We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Johnny Payne. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Johnny below.
Johnny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
It’s vital to be open to circumstances. I recently spent a month in Peru on a grant, to research the archives of a politician/poet. I did get what I went for. However, in the interim, I began to meet a series of local writers and intellectuals. Among them was a documentary filmmaker, José Huaman. He had been trying to make a documentary film about ritual warfare between two Andean indigenous groups. As we spoke over dinner, he expressed his frustration about not being able to write a fictional script that would expand the parameters into a story. As I listened, I began to reflect how I, a playwright, had been wanting an opportunity to move into screenwriting, but not really wanting to work on spec. I happen to be Spanish-English bilingual and I also speak Quechua, the indigenous language of these warriors. On the spot, I offered to write the script, given that he is good at getting the modest financing he needs. Together, we make a great team, complementing each other’s ability. Now I am reviewing the videos and writings he is sending me, which greatly speeds up my process, given how much work he’s already done. This partnership is forcing me to get up to speed on film screenwriting, which I probably never would have done otherwise.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a novelist, playwright, poet, essayist, librettist, translator, and soon to be screenwriter. I have made my career on being multifarious and adaptable. I couldn’t have made it trying to be only one thing. Writing in multiple genres and forums requires much more development of craft. But over the life of a career, it’s manageable, as one branches off into different pursuits, which in turn keep creativity fresh. You can’t do this if you’re only thinking about making big money or “becoming famous,” whatever that is. My work ethic is always that of a journeyman. This in turn has helped me as an MFA program director and a teacher. I always have something new to teach my students and can offer a great variety of courses or workshops. Versatility has been my friend and ensured that I will never cease to encounter interesting new opportunities.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Yes, I have a strong sense of mission. To me, my work as artist, teacher, mentor, is to help create a strongly ethical ecosystem around the arts. I work at this every day and am careful to inculcate in those who follow my teaching a strong sense of independence of thought and accountability to themselves. It is not unusual for young artists to have a more self-centered approach to success, only thinking of themselves as individuals. It is always my aspiration to awaken in them the ability to look beyond and to be able to stay true to themselves at the same time realizing that what they create can speak powerfully to others. Authenticity is the highest value in this quest. Be true to yourself but also be true and honest with others. Be an individual, but stay aware that there are many like you out there trying to create something beautiful. Make genuine connections with some of those people. You don’t necessarily have to believe in a movement, or accept whatever cliches of virtue happen to be circulating. Those change and the flavor of the year might not be yours. But stay on the hunt for meaningful dialogue with those with whom you share some precepts. Don’t make the lonely business of writing any lonelier than necessary.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is possessing the ability and skill to create at a high level, with a distinctive vision and voice. No amount of money, power, or fame substitutes for that. You have to be able to look back with pride on everything you’ve created. The paycheck gets spent and the art remains. You get famous for a second and then forgotten. Those external things, you can’t ultimately control them. But what you do have control of is your integrity as a writer. There is nothing like picking up a book I wrote years ago and have half forgotten, to reread some pages and be satisfied with them. It goes beyond my individual ego or person. That writing exists in the world, independent of me, and I want to be proud of what I was able to express at that particular time of my career. That’s what it’s all about. The words matter more than me.
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Image Credits
Photos are mine.