Brian D. Johnson / photo by Marni Jackson
BDJ Films is a production company created by writer and filmmaker Brian D. Johnson, longtime arts writer and film critic for Maclean’s. In 2015 he produced and directed Al Purdy Was Here, a documentary feature about a legendary Canadian poet, starring Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, Michael Ondaatje, Bruce Cockburn, Sarah Harmer and Tanya Tagaq. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, the film screened in over 70 towns and cities, aired on CBC’s Documentary Channel, and toured international festivals. It’s now available to stream or download on iTunes Canada.
This site is devoted to Brian’s work behind the camera, professional and amateur. His videos available for streaming on the site include:
• two Bravo!FACT short films, Tell Me Everything (2006) and Yesno (2010);
• an archive of DIY short films and video reportage, with interviews ranging from Leonard Cohen backstage to Penélope Cruz & Pedro Almodóvar in Cannes;
• all 10 editions of the TFCA montage, featured at the Toronto Film Critics Association‘s annual awards gala — as the TFCA’a former president, Brian created the gala, which is home to the $100,000 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award;
• galleries of BDJ’s photographs, from Cannes to Oaxaca.
From ‘Al Purdy Was Here’ / photo by John Reeves
From ‘Yesno,’ featuring magician David Ben
From ‘Tell Me Everything’ (2006) featuring dancer Andrea Nann
BDJ FILMS 