About Me

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

Bio

Jason R. Johnston is an American multi-award-winning cinematographer, director, producer, and editor.

A multi-faceted independent filmmaker since childhood, Jason began his 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 short films, Jason shot his first feature film as Director of Photography in 2010.

By May 2024, not including corporate or broadcast projects, Jason has worked on 113 filmed projects: 11 feature films (8 as director of photography); 22 short films (directed 5 of them, and was DP on all), 60 music videos (director: 45, DP: all), and competed in 20 timed filmmaking competitions (director: 9, DP: 18), among which several became official selections of their respective festivals, won awards (6 times for his cinematography), and gathered critical recognition at film festivals around the world.

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.

Jason is currently working on his first feature film as director.

Jason on IMDb
Fifty Oars Motion Pictures LLC
Jason R. Johnston Photography

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

Photos

Memberships

Nashville Filmmakers SocietyDecember 2021 — present
Rio Grande Valley Filming Society / RGV FiSoMay 2017 — present
Harlingen Chamber of CommerceJune 2016 — 2017
Friends of the American Society of CinematographersJune 2010 — 2011

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