Johnathan Brownlee

{{short description|Canadian–American film producer, director and screenwriter}}

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| image = Johnathan Brownlee Photo by John Strange, Selig Polyscope.jpg

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| caption = Johnathan Brownlee at the 2019 Dallas International Film Festival

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| nationality = Canadian-American

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| occupation = Producer, director, writer

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Johnathan Brownlee is a Canadian–American film producer, director and screenwriter. He co-produced the feature films Decoding Annie Parker (2013), Three Days in August (2016), Occupy, Texas (2016), Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018), The Standoff at Sparrow Creek (2018), and Satanic Panic (2019).

Early life

Brownlee attended Hofstra University from 1986 to 1990, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He attended Brandeis University from 1990 to 1993, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2016/winter/class-notes/GRD1990s.html|title=Graduate Students: 1990s|website=Brandeis Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}}

Career

= Film and television career =

Brownlee's first feature film was the 2013 drama Decoding Annie Parker, which covers the story of Annie Parker and the discovery of the BRCA1 breast cancer gene.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/decoding-annie-parker-hamptons-review-648052|title=Decoding Annie Parker: Hamptons Review|last=DeFore|first=John|date=October 12, 2014|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://mavendoctors.io/women/mind-body-wellness/decoding-annie-parker-AkUpY2IyTUuCoTcqJIAMjg/|title=Decoding Annie Parker|website=Women's Health|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

In 2016, he was executive producer and producer of the film Occupy, Texas, the story of a disillusioned Occupy Wall Street protester who must return to Texas to care for his two teen sisters and the family estate after the death of their parents.{{Cite web|url=https://pressreader.com/@nickname12540337/csb_kvCtt2Mq9-_j2Ldz57euj5cBqRUmeIE_domu-eANx2cRz2WxcBkQVlVT44F7LvAq|title=You can go home again: 'Occupy, Texas' star taps friends and family to help with hometown shoot|last=Vognar|first=Chris|date=August 3, 2014|via=PressReader|access-date=2019-07-12}} Brownlee wanted the film to be "an indigenous project, a Dallas project", and shot almost exclusively in Dallas, with a one-day exception in New York City.{{Cite web|url=http://dallas.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/07-15-14-occupy-texas-movie-filmed-on-location-dallas/|title=Dallas plays supporting role alongside Janine Turner and Peri Gilpin in Occupy, Texas|last=Harris|first=Whitney|date=July 14, 2014|website=CultureMap Dallas|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}} He was director, executive producer, producer, and a writer of the film Three Days in August.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/barry-bostwick-mariette-hartley-three-days-in-august-1201608969/|title=Barry Bostwick, Mariette Hartley Starring in 'Three Days in August' |last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2015-10-03|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-07-02}} The film premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival in April 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/03/dallas-international-film-festival-unveils-official-selections-including-weiner-and-other-people-61917/|title=Dallas International Film Festival Unveils Official Selections, Including 'Weiner' and 'Other People'|last=Erbland|first=Kate|date=2016-03-03|website=IndieWire|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}} and had its international premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival in August 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://alphauniverse.com/stories/3-days-in-august-chosen-for-montreal-world-film-festival/|title=3 Days in August Chosen For Montreal World Film Festival|website=Sony {{!}} Alpha Universe|language=en-us|access-date=2019-10-09}} The film had a limited national theatrical release through the Dallas-based Studio Movie Grill chain in December 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/living/article117701648.html|title='Three Days in August' counts on new avenues of exposure|last=Darling|first=Cary|date=November 29, 2016|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}{{Cite web|url=http://cqrcengage.com/aca/app/document/17375171?0|title=Made in Mineral Wells movie 'Three Days in August' opens in theaters|website=cqrcengage.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}} Brownlee was also an executive producer on the horror comedy film Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/thomas-lennon-udo-kier-puppet-master-the-littlest-reich-1202015896/|title=Thomas Lennon to Star in 'Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich' (EXCLUSIVE)|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2017-03-25|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-06-27}}

In 2018, Brownlee was a producer for The Standoff at Sparrow Creek, a film about a reclusive former cop who must investigate fellow militia members as suspects in a mass shooting at a police funeral. The film had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by RLJE Films.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tiff-thriller-standoff-at-sparrow-creek-lands-at-rlj-1142078|title=Toronto: 'The Standoff at Sparrow Creek' Thriller Lands at RLJ|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|date=August 11, 2018|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}} In 2019, he was co-executive producer for Satanic Panic, a comedy horror film. Shot in Dallas, the film centers on a pizza delivery girl who delivers food to a group of socialite Satanists who plan to use her as a virgin sacrifice. The film was released in September 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://hellhorror.com/movies-6566/Satanic-Panic.html|title=Satanic Panic (2019) - New Movie|website=HellHorror.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-12}}

In 2020, streaming platform CMAX.TV added to its lineup 26 past episodes of Johnathan Brownlee's atHome, an original home renovation series written and produced by Brownlee that aired on Canadian television in 2002-2003.

Brownlee announced in December 2022 plans for the project, The Will Rogers Story, in partnership with 1883 actor Eric Nelsen.{{Cite web |last=Montoya |first=Stephen |date=2022-12-13 |title="The Will Rogers Story" is currently in the development stages |url=https://fwtx.com/api/content/cdb32be0-7b12-11ed-bf28-12b3f1b64877/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=Fort Worth Magazine |language=en-us}}

= Nonprofit organizations =

In 2017, Brownlee was named CEO and President of the nonprofit organization Dallas Film Society and Executive Director of the Dallas International Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://festworks.com/2017/10/05/film-festival-news-filmmaker-and-industry-veteran-jonathan-brownlee-takes-over-as-ceo-for-dallas-film-society-and-the-dallas-international-film-festival/|title=FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: Filmmaker and industry veteran Johnathan Brownlee takes over as CEO for Dallas Film Society and the Dallas International Film Festival {{!}} FESTWORKS|last=Wildman|first=John|date=October 5, 2017|website=festworks.com|access-date=2019-06-27}} In 2018, he created the Veterans Institute for Film and Media (VIFM), a program of Dallas Film that prepares veterans for careers in film and media production through education, mentorships, and job placements.{{Cite web|url=https://www.veteransnewsreport.com/2019/02/21/the-veterans-institute-for-film-media-invites-veterans-to-apply-for-next-session-of-film-basic-training/|title=The Veterans Institute for Film & Media Invites Veterans to Apply for Next Session of Film Basic Training – Veterans News Report|last=Allen|first=John|date=February 21, 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-17}} Brownlee founded Dallas Film's second festival, the North Texas Film Festival (NTXFF), which premiered September 26–29, 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2019/09/the-north-texas-film-festival-debuts-this-weekend-in-plano/|title=The North Texas Film Festival Debuts This Weekend in Plano|last=Ogle|first=Scotlyn|date=2019-09-25|website=D Magazine|language=en|access-date=2019-09-27}} and was named Best New Film Festival by Dallas Observer.{{Cite web|title=BEST NEW FILM FESTIVAL: North Texas Film Festival (NTXFF) {{!}} Best of Dallas® 2020: Your Key to the City|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/best-of/2020/arts-and-entertainment/best-new-film-festival-11945862|access-date=2020-09-25|website=Dallas Observer}}

Awards and honors

Brownlee received a Leo Awards Best Host – Information Series honor in 2003 for his television show, Johnathan Brownlee's atHome. He received five Leo Award Nominations, including Best Lifestyle Series, Best Writing – Lifestyle Series, Best Information Series, Best Screenwriting – Information Series, and Best Host – Lifestyle Series.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leoawards.com/2012/2003_winners.html|title=Leo Awards, 2003 Winners|website=www.leoawards.com|access-date=2019-06-28|archive-date=2013-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213060943/http://www.leoawards.com/2012/2003_winners.html|url-status=dead}}

In 2020, Brownlee received a Business Council For The Arts Obelisk Award nomination for "Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader".{{Cite web|date=2020-09-24|title=Business Council For The Arts 2020 Obelisk Awardees, Finalists And Other Deets Revealed|url=https://mysweetcharity.com/2020/09/business-council-for-the-arts-2020-obelisk-awardees-finalists-and-other-deets-revealed/|access-date=2020-10-09|website=My Sweet Charity|language=en-US}}

In 2021, the "Mi Vida" campaign created and directed by Brownlee for Four Corners Brewing Company/Constellation Brands received 14 Telly Awards: four Gold Tellys, seven Silver Tellys, and three Bronze Tellys.{{Cite web |title=Winners |url=https://www.tellyawards.com/?s=Torfoot+films |access-date=2021-05-25 |website=Telly Awards |language=en-US}}

In 2022, the "Mi Vida" campaign created and directed by Brownlee for Four Corners Brewing Company/Constellation Brands received 18 Telly Awards: six Gold Tellys, seven Silver Tellys, and five Bronze Tellys.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2023 |title=Winners |url=https://www.tellyawards.com/?s=Torfoot&filter=all |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=Telly Awards |language=en-US}}

In 2023, Brownlee received 5 Telly Awards: one Gold Telly, three Silver Tellys, and one Bronze Telly for crating and directing projects for the San Antonio Holocaust Museum and the short film, "(S)hit Squad."

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable" \|+Film !Year !Title !Director !Writer !Producer !Notes !Ref.
rowspan="2" \|2013 \|Southside \|{{no}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Short film \|
Decoding Annie Parker \|{{no}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Executive producer \|
rowspan="2" \|2016 \|Occupy, Texas \|{{no}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Executive producer and producer \|
Three Days in August \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|Executive producer and producer \|
2018 \|Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich \|{{no}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Executive producer and producer \|
2018 \|The Standoff at Sparrow Creek \|{{no}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Producer \|
2019 \|Satanic Panic \|{{no}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Co-executive producer \|
2022 \|(S)hit Squad \|{{yes}} \|{{no}} \|{{yes}} \|Executive producer and producer \|
2022 \|Brewmaster:In the Beginning \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|Executive producer and producer \|

class="wikitable sortable"

|+Film

!Year

!Title

!Director

!Writer

!Producer

!Notes

!Ref.

rowspan="2" |2013

|Southside

|{{no}}