November 19, 2025

254. Will Johnston: Originality, Influence and the Proofread Process

53 minutes

This is Will Johnston on new projects, originality, and the moment in a lunge that changed everything.

In this episode, choreographer and director Will Johnston discusses his creative process, artistic influence, and the evolution of his work, from competitive dance beginnings to directing music videos for major artists. We explore:

The choreography of numbness through cathartic movement. How his film "Pepper" explores over-consumption and paralysis, when the body holds chaos and vibration even when it can't move, and what happens to our vessels when the stimulation stops.

Originality, influence, and the proofread process. Whether truly original thoughts exist, how dancers physicalize and remanifest what they see, and the idea of adding a "proofreading" step to creative work

The lunge that sparked everything. That pivotal seventh-grade moment when recreation became serious, when "I should work hard" became a defining thought, and how weight-bearing holds can catalyze life-changing realizations.

Plus, insights on evolving from dancer to director, working with DPs, and bringing technical precision to artistic vision.

This conversation reveals what emerges when we examine our influences honestly, when we create space between inspiration and imitation, and when a single moment of clarity in class becomes the foundation for a global career.

Watch the full episode here.

Show Notes:

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Watch “Pepper”

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