TJ Johnson is by far the most talented and incredible pencil artist I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. It was incredible to watch him draw, with precision and artistic style, even with both hands at the same time. His methods of teaching were very enlightening. Every single person that we handed one of his instructional videos to was able to dramatically improve their drawing ability within the hour.
Planning for this infomercial was a challenge. I was tasked with designing the set and given a list of requirements:
- It needs a stage area for TJ, Tracey Gold (from Growing Pains) and Aaron Priceman (later to be the host of the Trikke Scooters infomercials) to be featured while discussing the product and drawing.
- It needs a studio audience.
- It needs an area to feature some incredible artsists, some of which are students of the ABCD instructional videos or students of TJ’s.
- It needs an area to showcase some of TJ’s drawings, and some of his student’s drawings.
- …and by the way, you have to incorporate his 8 foot tall by 240 foot long Guinness World Records 2005, “Largest Pencil Drawing by One Artist” titled One World One Song.
I planned for a 100 foot by 75 foot, 360 degree set, with the One World One Song drawing broken down to 24 foot sections placed around one side and the back of the set at staggered height. Finding the space, in the right budget, was a challenge too. Northstar Studios in Nashville, TN came to the rescue with an available space just large enough to handle it.
Shooting some scenes in the streets of Nashville was a real treat. Being from the Chattanooga area, and having Dove Award winning gospel songwriting and producing team as a sister and brother-in-law, I spent a lot of time in Nashville studios as a kid and I still love it there.
This project didn’t have the funding behind it that TaeBo or Alexis Vogel had, so it presented it’s own set of challenges and it was fulfilling to overcome those challenges.
Enjoy this short sample of the Any Body Can Draw infomercial. The entire program is available on request.
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