Richard E. Johnson(II)
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Richard is the Editor and Publisher of the action sports graphic novel
series "SkateFarm" Published with IDW Publishing, LLC and distributed
through Scholastic Book Fairs and Diamond Comics Distribution. Richard
is also a Lecturer in film production in the MFA programs at The
American Film Institute and Chapman University, the Dodge School of
Film and Media, and an Entertainment Finance Consultant working with
equity, tax driven, and traditional domestic and international film
financing resources on behalf of independent producers. From 1987
through 2004, he was the President of Vintage Productions, Inc., a film
production and financing company. Through Vintage, Richard secured
financing for and Co-Executive Produced "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead"
(2004) (Paramount Classics/Seven Arts) starring Clive Owen and
Charlotte Rampling, and directed by Mike Hodges. Richard also
Co-Produced and brokered full financing for the theatrical film "The
Opportunists" (First Look/Blockbuster/Overseas Film Group) starring
Christopher Walken and Cyndi Lauper and Executive Produced by Jonathan
Demme. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, 2001. In addition,
he provided co-financing for two films with British Screen Finance
Limited: the theatrical feature "The Low Down" (Shooting Gallery/Film
Four) and the television film "Jilting Joe" (BBC/Romance Channel)
starring James Purefoy. "The Low Down" won the "Best Newcomer" award
for its star Aiden Gillen at the Edinburgh Festival, 2000 and was
nominated for three awards at the Independent British Film Festival. It
premiered in the U.S. at the Sundance Film Festival, 2000. From 1989
through 1993, Richard also served as President of the independent
development, financing and production company Spirit where he produced
the theatrical motion picture "Ambition" starring Lou Diamond Philips
for (Miramax/Rank) and Executive Produced the television film,
"Frankenstein: The College Years" directed by Tom Shadyak (Fox
Network). Previously, Richard served as Vice-President of Production
for the Producers Sales Organization, Vice-President of Creative
Affairs for Embassy Pictures, Production Executive for Orion Pictures
Corporation, and Acquisitions Director and Assistant to the Executive
Vice-President of Distribution for Filmways Pictures. While serving in
the above capacities, Richard supervised the development and production
of such films as: "Flight Of The Navigator" with Disney; "8 Million
Ways To Die" starring Jeff Bridges and directed by Hal Ashby; "Remo
Williams, The Adventure Begins" directed by Guy Hamilton; "Code Of
Silence" starring Chuck Norris and directed by Andrew Davis; "Easy
Money" starring Rodney Dangerfield; "Strange Invaders" starring Paul
LaMat; "Lone Wolf McQuade" starring David Carradine and Chuck Norris;
"Up The Creek" starring Tim Matheson; and "Flesh And Blood" starring
Rutger Hauer and directed by Paul Verhoeven. Prior to working in film
industry, Richard founded San Francisco based Multivision Films, which
produced television commercials and corporate instructional
programming. Clients included Wells Fargo Bank, Amfac Hotels and Crown
Zellerbach. Richard has a background in theater in San Francisco and
New York, and has taught motion picture production at Stanford
University and UC Berkeley Extension. He also hosted the Film Financing
and Co-Production Forum for CreativePlanet.com. Richard holds a B.A.
degree in Theater and Communications from Oberlin College, an M.A.
degree in Communications from Stanford University and an M.F.A. degree
from the Department of Cinema and Television, The Peter Stark Program,
University of Southern California.