Personal details
- Birth Location: Peru, Illinois, USA
- Professions: Cinematographer, Producer, Camera and Electrical Department
Johnny Derango’s not just another name rolling in the credits—he’s the guy behind the lens making the big shots look easy. His work? All over the place. Warner Bros, Paramount, Lionsgate, Disney, Discovery Channel, MTV—you name it, he’s probably lit a scene for them. The dude’s even shot ads for Mandarin Oriental, Nissan, Napster, and a bunch of other big-time brands. In 2018, American Cinematographer Magazine slapped him on their “Rising Stars” list, which, let’s be honest, is kind of a big deal in the film world. But Johnny’s not just hanging out behind the camera. He’s producing, co-producing, heck, sometimes he’s even directing. Most recently, he was both co-producer and director of photography for Lionsgate’s UNSUNG HERO, which hit theaters in April 2024 and landed at #2 opening weekend—ended up pulling $20 million in the US box office. Not bad, right? And in the same month, he dropped “Everyone is Doing Great” on Apple TV with James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti. That show shot straight to #1 in comedy the day it premiered. Season two’s ready and waiting. He’s also the eye behind FLIGHT RISK, a thriller dropping October 2024, directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace. He and Gibson teamed up before on FATMAN. Oh, and he’s a regular with The Nelms Brothers—RED RIGHT HAND, SMALL TOWN CRIME, LOST ON PURPOSE. The critics love his stuff. He splits his time between LA and Chicago, still hustling, still shooting, always making things look good.
Columbia College Chicago’s film program? Oh, it’s a whole vibe. You’re basically thrown into the deep end with cameras, scripts, and that wild rush before deadlines. People come in loving movies, sure, but by the time they’re done, they’ve shot their own shorts, edited until their eyes go square, and argued over the best Tarantino scene at 2 a.m. It’s not just about sitting in class, either—you’re out there lugging gear, scouting weird Chicago alleys for that “perfect shot,” and probably freezing your butt off half the year. And the teachers? Half of them know someone who knows someone, so you’re always hearing wild industry stories. You walk away not just knowing how to make a movie, but how to hustle, improvise, and maybe, just maybe, survive in the film world. Columbia’s film grads? They’ve seen some stuff.
Konidela Ram Charan
Peru, Illinois, USA