A local dynamic duo of director and producer have taken the independent film industry by storm.

Riding the wake of having their second film picked up by a distributor, director Richard Johnson, of Abingdon, and producer Corey Williams, of Edgewood, are making waves in the field of independent film, considered by many to be among of the most competitive fields in the nation.

“It’s all just been absolutely amazing,” said a laughing Johnson, who is the founder of Joystick Films, a Maryland-based film and television production company.

“It’s been one good thing after another, so we’re kind of just hoping to keep the ball rolling.”

Johnson, 35, a 1992 Aberdeen High School graduate, explained how he slowly arrived at writing and directing his first major successful independent film.

“I did music for years; I worked at the Hit Factory in New York for years,” said Johnson, whose experience included working with music celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Brittany Spears and Nsync.

Johnson, who has also provided original music for McDonald’s, Burger King, Smirnoff Ice, Boost Mobile and others, eventually decided to move his career in another direction.

“I worked the sound and everything, and eventually I said ‘I’m good with the music thing, so why not take it to the visual level,’ and that’s where it all stemmed from.”

Starting from the ground up, Johnson started out directing low budget spots “here and there,” and eventually moved up to music videos.

“Corey convinced me to try a narrative project instead of just music videos,” Johnson said, followed by a sheepish laugh. “Needless to say, I was more than a little nervous.”

After an unremarkable first film, Johnson admits, he began researching and writing the script for “Torn.”

“My inspiration for the film was from a true story that was based out of St. Louis,” Johnson explained. “I read about it and I thought it was pretty intense, and I knew that the type of film hadn’t been done before.”

Johnson used what he had learned and simplified the story to make for a good film.

“I took those elements and kind of simplified them — the original story was very vicious, and I didn’t want to go there with it,” Johnson said, “so I simplified it, and wrote a story that everyone would really like.”

The plot of “Torn” is about a successful, powerful man who lives his life selfishly, and how his deceit and callousness end up affecting those around him.

“The main character is Torn Pettigrew, a successful businessman,” Johnson said. “He is more or less a womanizer — the type of guy that knows how to get what he wants from people, and especially women — and very promiscuous, and because he doesn’t use protection, it ends up catching up to him.”

Pettigrew ends up catching HIV, “and instead of educating himself on the HIV process, he turns to more savage acts,” Johnson said. “He ignores the outcome of his destructive behavior, and refuses to tell anyone around him, feeling that he’s going to die anyway.”

The film was shot in Aberdeen, was completed in November 2008, and features many areas known throughout the area.

“It took two months to shoot it, and it was shot completely in Aberdeen,” Johnson said. “We used spots like the Eagle Diner in Aberdeen and the Johnson Family Pharmacy on West Bel Air Avenue. We really gave it a gritty and local feel.”

In May 2009, the film was shown at the Reginald F. Lewis Fill Festival, after Johnson and Williams submitted a copy of the film to the Creative Alliance, a Baltimore organization dedicated to local filmmakers.

Johnson said it was stroke of good luck that things took off after that.

“One of the people at the Creative Alliance gave a copy of “Torn” to one of the people a the film festival,” a laughing Johnson said. “There was a lot of handing off, but the end result was that I was contacted by them and asked if I wanted to have it shown at the festival, and of course I said ‘absolutely.’”

“Torn” debuted to a sellout crowd, and the response resonated loudly with Johnson and Williams.

“The feedback was great — everyone loved it,” Johnson exclaimed. “We signed autographs and everything. The film received a great review; it was a really, really nice experience.”

After distributing copies of the film to venues across the country, the film was picked up by Rsquare Films, an independent production company, in August 2009, and was officially purchased in December 2009.

The feeling, Johnson said, was “unbelievable.”

“Right then, I knew I was a director,” Johnson said. “I felt like ‘OK, right now I know I can direct feature films.’”

Williams, 32, a 1996 Joppatowne High graduate and the producer of “Torn,” shared a similar sentiment.

“I was thinking ‘whoa, here we go!’” Williams said. “It was vindication for the hard work we put in.”

Johnson has high praise for the company that recognized his work.

“Rsquare Films has been great to us since meeting up with them,” Johnson said. “They’ve been very accommodating to us, and they loved the film, so now they’re interested in everything we do. They’re a great company.”

With one success in the bag, Johnson and Williams have continued to produce their brand of independent films.

“Our next feature was ‘Can’t Complain,’ a short romantic comedy which will be shown this month at the Tomi Film Festival in Dallas,” Johnson said. “It’s already been seen in L.A. and Australia,” and was recently submitted into the Maryland Film Festival, to be held in May.

The duo also recently had a successful movie premier of their third film, “Razorblade City,” at the Landmark Theatre in Baltimore City.

Future plans include “King of Baltimore,” which will be shot in March and will premiere in late June at Landmark Theatre, and “The Registry,” their fourth feature, which has already been written, and will be shot later in the year.

Through the wild ride of the independent film business, Johnson credits the talented individuals he works with, and his producer and partner, Williams.

“I really couldn’t do without Corey,” Johnson said. “He’s very, very valuable — he’s put so much stuff together.”

“My job is basically to bring the project together — to see how many people are going to be needed in the cast, to look or make sure I’m looking at the script and to making sure the continuity is there,” Williams said.

“Richard and I met in 2005, as we both work for the Writing Distribution Center in Aberdeen,” said Williams, who has worked at the center for 11 years. “We got to talking one day as he was doing music videos for independent artists and I was writing screenplays on the side.”

“We got together and I said ‘hey, why don’t we try to do a film together. It can’t be that much harder than a music video, right?’”

Willams also spoke of the importance of funds.

“Funding for the film is a big part of it, involving things making sure the resources are all allocated, people are getting paid and actors are taken care of,” Williams said. “You have to stay on top of things like that, and watch your budget.”

Only when the film is completed does Williams’ real work begin.

“The biggest thing is that once the project is out there, to advertise it,” Williams explained. “In the case of ‘Torn,’ the hardest thing to do was to find a publisher. It’s hard because no matter what kind of film you make, it’s about a 50-50 shot to get it noticed, especially at this level.”

Williams submits all of their films to venues, movie organizations and film festivals across the country.

“It’s hit or miss, but it’s important not to give up, because I want our products to be available to the public,” Williams said.

During short breaks between productions and in between films, Williams also writes screenplays and takes notes of the bigger, mainstream producers.

“I’m always watching guys like Spielberg — guys who are ahead of me,” Williams said. “You can rest in this business, but you really can’t at the same time. You have to keep preparing.”

Despite the growing success of their short and full-length features, Williams isn’t allowing his head to grow too large.

“For me, it actually gives me motivation for the next project,” Williams laughed. “It helps me to set the bar higher for the next film. For every project you do, you want to do a film that is more epic, which means a bigger budget, more actors, better actors, bigger and better costumes... All of that means a bigger responsibility.”

It is a responsibility, however, he enjoys taking on.

“I would never want to do a film and be at the same playing field as I was on the last one,” Williams explained. “I always want to increase. It’s definitely a fulfillment, being able to complete a project from start to finish.”

Through all of the work, Williams insists that he’s living a dream

“I’ve wanted to write screenplays and produce films since I was a kid,” he said. “I feel privileged to not only have had that vision that I did back when I was a kid, but also to be able to love their what they do.”

“To actually take a hobby or a passion and to get paid doing it, I can’t think of anything else better than that.”

For more information on all of Johnson and Williams’ work, visit www.goldentigerproductions.com.

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