Michael Johnson

After winning several filmmaking awards in high school and college, Michael was referred to the American Film Institute's Directors Fellows program on a recommendation from Jaws editor and Universal Pictures VP Verna Fields. Accepted into the program by director Robert Wise, Michael instead opted for a film editing career, while also working as a screenwriter. Represented by the William Morris Agency and later Paul Kohner Inc, Michael optioned a number of screenplays and, as a playwright, had an original three act comedy produced. As an editor of motion picture theatrical trailers and television spots, Michael has won a Clio (for the Toys teaser), a number of Key Art Awards (Seabiscuit trailer; Philadelphia trailer, Forrest Gump trailer and others) and received an Emmy nomination for cutting the 2002 Academy Awards 'In Memoriam' segment produced by director Gary Ross. Today Michael is a producer and co-owner of Gas Station Zebra, a motion picture advertising company located in Studio City, California.