Alfie Johnson may only be 19, but he’s taken the first step to achieve his dream of following in the footsteps of legendary movie directors like Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg.
Currently studying for a degree in filmmaking, the talented teen has created a mini-series that’s a unique take on the superhero genre and he has an intriguing goal – to dispel the myth that we’re all suffering from “Superhero Fatigue”.
Drawing inspiration from unconventional, contemporary superhero shows, like The Boys, Heroes and Misfits, Alfie’s mini-series, called Omnipotent, is already receiving fantastic feedback.
And now he’s calling on his home city of Lichfield and Staffordshire families to watch the series and share it far and wide across social media, to help him dispel the superhero fatigue narrative and achieve his filmmaking dream.
Nottingham Trent University student Alfie, whose passion for storytelling and cinema was evidenced from a young age originally penned the first draft of Omnipotent in 2019, when he was aged just 14,
He said: “The video series is just something I’ve wanted to make for a few years.”
But it wasn’t until he began studying at university in September last year that he found the resources and like-minded peers to bring his vision to life.
“Omnipotent” follows the story of five university students who gain superpowers as a result of a malfunctioning power plant and subsequent government interference.
However, unlike typical superhero tales, Alfie’s series delves deep into the personal lives of its characters, exploring themes of relationships and childhood trauma against the backdrop of their newfound abilities.
He said: “When your average person hears superheroes, they think of formulaic Marvel stories, but my mini-series does something different.
“In a landscape where audiences are beginning to feel ‘superhero fatigue’ I wanted to offer a fresh perspective, showcasing superheroes in a unique and compelling way.”
So far, the feedback for Omnipotent has been predominantly positive, with 70-80% of viewers expressing their enjoyment.
He added: “I just hope people are entertained by it. That’s the main reason I do what I do because I feel an enormous sense of satisfaction just from the ability to entertain people.”
Looking ahead, Alfie dreams of creating films exclusively for online platforms like YouTube. He believes this medium offers the most creative freedom, allowing filmmakers to take on various roles and maintain significant creative control over their work.
Alfie added: “It’s the only way in filmmaking to be in charge of the majority of different job roles and to have the most creative input in your own work, without having to be a big and established name in the film industry.”
