Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Catalano.
Johnny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I live and breathe cinema. I love it. With every fiber of my being. I have ever since I can remember. I’ll never forget the moment when I was about 6-7 years old, and my father called me into our living room. He was watching the final duel scene of Sergio Leone’s For a Few Dollars More, starring Clint Eastwood and the great Lee Van Cleef. I remember his enthusiasm for the scene and especially Ennio Morricone’s masterful score. It rubbed off, from that day, I feel in love with film.
In elementary school and high school, I flirted with about every profession you can think of. I had dreams of maybe becoming a football coach, a lawyer, or a police officer. It didn’t hit me until my sophomore year of high school, that I didn’t want to really do any of those things. I just liked the movies about those professions. I wanted to make movies. It wasn’t until a lonely night of my sophomore year of high school where USA Network was playing a special no-commercial airing of Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List where I discovered I didn’t want to do anything else but make films. The power that films has one me that night is something I will never forget. And I dream to make a film someday that inspires that lonely high school kid, just like that film did me.
I had another calling as well. I have always had a deep love for my country. And I know it may not be cool or intellectual to say so, but I’ve always been a patriot. So, I joined the Ohio Army National Guard when I was 17 years old. Basic Training at that age was a rude awakening to the realities of not only military service but life. I completed my enlistment time and contracted to become an officer in the National Guard at Bowling Green State University’s ROTC program. While also pursuing a film production major. That balance, I will openly admit, was tough. I was the only kid in my film production program who had military experience and was currently serving. And I was also the only film production major in my ROTC program. So, it was a hard fit, no matter where I turned. I feel my military service has only benefited me in my field. Very rarely do people in the film industry have varied backgrounds such as the military. It’s given me a glimpse of a reality most filmmakers may not even dream of. I’ve met so many people from across the world and country that inspire the stories I want to tell.
That being said, it took me a while to gain confidence in filmmaking. ROTC took up a lot of my time and energy in college. Waking up at 5:30 am for PT (physical training) wasn’t exactly what every film student at my school at least was doing. I was tired by the end of the week. So, any film project that took place on weekend or late at night on weekdays wasn’t exactly appealing to me at the time. Not only that, but I also lacked confidence in my technical abilities. There were kids that were already experts on cameras, lenses, lighting, and editing. I felt I couldn’t keep up. It wasn’t until I took a screenwriting class where I realized what I was good at, and could thrive in. I fell in love with writing. It’s a simple as that. There’s nothing better than the writing process in my mind. I love waking up in the morning knowing I get to write. It’s an absolute privilege. The teacher was super inspiring and told me I was a good writer. It only takes that one person I feel to tell you that you CAN do it. So, I’ve been writing ever since. I love writing so much, I decided to pursue my MFA (Masters in Fine Arts) in Screenwriting and Playwriting at Point Park University in Pittsburgh.
Once I graduated college, it was sufficed to say, I was lost. I had a degree, that I struggled to translate into the job market at the time (Winter of 2021). I applied everywhere for videographer/editing jobs, and everywhere said the same thing, not experienced enough. There was a solid couple month where all I did was look through Indeed and apply interview, and not get the job. It was very disheartening. But in April, there was some reprieve. A company took a chance on me. To be its videographer/editor/social media creator. Little did I know, this reprieve would be no more than a wakeup call. I worked there for 2 days and quit. The job wasn’t giving me any satisfaction. I felt I just took the job because I felt I just needed a job. No other reason. I didn’t really want to be a social media content creator, I wanted to be a filmmaker. So, I quit and kicked my filmmaking career into high gear.
Having saved a lot of money in college through the Army, I decided I would just take a couple months to plan and produce my first long-form narrative film. With help from a great filmmaking community in Cincinnati, I produced, wrote, and directed my first film Funeral for Furmanski in August of 2021 at age 23. It turned out to be a dark comedy about a family quarrel on a hot summer’s night in Ohio. I also act in the film.
Also in 2021, I founded my independent film company Catalano Film, Co. Its goal is to produce films with a voice. Films with an author. The company is also meant to showcase other filmmakers in the Dayton/Cincinnati region. My company has hosted two events, film showcases or festivals at independently owned movie theaters in my area. They’ve been a great success and a ton of fun to plan and host. In fact, my film Funeral for Furmanski premiers March 12 @ The Historical Plaza Theatre in Miamisburg, OH. Along with a slew of other talented filmmakers’ short films from the area. The event is called Regional Cinema.
My goal with my company and my career is to be a full-time independent filmmaker. I’m currently in pre-production for my first feature Sunday Dinner. I want to tell midwestern stories. I love where I’m from, and I feel it is a section of the country and world that is often mocked by Hollywood or LA films. I want to dispel the notion that filmmakers only live in NYC or LA. You can make films anywhere! My idols in that realm are George A. Romero and John Waters who carved out their own indie careers in Pittsburgh and Baltimore respectively.
Lastly, I’d just like to include some of my favorite films: For a Few Dollars More, The Piano Teacher, Paths of Glory, Barry Lyndon, A Man Escaped, The Last of the Mohicans, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, My Darling Clementine, GoodFellas, Down by Law, The Sting, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Asphalt Jungle, and Jaws just to name a few.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There has been plenty of struggles along the way. Joining the Army at 17 was my first rude awakening to life in general. Also, the naysayers. Living in Ohio there are so many people who will tell you chasing your film dreams in a lost cause. Or to give up and get a real job. Don’t listen to those people. Sure, we don’t live in LA or NYC, but you can strive your own path. If there aren’t opportunities to make your films or tells your stories, make them. I have concluded that there will always be naysayers in the industry I’m committed to breaking into. But those naysayers will go away once I realize my dream. I don’t care how long it takes or how hard it may be. I will be a filmmaker. I am a filmmaker.
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?
I am an independent filmmaker. I specialize in telling midwestern stories. They aren’t huge blockbusters filled with special effects or glossy beautiful actors. They are films about real people. Living in the heartland of America. The disillusionment that comes with being stuck in the Midwest. I explore the American Dream. And what people will do to achieve that dream. Mainly, my films are internal. They deal with what’s going on in the characters’ heart and soul. That’s what make me want to be a storyteller and filmmaker. Not to the latest IP $250 million movie. The small films, about real living human beings. I also can’t help but inject my own dark humor into everything I do. I love music. I love to curate music for my films. I see it as my musical expression, considering I can’t sing or play an instrument. My ultimate dream as a filmmaker is to make a Western. And I will damn it! One day!
What does success mean to you?
Not money. I hear so many conversations every day about how much people make or how much something costs, etc. Ultimately, I feel those conversations are shallow and empty. I see success as expressing who I am. How I see the world. To as many people as I can. It may sound narcissistic, but I feel it’s an artists need to do so. We all shout out our windows, hoping someone or anyone will listen. I just want to be artistically fruitful in my life. And again, make a Western.
Pricing:
- $10 for Regional Cinema Event
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catalanofilmco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catalanofilmco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJw5taqqXnAW5aEgM4RqSjg
Image Credits
Cat Rider
