Catherine “Katey” Johnson, Writer

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112-7946

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Active in state government and an advocate of education in Oklahoma.

Teacher, Introduction to Creative Writing, Center for Learning & Professional Development, University of Central Oklahoma.

Writer, Artist, Performer: for over 20 years, independent painter, and fine art photographer. Certified as feature film producer, lectures on writing and is a free-lance writer and editor. Completed a biographical non-fiction book, released in hardcover, January 23, 2005.

In recent years, my visual talent has transformed into "painting with words," in particular, for the screen. I’ve written hours and hours of comedy; articles; short stories; over 500 poems; several ten-minute, one-act and full-length plays--excerpts of them have been staged locally. Wrote a half-hour television documentary dealing with child abuse from the eyes of an artist and co-produced it. Cox Cable aired it many times. Commissioned to write “Highway Facts with Captain Jack (2001). Sold, wrote, and produced local radio and TV commercials, recently produced and international TV commercial. Wrote many feature length screenplays, co-wrote a Movie-of-the-Week (currently in negotiation) and working on several other screenplays, poems and plays with numerous film projects in various stages of development.

Creative Development Staff/Writer, Kaizen Heron Group (2 years), Universal City, CA. They specialize in interactive writing and production for online projects including CyberJustice, an entertainment area of America Online.

Marketing Director, Special Projects Manager for a framed wall décor manufacturer. Creative writer; designer; trouble-shooter; wrote and co-developed a 2,600 + item product catalog; directed and proofed product photography; wrote policies and procedures; developed technical and creative copy and coordinated special projects between departments for their multimillion dollar framed wall decor manufacturing plant.

Owner/Operator, Gallery of Fine Art, Oklahoma City, OK (6 years) a prestigious contemporary fine art gallery, representing a number of fine art houses on the east and west coasts and renown artists, as well as the Lutz-Bergesen Gallery of Taos, NM. Sold fine, investment art and fine framing to private and corporate collectors.

“KariGrant” is the name under which I paint and perform. I’m an expressionist artist allowing my talents to unfold concurrently as writer, painter, poet, and comedienne (with over ten years of experience). Appeared many times at local comedy clubs in Oklahoma and appeared in New York City, NY, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA, as well as Texas, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, Arkansas and Indiana.

Cast member of the official centennial Oklahoma Territory Celebration Play "ON TO OKLAHOMA," by Granville Burgess; played "Bartender" and "Preacher's Wife."

Won numerous state vocal awards. Won first place in One-act Play Competitions at the state level FOUR YEARS in a row. Received first place at State in Humorous Interpretation with a ten minute original skit (which I wrote); awarded Excellent in duet acting at East Central State College; elected to ALL-STATE cast; honored by the National Thespian Society for outstanding service.

Served as President of the Meridian Mall Merchant's Assoc.; co-founded and was a board member of the Oklahoma Art Gallery Owners Assoc. and the Oklahoma City Jewelers Assoc.; co-founded and was Executive Director of the Small Business Development Assoc. of Oklahoma, during which time I was cited by Governor Bellmon for contributions to the development of small business in Oklahoma and was asked to serve on his Economic Development Act “New Business Climate Task Force” committee.

Co-directed a 23,000 square foot “haunted warehouse of terror” which had over 40 live actors and wrought terror in the hearts of thousands of visitors nightly. Served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Film Alliance, a private economic development entity, and I do independent production work.

Awards & Honors:

WRITING: First in Play/Film/TV Script, “PODY POE from Tinhorn Gambler to Kingpin of Organized Crime,” Second in Poetry, OWFI 2005. First in Humor, “CITY SUCKERS,” Second in Essay, HM Non-Fiction Book Category, OCWI, 2004; 2^nd Place, Play/Film/TV Script, “THE HANDLER” OWFI 2003; 2^nd HM Play/Film/TV Script, OCWI 2002; 1^st HM Humor, OWFI, 2001. Recipient of the 2001 Communicator Award of Distinction (an International Award in Visual Communication) for “Highway Facts with Captain Jack” a short film, and Videographer International’s 2001 Award for Excellence: (premiered 2/22/2000, at Cinemark's Tinseltown Cineplex, OKC, OK). Also received many other writing awards at Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.’s competitions. Won 1st and 2nd Place awards (including publication by Simon & Schuster’s Ginn Publication) in the Prentice Hall Keys to Success College Essay Writing Contest (May '94).

ART: Abstract expressionism since 1980. Equal Merit Award (blue ribbon), OKLAHOMA WOMEN'S ART SHOW. DECORATOR SHOW HOMES, benefiting the Oklahoma City Symphony Orchestra. Poems and 22 painted illustrations featured in one-man show at Individual Artists of Oklahoma. Participated in many group art shows there as well. Featured in a four-man show at John Porter Gallery, OKC. January, 1988: along with Martha Green, honored with a two-man show, "X-WIVES COLLIDE," NORRICK ART CENTER, OCU.

"THE FIVE KINGDOMS OF LIFE," a 7' X 20' acrylic mural, (completed in January '93) commissioned by the Mid-America Tower, Oklahoma City, OK considered my most important. The building is located at Main and Broadway and houses Devon Energy’s Oklahoma City offices.

In September, 1995, selected as ARTIST OF THE WEEK, by The Edmond Sun, Edmond, OK. Juried into the Paris on the Paseo show in September, 1994. In January of 1995, received an Honorable Mention for a charcoal drawing, "Textural Drapes" exhibited in the Student's Annual Juried Art Exhibit at UCO. In April, won Second Place for an acrylic painting "West of the Whiskey--Looking South" in the Cross-Currents Symposium, College of Liberal Arts, UCO, which they later published in color.

In March of '96, had several artworks accepted into the EXEMPLAR IV Juried Art Exhibit, Donna Nigh Gallery, and in April that year, was asked to judge in the 9th and 10th grade drawing division in the annual HI-ART state-wide invitational art competition held at UCO.

My fine art photographs have been exhibited at the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum in Oklahoma City, and the Photographic Art and Science Foundation recognized my distinguished photograph, "Mann's Mark in the Canyon," part of the museum's permanent collection. I’ve received numerous art awards; judged art competitions and had many other art shows. My assemblage, “America, the Bootiful,” was exhibited and sold at a silent auction at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. I also exhibited at the Alba Studio in Berkley, CA, in June of 2002 and the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s executive offices in July, 2006.

COMMUNITY: Co-sponsored the first Family Assistance Symposium at Quail Springs Mall. Committed considerable time to many charitable organizations; served on the boards of four arts organizations.

In the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, in OKC, OK, I assisted the American Red Cross efforts nearly round-the-clock for twenty-one days. These efforts included taking missing persons reports, work in communications and transportation, volunteering at shelters and feeding rescuers. Received a VOLUNTEER CITATION, Oklahoma City Bombing Disaster Relief, January ’96.

Taught screenwriting at Borders Bookstore in Oklahoma City for three years.

Member, Oklahoma Writers Federation, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc., The PlayPens, The Writers of the Purple Page and the Oklahoma Film Society.

PUBLICATIONS

Co-author, “Pody Poe, from Tinhorn Gambler to Kingpin of Organized Crime,”

Grant-Books, LTD., released January 23, 2005, perfect bound, with illustrations.

“Memoirs of a Turkey on the Lamb,” short story, published on AOL’s homepage,

Nov.1996. Hosted and wrote their Ladies Night in the Hair Down Lounge and Cinema

Salad.

Winner, David Letterman’s Weekly Top Ten Contest, http://www.cbs.com/LATE SHOW

April, 2000 and February, 2000.

Purpose and Process. Prentice Hall. August 1994. Two award winning essays.

“The Woman” NewPlains Review: artwork (color reproduction), along with several

poems, all juried into it.

Creative Studies Writers Institute 1996 Intercollegiate Poetry Competition

Anthology Chapbook.

Catherine was Administrative Assistant/Editorial Liaison for NewPlains from

1994-1996.

Going Undercover. Paladin Press. 1996. Jerry VanCook. Co-directed photography; acted

as a dead body.

“The Family” NewPlains Review: a poem, “Broken Legs and Small Hands,

Little Fingers.”

TV: (1/2 hr. documentary) “A REFLECTION OF CONCERN” and two shorts:

“THE ARTIST Gabriel Palacios” and “THE ARTIST, Jimmy W. Lane.”

Oklahoma Art Gallery Magazine: Articles: full-page short biographies on various

Contemporary American artists including Ron Allen, Delores Frederick and Bren Price

and wrote an in-depth article on Conservation Matting.

PRESS

Reviews of book are ongoing and include Tulsa World, Las Vegas Literary Journal and many other publications.

KOKH, Fox TV, Local Nightly News coverage of Poker Expo, 2005: appearance.

Inner View, “The Pody Poe Story,” Interview, SDE Newsletter. April, 2005.

The Sunday Oklahoman,“Tinhorn Gambler Antes Up,” book review w/ color photo.

January 23, 2005.

The Edmond Sun, “She Takes Her Chances,” Feature interview w/ color photos. April

1999.

The Oklahoma Gazette, “Out of Obscura . . .” Feature art review with photos. May 1999.

The VISTA, “Photo exhibit captures scenes of Grand Canyon journey,” July 23, 1998.

The VISTA, “Local talent bags awards in poetry contest,” May 2, 1996.

The Edmond Sun, Artist of the Week, September 15, 1995.

The New York Times, “Just beyond Gariboldi…,” Michael T. Kaufman. Included in an

interview with Howard Schoenfeld, New York City writer, June 24, 1995.

The Sunday Oklahoman, “Workshop to Feature Screenwriter” [sponsored by PlayPens] October 31, 1993.

The Daily Oklahoman,. “Terror Lurks at Every Turn,” Oct. 21, 1988.

The Sunday Oklahoman, “Ex-Wives, Humor, Art Combine for Exhibit,”

Kathryn Jenson White: half-page article with color photo, January, 1988.

The Sunday Oklahoman, “New Gallery to Open With Contemporary Art Show”

November 1, 1981.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Ongoing and include STEVE’S BOOKSTORE, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Oklahoma Centennial Festival of the Book, Oklahoma City University; EMBASSY SUITES, OWFI 2005 Writer’s Conference; BILTMORE HOTEL, Oklahoma City, OK, Poker Expo; HASTINGS, Norman, OK; FULL CIRCLE, Oklahoma City, OK; THE NOMAD RESTAURANT, Oklahoma City, OK and UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA, Meachum Lobby (in conjunction with kick-off of their Women in Film Series).

UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, Faculty Lounge, 1996.

UNIVERSITY of CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, Faculty Lounge, 1995.

.ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS / LECTURES / ADVANCED STUDIES

Received PRODUCER'S DIPLOMA; certified as LINE-PRODUCER EMERITUS from the Hollywood Film Institute, LA, CA (2004 and March, 1993) and received a scholarship in PLAYWRITING to the Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain, Lone Wolf, OK (October '92).

VOICE, Oklahoma City University, Vera Neilson, 2 years, Florence Birdwell 1 year.

VOICE, Ceasar Ronconi, prodigy of Enrico Caruso, 1 year.

OTHER HONORS

Numerous POETRY READINGS, guest poet, comedienne, throughout the United States from March '85 to present.

NATIONAL COWBOY HALL OF FAME, "OK Cowboy Poetry Gathering" ('90-'92).

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, "Oklahoma Poet's Day" ('85-'88 and '90-'91).

Screenwriting Expo, Expo 2, Expo 4 attendee. 2002, 2003, 2005, Los Angeles Convention Center, LA, CA.

Selected as Volunteer Staff Member, PRESS ROOM, Expo 4, 2005.

Guest Lecturer, Real to Reel Film conference, Oklahoma City, June 2006.

Guest Lecturer, twice, Norman Galaxy Writers, Norman, Oklahoma.

Guest Lecturer, twice, Oklahoma Pen Women.

Guest Lecturer, Wordwrites, Oklahoma City.

Edmond Arts and Humanities Council, member '94 - '96.

Maui Writers Conference attendee, 1996.

Selling to Hollywood Screenwriters Conference attendee, Glendale, California, August 1993, '94 & '95.

GUEST LECTURER, twice, Creative Studies Writers Institute, University of Central OK (June '94).

MENTOR - Putnam City Gifted and Talented Programs (Spring '92). Tutored National Merit Scholarship Finalist student in creative writing.

Attended NYU's "The Beat Generation Gathering," with presenters: Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Alan Ginsberg, Bob Guccioni, jr., Joyce Johnson, Ted Jonas, Ken Kesey, Jack Micheline, Anne Waldman,

Hunter S. Thompson, and many others.

“Catherine is better than all the French Filmmakers.” – Dov S-S Simens, Hollywood Film Institute.

Writing and film mentors through various workshops in Maui, HI, LA, CA, TX and in OK include:

Sherman Alexi (SMOKE SIGNALS)

Jeff Arch, (SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, etc.) “I will be very happy when Catherine’s first screenplay is produced.”

Ron Bass, (RAINMAN, WAITING TO EXHALE)

Larry Brooks, The Four Corners of a screenplay (2003); OWFI 2005

Henry "Bummy" Bumstead, Set Design (TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD, UNFORGIVEN)

Darryl Cox, actor, (DIRTY HARRY, ARLINGTON ROAD)

Elina de Santos, Casting Director (WITNESS, DEAD POETS SOCIETY)

Marion Dougherty, Head of Casting, Warner Bros. Studio for 35 years (including the blockbuster series: LETHAL WEAPON and DIE HARD)

Chris Eyre, (SMOKE SIGNALS), OCMoA, August, 2006 and OU, 2003 “You’re invited to be in my next film.”

Andy Fickman, (ANACONDA)

Syd Field, author, Screenplay and others

Horton Foote, TENDER MERCIES Q & A, April 13, 2005

David S. Freeman, Screenwriting: Secrets from a Hollywood Insider (November 13 & 14, 1993)

Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel, (CITY SLICKERS)

Dan Georgakas, Editor, "CINEASTE" film magazine

William Goldman, Oscar winning screenwriter

John Hardesty, S/FX (CATCH ME IF YOU CAN)

Dr. Andrew S. Horton (DARK SIDE OF THE SUN, Brad Pitt) Chair, Film & Video Studies, OU, and

highly-published author.

Ron Howard, (BACKDRAFT, THE GRINCH, DAVINCI CODE)

Lew Hunter, UCLA Chair, Film and TV, (workshops: 2002 and 2003)

Gayle Ann Hurd (ALIENS, THE ABYSS, TREMORS, ARMAGEDDON)

Vicki King, How to Write a Screenplay in 21 Days

Richard Krevolin, (USC) author, Screenwriting From the Soul

Peter Langs, "Films of Merit"

Mickey Liddell, producer (GO and TELLING LIES IN AMERICA, Kevin Bacon)

Russell Means, author, Where White Men Fear to Tread

Richard Price, (COLOR OF MONEY, SEA OF LOVE)

Anne Rule, (true crime writing)

Gordy Ryan, (soundtrack for Do the Right Thing), Drumming

Dr. Linda Seger, Creating Unforgettable Characters, Making a good Script Great, etc.

Ken Sherman, Los Angeles Agent

Chris Vogler, Writer's Mythic Journey

Richard Walter, (Chair, UCLA's film & video studies)

Hershel Weingrod, (TWINS, KINDERGARTEN COP) “Catherine, if you write it, I will read it.”

BEGINNING, ADVANCED and INDEPENDENT STUDIES, UCO, Edmond, OK with:

Dr. Christopher Givan, Fullbright to Madagascar, Asia and beyond (poetry, comedy, short story and the Greek

classics);

Betty Shipley, Poet Laureate of Oklahoma;

Dr. Von Minden, Forensic Science;

John Bishop (THE PACKAGE), Jonathan Bolt (TO CULIBRA), Granville Burgess (THE DEAL), Kathleen Cahill,

William Hoffman, Timothy Mason and Ralph Pape, all playwrights with Circle Rep, an off-Broadway playhouse;

Mark O'Donnell, (COMEDY CENTRAL, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE),

C. J. Cherryh, fantasy/sci-fi,

Edward Allen, “Mustang Sally,” (honors short story and honors poetry),

Lawrence Thornton, “Imagining Argentina,”

Alan Lelchuck, “Brooklyn Bridge,”

Carolyn Wheat, “Dead Men Don't Talk,”

C. E. (Buzz) Poverman, University of Arizona,

Diane Glancey, “Pushing the Bear,”

Stewart O'Nan, “Snow Angels,”

Johnny Payne, “Speedqueen,”

Mike McQuay, “Nexus,” “Escape from New York” (adapted from film),

GWENDOLYN BROOKS, (Poet Laureate of Illinois for the two decades following Carl Sandburg),

Jerry VanCook, Going Undercover; also, ghostwriter for over 33 Mack Bolen action/adventure novels.

Attendee, OCU writers series (2003-2005): Kurt Vonnegut, Brian Greene, Lucille Clifton lectures.