Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maximilian Johnsson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Maximilian, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I think most people struggle with imposter syndrome, and I have by no means overcome it completely. But I think a vital step for me that has made it less crippling is trusting that the fact that me loving what I do is enough. If I love what I create, who cares if people think I’m better at it than I think I am or “see through me”? All they’re gonna see is a person who loves what they’re doing with an ounce lower self-esteem than they initially would have guessed. And then on the other hand, if I don’t love what I’m working on, what does it matter if I show people that I’m not the best at it? I find that when you don’t try to pretend like you know more than you do people tend to be very helpful, and when accepting help from people who know more than you about something is how you get better at it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Maximilian Johnsson, I’m born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. Since a few years back I am based in New York City where I run a production company together with Jessica Lausell and Jacob de Guzman-Lawson. The company is called Screwdriver Studio and our home base is the Off-Broadway theater, The Players Theatre, where we produce Shakespeare plays. We are currently two weeks out from opening our most recent production of Macbeth, you can find tickets at: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1181911/prm/TMANIA
We pride ourselves in staying true to Shakespeare’s original text and it’s poetic form, while cultivating it to be best fit for a modern audience. None of our shows are longer than 90 minutes and we usually have a some kind of spin on the classical settings. This time around we’ve been stylistically inspired by Akira Kurozawa’s Throne of Blood and we’ve set The Scottish Play in a Django-esque Wild West.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Self-sufficiency, patience and trust.
I’ve been active in my field since I was 15 years old. I don’t come from a very artsy family, so I’ve very much had to discover the world of theater and film on my own. In the beginning I only wanted to self-produce, then I only wanted to be hired for stage, then only camera, then self-producing and it’s been going around like that ever since, and still is. Ten years into this field though, I feel like those three initial words somewhat sum it up for me.
Self-sufficiency: Don’t expect things to be handed to you (Better be overjoyed when they are than disappointed when they’re not). You also have to learn how to take care of yourself and make sure you don’t crumble under the pressure, there will be a lot of pressure and most often you’ll be the only who can relieve it.
Patience: When you try to build something, be it a brand or a skill or whatever, it takes time. If you just keep your eyes on the goal opportunities will come to you, but they’re not going to fall from the sky at the perfect moment. Sometimes they’re gonna be few and far between, sometimes you’ll get them when you least expect them, but you will get them. So don’t freak out, be patient and remember no opportunity is the end all be all.
Trust: This ties into the previous one. When you work in such a collaborative field as theater or film, you need to trust your team. There’s no room for individualism or competition. The most wonderful stage or film-productions come from people working as a well-oiled machine and in order for that to happen you need to be patient with your teammates. You need to trust that they got your back, just like you have theirs.
Which is also why it’s so important that you make sure to pick your team wisely.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My team is my rock, without them I wouldn’t have half the drive or strength I have today. Like I mentioned in a previous question; one of the most important things when creating is that you can trust the people you work with. No one person can pull an entire production on their back, so you need to surround yourself with people who complete you and who pick up the torch where you fall short.
That’s why it’s so important to pick your team wisely in order to create that safe-space where you can thrive both creatively and as a person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1181911/prm/TMANIA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maximilian.johnsson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550284073979
- Other: The press release for Macbeth: https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Wild-West-Set-MACBETH-To-Open-At-The-Players-Theatre-in-February-20231220
Image Credits
Jacob de Guzman-Lawson
