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EJ “Elroy” Johnson IV, M.A.

@thedirector_ej

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Jelly Roll Morton is a narrative short film about an adolescent musician growing up in a traditional New Orleans Catholic Creole home but he is faced with a decision between what’s expected of him and his musical dreams.

Production Companies: @fordhamstories @chateauxrougecinema

Director: Elroy “EJ” Johnson IV @thedirector_ej
Written By: Elroy “EJ” Johnson IV
Executive Producers: Dickey Comeaux @onesweetspot & Elroy “EJ” Johnson IV
Creative Producer: Carly LeDay @carly_leday

Cast:
Young Jelly Roll: Christopher Charles @itschris.irl
Older Jelly Roll: Malique Ward @youknowmalique
Grandmere: Lyttany Whitley @lyttanyw
Man Outside Bar: Alden Simon @aldencsimon
Woman Outside Bar: Dajah McCallon @90scherrieday
Jazz Musician: Devin El-Amin @devin3lamin

Crew:
Script Supervisor: Abhi Kanagala @akan136
Production Designer: Simone Jackson @simone.sdj
Editors: Carly LeDay @carly_leday & PJ Silva @threadsofpj
Composer: KruellaDeRelle @kruelladerelle
Camera Operator: Cameron Gordon @camxgordon
2nd Assistant Camera Operator: Vinicius Silva @vmpsssss
Boom Operator: Shea Stephens @shea.prophecy.stephens
Grip: Jaylon Boone @jayo.cb
Production Assistant: Noah DeBose @deadly_tacoz
BTS Photo: Destiny Morris @dessthevisionary

Special Thanks:
@nolastoryville
@sideshow_props
@oursacredstories

#jellyrollmorton #blackhistory #jazz #neworleans #creole taken in New Orleans, Louisiana by @thedirector_ej

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22 days ago

Stills | Sports Car
This Friday at 3 PM

Featuring:
@elizabethg.achee
@peterrlukinovich
@jasmine.belle.official
@harliemadisonofficial
@kendal_drezins
@thejustinification
@ofjjandrews
@magxiess by @thedirector_ej

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9 months ago

Ça ki té inspiré @thedirector_ej pou réalizé in kourt pòrtré pou Jelly Roll Morton?

Dan zartik-çila, nou kouri dèriyè kaméra-la é parl ak dokimentaris é fotograf li-minm. Lir tou koté nô plas latwal: joujordi.org

Swipe right for English

What inspired @thedirector_ej to produce a short film about Jelly Roll Morton?

In this article, we go behind the camera and speak to the filmmaker himself. Read it all on our website: joujordi.org

Foto par/photos by @thedirector_ej

#louisiana #kourivini #kreyol #louisiane #creole by @thedirector_ej

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6 days ago

BTS Photos of Chris Charles who plays the Young Jelly Roll Morton in the upcoming short film, “Jelly Roll Morton”. The iconic New Orleans Jazz legend’s story is coming to a cell phone near you shortly. Be sure to follow @fordhamstories for the release!

#jellyrollmorton #jazz #neworleansjazz #neworleansfilms #jellyrollmortonfilm taken in New Orleans, Louisiana by @thedirector_ej

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a month ago

It’s the early 1900s. A devout Catholic Creole grandmother waits for her grandson to come home from a late night playing piano in the city’s notorious Storyville neighborhood. A place she knows he has no business being. He believes it’s where his talent belongs.

Jelly Roll Morton is a short vertical film by Elroy “EJ” Johnson IV (@thedirector_ej )coming to a cell phone near you June 2026.

Actors featured in photos:
Young Jelly Roll: @itschris.irl (Christopher Charles)
Grandmere: @lyttanyw Lyttany Whitley taken in New Orleans, Louisana by @thedirector_ej

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a month ago

Jelly Roll Morton is truly a pioneer of Jazz. The music was born in New Orleans and grew in the Storyville neighborhood, but someone had to help carry those sounds across the country, and he was one of the first to do it.

Be sure to follow @fordhamstories to watch the short film, Jelly Roll Morton, coming to a cellphone screen near you June 2026! taken in New Orleans, Louisiana by @thedirector_ej

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a month ago

The next Quinta Brunson has arrived! My debut short film, Allergic Reaction, is coming to life and our GoFundMe is now LIVE! I can’t wait to share this story with y’all — if you’d like to support please consider a donation or sharing the link. Let support black indie filmmakers 🎬❤️🐠

GoFundMe link in bio

#indiefilm #shortfilm #femaledirector #blackfilmmaker #gofundmecampaign by @thedirector_ej

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a month ago

🚨we are LIVE🚨

Our GoFundMe campaign is now LIVE! Independent films such as Allergic Reaction are made possible by the generous help and support of people who believe in it. Every contribution, no matter the size, directly supports the creation of this film and helps us maintain the quality and artistic integrity of the project.

Link in bio! 🐠 by @thedirector_ej

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a month ago

🎬Jelly Roll Morton is a narrative short film about an adolescent growing up in a traditional New Orleans Catholic Creole home but he is faced with a decision between what’s expected of him and his musical dreams.

👉🏾Follow @fordhamstories to view the release of our first verticle short, “Jelly Roll Morton Short.”

Are you ready to see it?

#jellyrollmorton #jazz #blackhistory #neworleans #creole taken in New Orleans, Louisiana by @thedirector_ej

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a month ago

GRW by @royren__ ft. @djx.archive & @piperstringz

Director / DP / Producer | @maxiirosemedia
Creative Producer | @carly_leday
AC | @nesbit.media
Set Design | @onsetready
Lighting Tech | @vmpsssss
Grip & BTS | @camilleocreations
PA | @90scherrieday
BTS | @i.am.kylealexander

Talent |
@itsariajackson
@shvnti.v
@spramineni
@von5tafford

Studio | @channelvivid 🎬

Full video in @royren__ bio ✨

#neworleans #musicvideo taken in New Orleans, Louisiana by @thedirector_ej

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2 months ago

A lil’ 🎬 BTS for the timeline

Thank you to everyone who made this commercial possible 💚🫶🏿✨

📸 | @dyke_hands

Production Co | @chateauxrougecinema
Director | 🙋🏿‍♀️ @carly_leday
Producer | @_meaganemily
1st AD | @m_ragay
Director of Photography | @camxgordon
Gaffer | @alantnguyen_
1st AC | @cinelupiani
2nd AC | @hxram.xo
Production Designer | @lolitaa.jennifer
Grips | @xaria.com_ & Ariana Alaniz
Boom Op | @danielschlomer
BTS Photo | @dyke_hands
BTS Video | @cnelsonsays
PAs | @daniemills, Alvin Edwards III, & @tristram.e.shandy
Stop-Motion Animator | @tristram.e.shandy
Window Display | @tysoncreation
Rentals | @austinmoviegear & @adurofilm

Cast | @emeryjonesy, @rheaganhiggins, @amaryllis_lei,
& @martinsirsese

Extras | @camtheflores, @beingbeauharris, @ljsonfire

Special thanks to @beyondtherental & @doubletroublehtx

#director #creativeproducer #austin #filmmaking #commercial by @thedirector_ej

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5 months ago

Gorillaz is the one band that stays on repeat when I’m editing, taking breaks on set, or just in my own world so it only felt right to showcase them. The energy on set while directing this commercial gave that same mood. 💜

If you enjoyed the BTS and haven’t seen the final result yet, check out the linked reel below. 🎬

Production Co | @chateauxrougecinema
Director | 🙋🏿‍♀️
Producer | @_meaganemily
1st AD | @m_ragay
Director of Photography | @camxgordon
Gaffer | @alantnguyen_
1st AC | @cinelupiani
2nd AC | @hxram.xo
Production Designer | @lolitaa.jennifer
Grips | @xaria.com_ & Ariana Alaniz
Boom Op | @danielschlomer
BTS Photo | @dyke_hands
BTS Video | @cnelsonsays
PAs | @daniemills, Alvin Edwards III, & @tristram.e.shandy
Stop-Motion Animator | @tristram.e.shandy
Window Display | @tysoncreation
Rentals | @austinmoviegear & @adurofilm

Cast | @emeryjonesy, @rheaganhiggins, @amaryllis_lei,
& @martinsirsese

Extras | @camtheflores, @beingbeauharris, @ljsonfire

#creativeproducer #director #filmmaking #austin #behindthescenes taken in Austin, Texas by @thedirector_ej

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5 months ago