Jacqueline Ramirez-Johnston, a recent graduate from the UCLA
School of Theater, Film, Television and Digital Media has decided
to stick with filmmaking for the long run despite the
career’s difficulties.
Her first short film, “Bloodshot,” a cheesy, dark
vampire comedy that touches slightly on the issues of Sept. 11,
2001 helped Ramirez-Johnston learn what could never be taught
through textbooks: the hectic process of finding funding for a
movie.
“There were times when I was very overwhelmed by the
amount of work,” Ramirez-Johnston said. “When you have
no money, you have to do everything yourself, and that means
you’re not only the producer, but you’re every
position.”
For her film, however, many of Ramirez-Johnston’s monetary
burdens were alleviated by her connections. She’s an
entertainment journalist by day and is able to put her connections
there to use for her film work. For example,
“Bloodshot” features actors who worked for free,
including her star, Michael Bailey Smith, who appeared most
recently as a henchman in the Dana Carvey film “The Master of
Disguise.”
With a condensed four-day shooting schedule, Ramirez-Johnston
needed support. Fortunately she was able to turn to her husband,
Dietrich Johnston, for help in directing her films. Together,
they’ve formed their own production company, Fine
Lookin’ Productions, to develop their projects.
Even before taking some film history courses from her community
college before transferring to UCLA, Ramirez-Johnston knew that she
wanted to make her mark in the film industry.
“When you go into a theater, for a few hours you can
disappear into another world,” Ramirez-Johnston said.
“Films that can do that for you, who wouldn’t want to
be involved in making that? And I just loved it and ever since, I
have wanted to be a filmmaker, the only thing that I want to
be.”