Broderick Johnson
Broderick Johnson is an American film producer, and co-founder and Co-CEO of Alcon Entertainment, alongside his producing partner Andrew Kosove. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2009 film The Blind Side.
Early life
A graduate of Montgomery, Alabama's Sidney Lanier High School, Johnson met partner Andrew Kosove while the two attended Princeton University as undergraduates. An economics major, Johnson was headed to Wall Street, but shared with Kosove a love for movies and an interest in filmmaking. Ultimately, the two involved themselves in a low-budget production, which was sufficient to convince them that their passion for films was potentially viable.[1]
Eventually, Johnson took a position at Salomon Brothers in New York, where he worked as a quantitative analyst in the equity derivatives group. Still, he and Kosove continued to discuss making films, and they ultimately moved to Los Angeles to pursue their dream.[1]
Career
Soon after, the two were introduced to FedEx chairman and founder Frederick W. Smith. Johnson and Kosove took the opportunity to present Smith with a 221-page proposal suggesting that an independent film company, backed by a capitalized individual or company, and aligned with a major studio for an exclusive distribution arrangement would, applying their reasoned methods, reap profits on copyrighted assets over a set period of time. Smith liked what he read.[1]
Ultimately, Smith chose to partner with Johnson and Kosove in the finance, development and production company Alcon Entertainment. The two producers set up a small apartment "office" they rented by the week, and later a "real" office after launching their first project, Lost & Found, a failure at the box office and a momentary setback for the young producers. However, the second film they produced, My Dog Skip, was released soon after and earned them their first bona fide success, and Smith's admiration for their persistence and business sense.[1]
Since then Alcon has established two long-term, exclusive distribution agreements with Warner Bros, the most recent set in motion in mid-2008, calling for the producers to deliver 15 completed films over the course of five years. The first project covered in the agreement was the hit romantic comedy P.S. I Love You. Essence listed Johnson third behind Will Smith and Tyler Perry in their "2009 Power List of the most influential African American agents, producers and directors in Hollywood."[1]
Johnson most recently produced Dolphin Tale, a 3-D family film starring Morgan Freeman, Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd and Kris Kristofferson. Dolphin Tale has become the first film to open in wide release at the number three slot and then become number one in its second weekend. Johnson also produced The Book of Eli alongside Kosove and producer Joel Silver. The film was directed by the Hughes brothers and starred Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis. Other films produced by Alcon Entertainment include My Dog Skip, Insomnia, and 16 Blocks.
Alcon's next release was Joyful Noise, a music-driven comedy starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, released January 13, 2012.
On February 2, 2010 Johnson became the third African-American producer to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, joining Quincy Jones and Lee Daniels. His film The Blind Side starring Academy Award-winner Sandra Bullock has earned over $200 million at the box-office.
In 2015, The Hollywood Reporter named Johnson on its "30 Most Powerful Film Producers in Hollywood" list.[2]
Personal life
Johnson lives in Los Angeles and is married to Jennifer Johnson. They have three children.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Class Notes – June 7, 2000
- ↑ "The 30 Most Powerful Film Producers in Hollywood". The Hollywood Reporter. April 13, 2015.