Patrick Read Johnson’s long-awaited 5-25-77 has finally been released to the general public. Production began back in 2004 for Johnson’s autobiographical passion project that follows a teenage Johnson growing up in rural Illinois, falling in love, and becoming the first fan of Star Wars: A New Hope before its May 25, 1977 release. After 18 years of perseverance, the film had a limited theatrical debut and was released on DVD, Blu-ray, and Video On Demand on November 22, 2022.
In 2013, the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival was provided the opportunity to showcase a work-in-progress screening of the film, followed by a near 60-minute Q&A with filmmaker Patrick Read Johnson. In addition to discussing the process of bringing the film to life, reflecting on his youth, and the various struggles of independent filmmaking, Johnson provided encouragement to up-and-coming filmmakers with clear, honest words of caution.
“If you don’t have to be [a filmmaker], you shouldn’t even try. Because if you just think it would be fun to try being a filmmaker, please… do something else. Anything else. It’s too difficult.” Johnson suggested filmmakers prepare for the hardest job they’ve every had. “In order to succeed in anything, but especially film, you’ve got to just go farther than the next guy. You’ve got to try, anyway.”
Now that the film has been released, Johnson has been very active in promoting the film – especially on social media. He continues to be very genuine and transparent about the process, and in doing so continues to educate audiences and filmmakers alike on the reality. Distribution is exciting and uplifting in achieving recognition and validation for your work, but it is often a vulnerable and dissappointing period of time for independent filmmakers.
“While I am so grateful for you appreciating the film itself… I would like you to also appreciate that it cost me 18 years of my life, the loss of my house, a divorce, all the money I had in the world, plus all of my retirement pension fund, to complete it,” Johnson expressed to fans in a Facebook post comment on December 10.
“I would be very grateful to you, and everyone else out there, to ask that, out of empathy, and respect, for artists everywhere (we are rarely paid enough to get by anyway) to please support us by actually buying, or, at the very least, renting the film when you decide to share it with others, or even to just watch it again.”
