She’s helmed two short films and two feature length ones, most recently 2019’sTammy’s Always Dying.
It was a pretty cool first job," Johnson tells EW.
“What I was drawn to … [on the] show, I guess, was the cinematography.
Tyler Hoechlin as Clark Kent and Jordan Elsass as Jonathan Kent on ‘Superman & Lois’.Shane Harvey/The CW
Just, how epic.
I was really drawn to that for sure, in watching the first season.
I was like, ‘Oh, this is pretty.'”
Amy Jo Johnson makes her TV directorial debut with Tuesday’s ‘Superman & Lois’.Amanda Edwards/WireImage
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Congrats on your TV directorial debut.
In general, how do you feel about it?
AMY JO JOHNSON:You know, it was incredibly intense and terrifying and amazing experience that I had.
Erik Valdez and Emmanuelle Chriqui on ‘Superman & Lois’.Shane Harvey/The CW
I just took it very seriously.
I read a lot of comic books.
Which ones did you read?
I went out and I got a bunch of Doomsday comic books.
What jumped out at you the first time you read the script for your episode?
I think Todd sent it to me the night before I flew to Vancouver.
Early on I was like, “Can I read anything?
Anything at all?”
I got so excited about the opening [scene].
I was like, “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
I was so excited.
What excited you about that opening scene?
That was just, as a filmmaker, incredibly inspiring and fun and something I could really grab onto.
That reminded me of a little bit back in the day onPower Rangers.
When we did the movie in Australia, we had to do a ton of green screen.
[Laughs] Besides that, it’s a very different experience I think.
It was like, I don’t know…
It just, like, put a lump in my throat.
It was just really such a cool moment to see him all dressed up as Superman.
It was wild and very intimidating at the same time.
I felt the same way when I saw the Arrowverse actors in costume at one of our photo shoots.
Like I knew they weren’t really superheroes, but it was still kind of awe-inspiring.
It was just like seeing that farmhouse put a little lump on my throat as well.
It’s just such a beautiful, epic location.
As you were watching, what did you come to love about the show?
It’s so cinematic in the colors and just the way it’s shot and it’s anamorphic.
First of all, I mean, the acting I think is so great.
Those boys are just so wonderful and they were so wonderful to work with.
I loved working with Jordan [Elsass] and Alex [Garfin] so much.
Inde, I think, is going to be a superstar.
How is the Cushing family handling the fallout from Sarah’s messy quinceanera?
It’s a lot to unpack and break down and deal with and see where everybody sort of lands.
My episode definitely did a lot of that.
Really seeing where Lana lands from finding that out and having to sort of keep her family together.
That was exciting to work with Emmanuelle, who’s unbelievable.
Her stamina as an actress is mind-blowing.
She was great to work with.
Superman & Loisis a visual effects-heavy show.
What was your experience like directing those types of scenes?
I’ve always really drawn stick figures and really, really bad storyboards.
I’m not a lazy director by any means.
I really shot list the heck out of everything and really find my way in through doing that.
Then he goes off and perfects it and then sends it back.
I did the avalanche scene with him.
I did the fight scenes, those really cool fight scenes with him.
How did you land the unique staging for those two fight scenes?
In the script itself for that long hallway scene, it does mention an “Oldboy-style fight.”
Then, of course, put Superman’s own spin on it.
I think Rob and his stunt team did an incredible job.
It’s such a cool fight.
It was really fun to be a part of that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Superman & Loisairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
