Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Johnson.
Philip, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The question “What job would you do if money didn’t exist?” always tripped me up growing up. In my head, I always thought “TV/movie industry, duh. But that doesn’t count”. I was such a risk-averse individual that I structured my life around studying business and getting whatever corporate America job would be most stable. I innately knew my deepest creative passions, yet my fear of failure/imperfection caused me to reject my artistic side as a whole and deem myself too left-brained to ever be artistic.
While attending the University of Michigan, a multi-year fashion org experience made me realize that without a creative career post-grad, a huge part of me would feel dead. Without even realizing, I had fallen in love with art and its healing powers.
Fast forward to graduation in 2017. I end my relationship of 2 years, withdraw from my Master’s of Accounting program, and move to New York City to pursue this creative life of my dreams. For the first time, I was 100% living for me.
My 1.5 years in New York City were pivotal. I worked as a Financial Analyst at Ralph Lauren, founded Philaye Films, Inc., and wrote + directed + produced + starred in my first hit web-series: Black Sex & The City. I realized I had a unique talent that had to be shared.
I moved here to LA 3 months ago (February 2019) for the opportunity to inspire with my art on television and movie screens. With the strong team I have been building since moving to LA, our TV show and movie projects currently in the works will certainly help heal and inform millions.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely been a rocky road. My biggest obstacle that I repeatedly overcome is my own self-doubt. Being an artist forces me to accept myself as a perfectly imperfect human being. I structured my life around Finance because it left no room for imperfection, so breaking down those rigid walls to build my film business has been beautifully difficult.
And then there is being a double minority working to break into this industry. Knowing that you will have to work 3x as hard to get half as far is a difficult pill to swallow when you wake up every morning. Every day that I’m blessed with life, though, only one question matters: Do I love what I do?
Every single struggle has only intensified my passions and drive. My best friend from back home in Detroit committed suicide 1.5 months into my LA move. I took it horribly. My mental health went down the drain and I went down a bad road. I almost gave up everything to move back home with family.
But art helps us to appreciate life again, and life helps us to appreciate art. The movie that my company is working on is a beautiful story that my late friend left me to execute. Through art, I have found true purpose for living. I am getting back to my/our community’s roots with these upcoming productions. Art is my healer and my profession.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Philaye Films – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Founded by me, Philaye Films is a black-owned tv+film company. Philaye Films creates meaningful black media, striving to creatively bring light to dynamic sides of important topics in our 21st-century communities.
Philaye Films’ breakout web-series, Black Sex & The City, received 80,000+ views on YouTube. From its one-of-a-kind & extreme comedy to the authentic black LGBTQ representation on screens, this series resonates with thousands.
Black Sex & The City ended when I relocated from NYC to LA in February of this year (2019). Within these first three months in LA, I have studied the craft, built a much larger team and Philaye Films is currently working on one new TV show and one new movie.
Philaye Films brings an electric sensation to screens; our art’s spark is uniquely entertaining. Our fans say they have never seen anything quite like this before.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I love most about LA is the natural beauty. I feel like I am living in a beautiful vacation destination, where I just happen to have to work too.
What I dislike most about LA is the amount of time spent in cars. I really wish that teleportation were a thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: philayefilms.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philaye/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philayefilms/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilayeFilms
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