LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — For filmmaker Andrew Johnson, having his first movie present on the identical large display the place he as soon as watched motion pictures with buddies is nothing wanting surreal.
“When I reached out to the distributor, I was like, there’s just one theater that I wanna put this in,” Johnson stated. “I grew up going to the night screenings and hanging out with my friends at NCG, so it was just natural to put it there.”
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The “YA end-of-the-world road trip romance,” “After I’m Prepared” is making its hometown debut at NCG Cinema. It’s exhibiting daily till Thursday, Feb. thirteenth. Then, it is going to be accessible to lease beginning Feb.14.
Earlier than working alongside Hollywood expertise like Dermot Mulroney and Lauren Cohan, Johnson’s directing journey started in an artwork class at Lansing Catholic Excessive Faculty.
His former instructor, Mr. Krauss remembers having senior pupil Andrew Johnson in his artwork class first yr instructing.
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“He took it as a blow-off,” stated Krauss. “His first semester, he didn’t realize how gifted he was, how much he loved art, and how much he had an eye for it. By his second semester, he had three classes with me.”
The 2 remained in contact for over a decade and Krauss continues to make use of Johnson’s work for example for present college students on somebody following their goals. Johnson credit Krauss with giving him the boldness to pursue the humanities.
“He really pushed me to be creative and be myself and kind of shut out everything around me,” Johnson stated.
Johnson and his crew filmed “When I’m Ready” in 2022. He stated it was a 19-day shoot throughout 19 completely different places.
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“We were packing up every day and unpacking every morning,” he stated.
Regardless of the challenges of engaged on a restricted funds, Johnson says his group was absolutely dedicated to bringing the imaginative and prescient to life.
Whereas After I’m Prepared was filmed in Los Angeles, one key efficiency got here straight from Lansing— 6 Information anchor Sheri Jones.
“We had a scene that needed a news anchor and Sheri has been a very close family friend for years,” Johnson stated. “She knocked it out of the ballpark.”
With the movie lastly hitting the massive display, Johnson says the journey has been nothing wanting breathtaking.
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“From getting the script to filming it a year and a half later, to now, two and a half years later, having it come out—it’s incredible,” he stated.
He feels particularly excited to share it together with his neighborhood.
“The people here in Lansing have always had my back, and it’s a reason why I love coming back,” he stated.
And on Saturday night time, one particular viewers member can be watching with delight.
“Mr. Krauss will be there on Saturday,” Johnson stated. “I’m very excited for him to see it.”
