Mika Johnson
Encyclopedia
Mika Johnson is an American filmmaker, photographer, writer, and musician.
and his family later relocated to Amherst, Ohio
. He graduated in 2000 in with a B.A. from Oberlin College
, where he studied film and world religions. Johnson then pursued these interests full time, while living and working in Tokyo, Berlin, Prague, and New York City.
He directed a documentary Lake Street USA and two short films, The Mountain of Signs (2003) and Yonder (2006). The themes of spiritual awakening and the exploration of dreams are essential concepts in his work. He cites the films of Bela Tarr
, Andrei Tarkovsky
, David Lynch
, Sergei Parajanov, and Luis Buñuel
as cinematic inspirations.
In 2008, Johnson co-founded Arcanum Productions, a Brooklyn-based company devoted to making independent film
s for the World Wide Web. His current full-length feature film project - Amerika: A Notebook in Three Parts - tells the story of a young Japanese woman who travels across the United States
in search of her father, and in that process, discovers her own version of the American dream.
In 2011, Johnson began directing "The Amerikans": 3 to 5 minute webisodes that present intimate portraits of people living in Northeast Ohio. By using traditional narration, documentary-style interviews, and fiction filmmaking techniques, the short episodes go behind the ordinary exterior of the subjects' lives, as their dreams and fantasies come to life.
In addition to filmmaking, Johnson is also the vocalist and guitarist for the German-based band Voco.
Biography
Johnson was born in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and his family later relocated to Amherst, Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,797 people, 4,459 households, and 3,388 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,646.1 people per square mile . There were 4,603 housing units at an average density of 642.3 per square mile...
. He graduated in 2000 in with a B.A. from Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, where he studied film and world religions. Johnson then pursued these interests full time, while living and working in Tokyo, Berlin, Prague, and New York City.
He directed a documentary Lake Street USA and two short films, The Mountain of Signs (2003) and Yonder (2006). The themes of spiritual awakening and the exploration of dreams are essential concepts in his work. He cites the films of Bela Tarr
Béla Tarr
-Life:Tarr was born in Pécs, but grew up in Budapest. Both of his parents were close to theatre and film: his father was a scenery designer, while his mother has been working as a prompter at a theater for more than 50 years now...
, Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
, David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
, Sergei Parajanov, and Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
as cinematic inspirations.
In 2008, Johnson co-founded Arcanum Productions, a Brooklyn-based company devoted to making independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s for the World Wide Web. His current full-length feature film project - Amerika: A Notebook in Three Parts - tells the story of a young Japanese woman who travels across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in search of her father, and in that process, discovers her own version of the American dream.
In 2011, Johnson began directing "The Amerikans": 3 to 5 minute webisodes that present intimate portraits of people living in Northeast Ohio. By using traditional narration, documentary-style interviews, and fiction filmmaking techniques, the short episodes go behind the ordinary exterior of the subjects' lives, as their dreams and fantasies come to life.
In addition to filmmaking, Johnson is also the vocalist and guitarist for the German-based band Voco.