Johnathan Brownlee is a Canadian–American
film producer
A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, di ...
,
director and
screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
. 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
Hofstra University is a private university in Hempstead, New York. It is Long Island's largest private university. Hofstra originated in 1935 as an extension of New York University (NYU) under the name Nassau College – Hofstra Memorial of Ne ...
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.
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.
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. 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. He was director, executive producer, producer, and a writer of the film ''
Three Days in August.'' The film premiered at the
Dallas International Film Festival in April 2016 and had its international premiere at the
Montreal World Film Festival in August 2016. The film had a limited national theatrical release through the Dallas-based
Studio Movie Grill
Studio Movie Grill is an American dine-in movie theater chain based in Dallas, Texas. The company's theaters feature a bar and lounge area, with meals that are served in the lounge area or at the theater seat before and during the movie.
History ...
chain in December 2016. Brownlee was also an executive producer on the horror comedy film ''
Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich.''
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. 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.
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
William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...
Story'', in partnership with
''1883'' actor
Eric Nelsen
Eric Nelsen (born June 26, 1991) is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning American actor and producer. He is known for his work as an actor in the television series ''1883''. On stage, Nelsen portrayed Brett Sampson in the original Broadway production ...
.
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. 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. Brownlee founded Dallas Film's second festival, the North Texas Film Festival (NTXFF), which premiered September 26–29, 2019, and was named Best New Film Festival by
''Dallas Observer''.
Awards and honors
Brownlee received a
Leo Awards
The Leo Awards are the awards program for the British Columbia film and television industry. Held each May or June in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the Leo Awards were founded by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British C ...
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.
In 2020, Brownlee received a Business Council For The Arts Obelisk Award nomination for "Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader".
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.
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.
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
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brownlee, Johnathan
Film producers from Texas
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Hofstra University alumni