&AD Award Winner – with a background in graphic design and illustration – since 2004, I have lectured and delivered degree-level courses within the creative arts and media, including: graphic design, illustration, film studies and journalism. My first novel, The Enemy’s Son (as James Johnson), was released in 2008, followed by a number of independent comics for various anthologies and collections. As well as numerous film courses delivered via Broadway Cinema my writing credits include: Little White Lies, The Digital Fix, We Belong Dead, Diabolique Magazine, Shots, Network, Rue Morgue, Animation Magazine and Fangoria along with film commentary, video essays and accompanying written material for boutique labels including: Eureka Entertainment, Arrow Films, 101 Films and Second Sight Films.
Top 10? These go to 11
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Charles Laughton
Harakiri (1962)
Masaki Kobayashi
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Sergio Leone
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
John Landis
Blade Runner (1982)
Ridley Scott
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter
The Dark Crystal (1982)
Jim Henson and Frank Oz
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Rob Reiner
Nightcrawler (2014)
Dan Gilroy
The Red Turtle (2016)
Michaël Dudok de Wit
*A seminal year for film from cult classics to blockbusters: Blade Runner, The Thing, Tron, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The King of Comedy, The Flight of Dragons, First Blood, The Grey Fox, Poltergeist, Tootsie, Gandhi, Conan the Barbarian, The Plague Dogs...
... and Grease 2.
For more favourite films check out 100+, a selection of favourite films year by year from 1920 to present day.
“Pain is temporary, film is forever!” - John Milius
writing
“To be an artist means never to avert one’s eyes.” - Akira Kurosawa
Interviews
“Cinema is a mirror by which we often see ourselves.” - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
testimonials
“Cinephiles should already be aware
of Rich Johnson’s Companion Pieces.
I had a blast talking to him about a
couple of films that made a huge impact
on me. Thanks Rich!”
Thomas Jane
Actor/Producer/Director
Boogie Nights, Stander, The Punisher,
The Mist, The Expanse, Troppo
“LOVED your piece on Psycho II, Rich, with Tom Holland. I absolutely ADORE that film. It is SOOO brilliant. I’m glad you got to tell him!”
Reece Shearsmith
Actor/Writer/Comedian
The League of Gentlemen,
Inside No.9
“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Rich is my favorite person to be interviewed by.”
Gala Avary
Producer/Podcaster
The Video Archives Podcast
with Quentin Tarantino
& Roger Avary,
The Gala Show
“Rich writes with care and beauty, examining his subjects from unexpected angles and with nothing less than the utmost due diligence. He’s a thoughtful, thorough writer whose passion for cinema is made manifest in every word.”
Meredith Borders
Managing Editor
Fangoria