To me, Johnny Goner is the ultimate coming of age story. On one level, Johnny Goner follows an insecure character whose journey matures him. But on a second level, this film was a coming of age for us. Johnny Goner took ambitious high school students on our own journey that left us independent, stronger filmmakers.

The protagonists in my last two films have been a school shooter and a desperate romantic; in a sense they were caricatures. In contrast, Johnny is real. He’s fused with depth and complexity, emotion and sentiment, and a charismatic quality that creates a unique bond between the film and each audience member. And in Johnny’s quirky story that confronts our fear of mortality and need for care, we laugh with him, struggle with him, and root for him.

I love comedy. Incorporating humor was important to me and helps address the film’s darker themes from a lighter perspective, uniquely juxtaposing gravitas with comedy. Where better to do this than a funeral home? Without humor in light of death, the mourning process would never end.

The term “student film” usually implies a film made at a college by students under professional supervision. JohnnyGoner fits only one of those criteria: the film was made wholly by high school students from beginning to end, script to score. Writer Jenny Jaffe crafted a thought provoking, funny screenplay with sharp dialogue and creative eccentricities that created the film. Director of Photography Rogier van Beeck Calkoen brought a European eye to this film, paying extra attention to camera movement to help elicit emotion. Composer Trevor Doherty used melody to lead us through Johnny’s story, using instruments from clarinet to cello to an organ fit for a funeral home. No professionals, no adults, no school provided supervision or guidance. This film was an independent film created, developed, and made by students.

We were fortunate to have the film acted by competent and skilled professional actors. The cast came together from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New Orleans. They brought years of experience in film, television, and the theater, as well as passion and commitment to their characters. I feel fortunate to have had such a group participate.

Just as Johnny is growing and learning about life, so are we.

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