Trouble with Johnny
Digital Video
4m 32s
2023

Trouble with Johnny explores the recurrence of loop, tempo, and flicker. The project uses found footage as a method for emphasizing the cinematic collisions between audio and visual composition. Working within the margins of structural filmmaking, Trouble with Johnny creates a visceral experience of fragmented sounds and cyclical imagery.

Likewise, Trouble with Johnny functions as a parody of the mainstream movie industry. The source material derives from the 1980’s coming of age film, The Karate Kid. Throughout the story, the main antagonist, a bully who goes by the name “Johnny”, is revered by a dedicated clique of subservient underlings. Applied as an experimental technique, the repetitive use of the word “Johnny” draws attention to the stereotypical and recurring tropes found in many teen movies. 

In addition, the character name “Johnny” occupies a consistent prominence within many works of 80’s cinema. Upon reflection, the name calls to mind an intriguing array of 80’s era character types, including the outsider, the renegade, the bully, the cool kid, and the boy next door. A partial list of films that employ the moniker include, The Outsiders, Johnny Dangerously, The Breakfast Club, Dirty Dancing, Johnny Be Good, Johnny Handsome, and Point Break. By delving into this peculiar fascination with naming conventions, the filmmaker presents a revised interpretation of industry generated characterization. Overall, Trouble with Johnny offers an alternative version of this memorable character type. The film intends to highlight the enigmatic traces between tribute and critique.