Strike Five Films Blog | Jayson Johnson

I Didn’t Get Into the Film Independent Lab — And I’m Still Grateful

9/17/2026

I found out that R.O.G.E.R. & Me was not selected for the 2026 Film Independent Fiction Producing Lab.

Of course, that’s disappointing. You put time into an application, you believe in the project, and you hope the door opens. This time, it didn’t.
But I’m still grateful.

All praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m thankful for the project, thankful for the progress, thankful for every person who has helped me along the way, and thankful that I’m still able to keep going.

For me, filmmaking has always been more than entertainment. It’s part of my ministry. My hope is that through this filmmaking journey, I can spread the gospel of Christ crucified and use the gifts God has given me to reach people in whatever way He allows.

Rejection is part of this path. I’ve been through enough in this industry to know one “no” is not the end of the story. R.O.G.E.R. & Me is still moving forward. The vision is still alive. The work continues.
On to the next door. 🙌🏽

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Jayson Johnson

I’m Jayson Johnson, a Richmond-based filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and founder of Strike Five Films. My work focuses on original stories, overlooked characters, comedy, resilience, and the strange ways people find their way forward. Over the years, my short films have screened at more than 90 film festivals and earned multiple awards. I’ve also worked across film, television, and commercial production, including projects connected to ABC, Amazon, Netflix, Discovery, Sorry to Bother You, Blindspotting, and other Bay Area productions. Right now, I’m developing my first feature film, R.O.G.E.R. & Me, a Richmond-rooted comedy about a young Black coder, a live goldfish, and one very bad day. I’m also working to help activate 530 Macdonald in downtown Richmond as a future creative space for film, arts, events, and community work. This blog is where I’ll share updates on the films, the building, Strike Five Films, and the larger creative work I’m building in Richmond and the Bay Area.

I Didn’t Get Into the Film Independent Lab — And I’m Still Grateful

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