Bruce A. Johnson

A 1981 graduate of the Boston University College of Communication, Bruce A. Johnson got his first job in broadcast television at WFTV, an ABC affiliate in Orlando, FL. While there, he rose through the ranks from teleprompter operator to videographer, editor, producer and director of many different types of programming. It was in the early 1980's that he bought his first computer - a Timex/Sinclair 1000 - a device he hated so much, he promptly exchanged it for an Atari 400. But the bug had bitten hard.

In 1987, Johnson joined Wisconsin Public Television in Madison as a videographer/editor, and still works there to the present day. His responsibilities have grown, however, and now include research and presentations on the issues surrounding the digital television transition, new consumer technology and the use of public television spectrum in homeland security. He freelances through his company Painted Post MultiMedia, and has written extensively for magazines including DV and Studio Monthly.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009

GM Pulls The Plug On Ken Burns

I guess we should have seen this coming.

With the tanking of the US auto industry, pullbacks on advertising and charitable giving had to be in the works.  First it was Tiger Woods and Buick parting ways; now we have the announcement that GM, the primary sponsor of Ken Burns’ documentaries for PBS for the last 22 years, would not renew their contract with Burns’ Florentine Films when it expires this year.  (Here’s a New York Times article.)  This wasn’t any surprise to the organization, who knew almost a year ago that their funding was getting yanked.

I interviewed Ken Burns once, during the promotional push for his series “Baseball.”  I set him up in the stands at Milwaukee’s old County Stadium, and he was a great, engaged subject.  He even signed the bill of my cherished Red Sox cap (a relic from my college days at Boston University).  Here’s hoping that new funding is in place or on the way.  I know a lot of documentarians that either dismiss Burns’ style as stodgy, or just envy his success.  No matter - his is a form with much substance, something to be emulated, not brushed off.

(3) Comments • Most recent comments by: ihossion2, kallusahajuun, Jeff Kreines, • Permalink


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