Alex R. Johnson is an award-winning writer and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, New York. His critically acclaimed feature film
Two Step premiered at SXSW in 2014 and was named a New York Times Critic’s Pick. A versatile storyteller with a talent for character-driven narratives, Johnson has had multiple screenplays recognized in the industry, including Northeast Kingdom, selected for the prestigious Black List in 2016, and Any Rough Times Are Now Behind You, developed at the Austin Film Society’s Artist Intensive under the mentorship of the late director Jonathan Demme.
Johnson also wrote the screenplay adaptation of Big Bucks, a novel by Shaft creator Ernest Tidyman, for Pascal Pictures and Sony Entertainment. His deep ties to Latin America—his family hails from the Andes of Ecuador, where their century-old dairy farm still operates—inform much of his work’s emotional and cultural texture.
With his debut novel Brooklyn Motto, Johnson brings his cinematic sensibility and noir instincts to the page, crafting a gritty, heartfelt mystery set in the rapidly changing streets of 1990s New York.
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Show Notes and Transcription
Alex R. Johnson Author Interview Summary:
* Alan Petersen hosts the “Meet the Thriller Author” podcast featuring
interviews with mystery and suspense writers.
* Alex R. Johnson, a filmmaker and screenwriter, discusses his debut novel “Brooklyn Motto,” set in 1990s New York City.
* Johnson initially intended “Brooklyn Motto” to be a TV show but shifted to novel writing due to creative freedom and personal interest.
* The novel follows Nico Kelly, a reluctant detective who stumbles onto a murder and a larger mystery.
* Johnson shares his writing process, which involves a “spillage page” for brainstorming and a focus on character dialogue.
* He leverages his film background in his novel writing, focusing on pacing and character development.
* “Brooklyn Motto” explores Johnson’s personal and familial experiences, drawing on his mixed Ecuadorian and Irish heritage.
* Johnson expresses interest in adapting his book back into film or TV, acknowledging the challenges in the current TV industry.
* He advises aspiring writers to overcome imposter syndrome and to study story structure by comparing screenplays with their film adaptations.
* Johnson is active on Instagram and promotes his work, including his film “Two Step,” available on major streaming platforms.
Trailer for Two Step
