Biography

Jason R. Johnston is an American multi-award-winning freelance independent filmmaker; specializing as a cinematographer, film director, producer, editor, and colorist.

The Story So Far

A multi-disciplined artist since childhood, Jason began his filmmaking career in the television advertising industry in 1997, producing thousands of regional commercials for small businesses in southern Texas. Transitioning to feature-length films in 2007, Jason began work as a unit stills photographer, then camera assistant, then camera operator, on a few low-budget feature films. Progressing to cinematography in 2009 and working on several indie short films, Jason eventually shot his first feature-length film, as the director of photography, in 2010.

A native Texan, Jason resides near Nashville, Tennessee, where he works as a full-time freelance cinematographer, producer, and director of independent films, music videos, corporate documentaries and branding films, commercial and industrial advertising, and social media and broadcast television content. He is currently directing his first feature film.

Professional Stats and Recognition

By October 2026, not including commercial, corporate, private, or broadcast projects, Jason has worked on 151 filmed projects: 13 feature films (DP of 10); 34 short films (director of 5, DP of 31), 82 music videos (director of 60, DP of all), and competed in 22 timed filmmaking competitions (director of 9, DP of 20). Many projects Jason has worked on became official selections, won awards in categories besides cinematography, and garnered critical recognition at film festivals around the world.

For his cinematographic work alone, Jason has earned 7 awards, plus 1 honorable mention, and was a nominee for 6 others — a total of 13 nominations since 2008.

Links

Jason R. Johnston – Director of Photography
Jason R. Johnston Photography
Fifty Oars Motion Pictures LLC (his cinema and video production company)
Jason on IMDb

Photos

Jason filming “Till My Last Breath” October 2025.

Jason filming “Me and You and Miami” September 4, 2025 in Miami Beach FL

Jason filming “Me and You and Miami” September 1, 2025 in Miami Beach FL

Jason filming “You and Me and Miami” in 2025.

Jason working as director of photography on the Viking action film “Gungnir” in Tennessee, February 2024.

Jason sizing up a potential shot on the set of period western feature film “Killin’ Jim Kelly” in Texas, April 2023.

Filming feature-length period western film “Killin’ Jim Kelly” in Texas, April 2023.

Filming “For Mothers Day” in Nashville, April 2022.

Filming “Ainsley Costello: Little Sister” in Nashville, February 2022.

My Sony PXW-FS7 Mark II and full cinema package including wireless video transmission, on-camera monitor plus EVF, wireless follow focus, 4×5.65″ matte box with filtration, 15mm LWS rod support, classic Sachtler fluid head, and set of T2.1 PL mount cinema lenses. You can catch a glimpse of the director at video village on the bottom left corner of the picture. Also, a glimpse of my full LED lighting package on the right.

Self portrait, 2020.

Me recording STISD RSA students working with one of their robots. BTS photo by Jacky at STISD.

I’m trying to keep up with the RSA football players while framing the shot, keeping it in focus, and not dying.

I’m on the floor getting a shoe’s POV of the ladies in a huddle.

Filming “Ribbons” in 2019.

Behind the scenes recording interviews at Bridge Community Church.

Me and my tools: Sony PXW-FS7 Mark II, Panasonic AJ-DVX200, Canon EOS 6D, Fujifilm X100F, and DJI Mavic Pro (July 2018).

FS7 II in 2019.

Interview filming in 2018.

Filming “Piper” in 2017.

Filming “Ingress” in Alaska, October 2014.

Memberships

Nashville Filmmakers Society	December 2021 — present
Rio Grande Valley Filming Society / RGV FiSo	May 2017 — present
Harlingen Chamber of Commerce	June 2016 — 2017
Friends of the American Society of Cinematographers	June 2010 — 2011

Occasionally, I also do commercial VO work and compose score for film.