It was 12 years ago when I got my first camcorder, a Canon XL1 and a editing computer with Adobe Premier. I felt like I was on top of the world.

I had done "hood movies" with a VHS camcorder and moved up to HI8 when I was in college. But now I was in the ranks with some of the best with the equipment I had. The only problem was I had no clients or nothing to film. So I took action.

The first thing I shot and edited was a short film called "Addiction". This film was about a drug addict taking her last hit. While she was "trippin" she goes into this imaginary world where all she sees is a big field with big black and white sunflowers.

As she continues to walk through the field she feels that this is the most beautiful place and feeling in the world. As she continues to walk she comes across a flower that's in color. She walks up to the flower and puts her face in to smell how wonderful this flower is.

In reality she actually walks into the kitchen, turns the burner on her gas stove and sticks her face in the flames. Very grim, I know. But I created opportunity because I submitted the video to "A Partnership For A Drug Free America".

They loved the video but needed it edited down to 30 seconds for it to air on TV. Unfortunately I was not able to do that but was excited I almost got national airtime for my first professional short film. I felt I was ready for anything.

One day while I was thinking of what I could film next I was watching music videos. I actually witnessed a professional music video air on TV with one of the performance scenes of sync. I said to myself "I can do better".

I started contacting everyone I knew to see who had a CD so I could shoot a music video. Finally after a few days I got a call from a music artists and was able to close the contract even though I had never shot a music video before in my life.

Many years later I have done about 30 music videos, worked on 3 nationally distributed documentaries, worked on 2 TV shows, and interviewed countless celebs.

It does not stop here as I feel this is only the beginning for me and there is more to come so as I gain more knowledge, I will pass it along to you so you can achieve the level of success that I have.

As always to your success!

Jamal "Jag" Johnson