John Washburn

I’m a Brooklyn-based writer/director who tells grounded, character-driven stories about flawed people navigating moral gray areas with wit and humor

My path to filmmaking has been a long, serendipitous circle—from making Super 8 movies as a teenager, to touring in bands, to building a career as a creative director at NYC agencies. Across music, design, and commercial production, storytelling has been the through line: shaping emotional experience with precision and restraint.

My narrative shorts have screened and been awarded internationally, and my screenplays have placed in top competitions including the Nicholl Fellowship and Austin Film Festival.

Alongside my narrative work, I direct commercial and branded content for clients like Google, emphasizing performance, clarity, and emotional weight.