Rising Stars: Meet Champ Johnson of South LA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Champ Johnson.

Hi Champ, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in the Bay Area. Vallejo, CA to be exact. My parents are Pastors and I got my start in the church. I always had a vivid imagination. Enterting short story competitions that were advertised in Ebony magazine, writing scripts and taking them to school to have my friends do impromptu table reads, forming a pop group and putting on showcases at recess, and even starting a gospel group where I wrote original music and arranged the vocals. I always knew creating art was something I wanted to turn into a career. But it wasn’t until high school that I realized, I wanted to be a filmmaker. It was only the medium where I could combine all my talents into one project.

After high school, I took two years off to work and figure out what was next. Moving away was an extremely scary thing to think about. But in 2010, after a few signs, I moved to LA to go to Los Angeles Film School. I couldn’t afford to fly down and do a campus tour. I didn’t look at multiple places to live. The only thing I knew is that LA. was where I needed to be. By 2014, I had two degrees and ws working on film sets right out of college.

The journey has not always been smooth. I’ve had to pivot many times to survive, but my dream never waived. I’ve never questioned my passion. I’ve never questioned that working in the arts was what I wanted to do. It was a calling. And I will answer every time.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
People always talk about the triumphs. Not everyone has the courage to talk about the lows. Whether it was throwing out bed bug infested furniture on the Hollywood curb at three in the morning, getting evicted twice, converting a friend’s walk-in closet into a bedroom so I could finish school, living in a hostel with thirty people, swallowing my pride and applying for food stamps, or the worst thing of all — asking for help. The dream kept me strong. Strong enough to endure every low, which made basking in every high that much more fulfilling.

I always tell people, LA is the kind of city that lets you do anything until it’s time to do your thing. I was never above odd jobs; the pineapple flower cutter at Edible Arrangments, protecting the Marilyn Monroe statue at Madame Tussauds, doing audience work on court shows. I told my self ‘you gotta do what you gotta do to stay in LA because going home was not an option’. But enduring the hardships eventually got my background singer gigs, doing studio sessions with Pharrell, Ozzy Osbourne and Post Malone, enjoying small talk with Vivica Fox inbetween takes on film sets, meeting my forever friends on the worship team at church, shooting award winning short films, producing reality TV and being in a Stellar Award nominated choir.

When I tell people just a modicum of things I went through on this long LA journey, they swear I’m just regurgitating a Tyler Perry movie plot. But it’s all real and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s made me more appreciative, it’s made me a better screenwriter, it’s built my point of view as a creative, and it’s the reason why I’ve never given up.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My entertainment alias is Champ Johnson and I am a Writer, Director and Producer. I have my Associate’s degree in the Science of Film & Television and a Bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Business. I specialize in screenwriting and story development. I am most proud of the fact that I am able to be more than one thing. As the industry changes, being a multi-hyphenate is sort of unofficially required. So I’m proud that my different giftfs; writing, singing, creative consulting, etc. has allowed me to enter different spaces and build the network that I have,

What sets me apart from others is my logistical ease. It’s the reason why so many people choose to work with me consistently because I can see the final vision and immediately figure out all the ways it can be done. I can’t help but be a problem solver. It’s a blessing and a curse lol.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
One thing I’ve learned on my journey is the power in collaboration. You need people to succeed. Doing everything on your own is the fastest way to get stuck. There are people out there whose dreams align with yours and people who will buy into your vision. You just have to be open and willing to let them in.

But it’s not just about building a team of creatives to make an incredible project. You also need a network of people to be your tribe. People that can lift you up. People that can affirm you, hold you accountable and sometimes tell you when you’re being a complete dumbass. No matter what stage you are in life, it’s important to find YOUR people.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/writtenbychamp