Actress and producer dakota johnson recently made waves at the prestigious Karlovy Vary Film Festival (KVIFF), where she is set to receive the event’s coveted President’s Award. Beyond celebrating her career achievements, Johnson shared compelling insights into her future plans, revealing she is on the cusp of making her feature directorial debut. This move marks a significant evolution for the star, known for roles ranging from indie darlings to major studio productions, signaling a deliberate step into new creative territory while prioritizing a healthy, collaborative work environment.
Stepping Behind the Camera: A Personal Project
Johnson is preparing to direct her first full-length film, a project she describes as profoundly meaningful to her. This isn’t her first time directing; she previously helmed the music video for Coldplay’s “Cry Cry Cry” and the short film “Loser Baby.” However, tackling a feature is a different undertaking, one she says she previously felt unready for due to a perceived lack of confidence.
The catalyst for this shift is her collaboration with Vanessa Burghardt, her co-star from the acclaimed film “Cha Cha Real Smooth.” Johnson speaks glowingly of Burghardt, calling her “an incredible autistic actress.” She explains that her strong protective feelings toward Burghardt and a deep understanding of the film’s specific world have motivated her to direct it herself. Johnson stated emphatically that she “just won’t let anybody else do it,” highlighting the unique personal connection driving this decision. The film is reportedly based on a script written by Burghardt, making the collaboration even more significant.
Championing Healthy Sets Through Production
Johnson’s move into directing aligns closely with her established role as a producer through her company, TeaTime Pictures, launched in 2019 with partner Ro Donnelly. TeaTime focuses on creating projects that are “visually or emotionally provocative,” aiming to offer unique content distinct from much of the mainstream fare available today. A core tenet of the company’s mission is championing female-centric stories featuring complex, nuanced characters – including potential anti-heroes whose motivations, even for questionable actions, are explored with depth.
Being a producer offers Johnson a crucial advantage: the ability to carefully select her collaborators and shape the working environment. This is paramount for her, as she stressed she “can’t waste time on toxic sets anymore.” Defining toxicity, Johnson points to behavior like being mean, condescending, unkind, or unwilling to collaborate. She clarifies that healthy debate and the free exchange of ideas are welcome and even necessary for the creative process, believing the best idea should always win in a non-competitive atmosphere. However, she draws a firm line against personal attacks and negativity. Having been vocal about set issues since a young age, her position as a producer now empowers her to proactively cultivate the positive, fulfilling, and healthy environments she desires, a “perk” she deeply values.
Redefining success in a Changing Industry
Attending KVIFF not just as an honoree but also with two films – Celine Song’s three-hander romance “Materialists,” where she stars alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, and Michael Angelo Covino’s “Splitsville,” which her company TeaTime Pictures produced – Johnson offered her perspective on what constitutes success in the evolving film industry.
She notes that the “barometer for that is shifting.” While box office numbers remain a common metric, she finds them increasingly unpredictable and not the sole measure of a film’s impact, citing the variance in recent releases. Johnson feels excited when people return to theaters, mentioning the strong performance of blockbusters but also celebrating the success of smaller films like “Materialists” relative to their scale.
Ultimately, for Johnson, true success is measured by whether a film is “meaningful to audiences” or if “people felt something” while watching it. Receiving personal feedback from viewers who connect with her work holds significant value. She also adds a practical layer, acknowledging that simply getting a movie finished is a major achievement in the current landscape, given the inherent difficulties in production and securing support for creative visions. Despite the challenges, she believes there is significant value in having movies available, even if she doesn’t think they will “save the world.”
Future Roles and Adaptation Hurdles
Looking ahead in her acting career, Johnson expressed a desire to explore new types of roles. She shared that she’s eager to play a “psychopath” and would also love to star in an “action film,” indicating her openness to diverse projects when the right elements align.
She recently wrapped filming on “Verity,” the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller directed by Michael Showalter, also featuring Josh Hartnett and Anne Hathaway. Returning to a wildly popular book adaptation after the “50 Shades” series, Johnson reflected on the inherent challenges of translating novels to the screen. She noted that books don’t always translate perfectly, as every reader visualizes the story differently.
Johnson praised Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of “The Lost Daughter” as an example where the director successfully infused her unique imagination, soul, and taste into the source material. This approach, she believes, can inspire audiences while potentially also dividing the fanbase, which she views as a positive outcome, sparking conversation. She hopes audiences have a strong reaction, in any direction, to “Verity.” Johnson also teased another exciting project already lined up after “Verity” but could not disclose details, advising observers to “watch this space.” Her commentary also touched upon a broader criticism of Hollywood’s current reliance on remakes and reboots, suggesting audiences crave fresh, original stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What project is Dakota Johnson directing for her feature debut?
Dakota Johnson is preparing to direct her first feature film, which she describes as being very close to her heart. This project is a collaboration with actress Vanessa Burghardt, who previously co-starred with Johnson in “Cha Cha Real Smooth.” The film is reportedly based on a script written by Burghardt, and Johnson feels particularly compelled to direct it due to a protective feeling towards Burghardt and a clear vision for the story’s world.
Why is Dakota Johnson emphasizing avoiding “toxic sets”?
Dakota Johnson is stressing the importance of avoiding “toxic sets” because, as a producer and artist, she no longer wants to waste time in environments that are not fulfilling, healthy, or fun. She defines toxic sets as those with mean, condescending, or unkind individuals, or people unwilling to collaborate. Being a producer through her company, TeaTime Pictures, allows her the significant benefit of choosing her collaborators and fostering positive, collaborative environments from the outset.
How does Dakota Johnson measure success in the film industry?
Dakota Johnson believes the definition of success in filmmaking is currently shifting. While acknowledging metrics like box office performance, she finds them less reliable than they once were. For her, success is ultimately measured by the impact a film has on its audience – whether it is meaningful to them or if they “felt something” while watching it. She also views simply getting a movie made and completed as a significant success, given the challenges inherent in the production process today.
Looking Ahead
Dakota Johnson’s appearance at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival underscores a pivotal moment in her career trajectory. By stepping into the director’s chair for a project deeply personal to her, championing healthy and collaborative production environments through TeaTime Pictures, and reflecting thoughtfully on the evolving nature of cinematic success, Johnson is clearly defining her path forward in the industry. Her willingness to discuss candidly the challenges and joys of filmmaking, coupled with her diverse acting aspirations and ongoing production work, paints a picture of an artist intent on creating work that resonates and fostering the positive conditions necessary for that art to flourish.
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