Filmmaker Patrick Read Johnson (bottom right) will be our guest tonight on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, when we talk about his movie 5-25-77. The opening of “Star Wars” on May 25, 1977, was a watershed moment for Johnson, already a teenager obsessed with “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Planet of the Apes,” and “Jaws,” as evidenced by his own home movie spin-offs.
The compulsion led him to Hollywood, where he actually got to meet special effects legend Douglas Trumbull, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” era Steven Spielberg, and John Dykstra, whose revolutionary effects for “Star Wars,” at the time still being created, would change the industry forever. Johnson became one of the first people outside of Dykstra’s Industrial Light and Magic to be shown a rough cut of the movie.
After that, there was no looking back. Johnson returned to carve out a career for himself as a writer, director, producer, visual effects artist, and sometimes actor. (He plays his own dad in this autobiographical film.)
Unfortunately, he had to reschedule from January because of connectivity issues, but now all systems are “go” for a jump to light speed with Patrick Read Johnson. Any kid who could figure out “2001: A Space Odyssey” could grow up to answer anything. So bring your questions to the comments section, when we livestream on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Friday evening at 7:30 EST!
https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner
Trailer for Johnson’s “5-25-77”

Leave a Reply