Originally from Minneapolis, LJ Johnson is a writer and director who brings sharp observation and grounded humor to everything she makes.

She was named one of SHOOT Magazine’s Top 30 Directors to Watch in 2021 and appeared on HBO Max’s Project Greenlight as one of ten filmmakers chosen by Issa Rae for the reboot of the iconic series.. In addition to directing commercials, LJ has written and directed award- winning short films and is in the process of getting her first feature off the ground.

Her recent commercial work includes a Super Bowl teaser for Instacart and major campaigns for Royal Kingdom and Quicken—the latter earning her an AICP shortlist nomination for Best New Director.

LJ is known for building grounded, character-driven worlds full of quirk, specificity, and unexpected heart. She’s especially focused on working with actors to bring subtle, nuanced moments to the screen.

Among her growing number of accolades, she was recently the recipient of the “Mom Who Also Directs Award”, which was presented to LJ by her five-year-old daughter in the living room.