Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Asante.
Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Michael Asante, but I’m professionally known as Mickey Johnson. I’m a filmmaker, director, cinematographer, photographer, and creative director from Accra, Ghana.
I started my career in Ghana creating music videos and TV commercials, and over the years I became recognized as one of the top 10 music video directors in Ghana. Photography and visual storytelling have always been a big part of my creative journey.
In 2023, I moved to Philadelphia and started building my career all over again in a new country. Today, I continue to create through filmmaking, photography, and my creative company, Picplus Entertainment
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I came from a family where education was very important, so I initially went to college to study Business Management. But while I was in my second year, I was also developing my identity as a creative and started filming for well-known artists.
Eventually, the opportunities became so demanding that I had to make a difficult decision and leave school to focus on my creative career. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I don’t regret it. I’m actually grateful for how that chapter unfolded because after leaving school, my career really took off. I started working with bigger artists, celebrities, and brands, and it opened doors I never imagined.
I’ve learned that sometimes life takes you down a different path than you planned, and you just have to trust the journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m best known for my music videos, commercials, photography, and visual storytelling. One thing that really defines my style is the way I approach the beginning of a project. I love making my music videos and commercials feel like a movie from the very first scene.
A lot of my music videos start with a skit or a cinematic scene that introduces the characters or sets up a story before the music really kicks in. I grew up watching a lot of movies, so I naturally draw inspiration from films and even fictional stories I create in my head. I like to build that world first, then transition into the performance, energy, and visually striking moments.
That storytelling approach carries into my commercials and photography as well. I’m always thinking about the story, mood, composition, lighting, and emotion, rather than simply creating something that looks good.
I think that combination of cinematic storytelling and strong visual style is what people recognize me for.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I think the film and creative industry is going to continue changing, especially because of AI. There’s definitely been a shake-up, but I don’t think AI is something we should be afraid of.
AI has given people access to creative tools that were once extremely expensive or required a huge production team. You can now experiment, visualize ideas, and create things that might have required a much bigger budget before. I think that’s a good thing.
At the same time, having the tools doesn’t automatically mean having the creative vision. Creativity, storytelling, taste, and the ability to turn an idea into something meaningful are still human qualities. I think the people who learn how to use AI while continuing to develop their own creative voice will have a lot of opportunities.
There will definitely be challenges, especially for creatives who depend entirely on traditional client work, but I believe the industry will eventually find a balance. For me, I’ve always created because it’s something I genuinely love, and I think that passion will continue to matter regardless of how much the technology changes
Contact Info:
- Website: directormickeyjohnson@outlook.com
- Instagram: Mickeyjohnson.art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14t5GrA2xZt/?mibextid=wwXIfr
