Born and raised in Chicago, Johnson-Cochran developed a passion for films and writing from an early age. Initially, he pursued a degree in Geological Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, with the intention of working in the oil exploration business. However, his true calling as a writer and filmmaker soon became apparent, leading him to attend the School of the Art Institute in Chicago for a brief period, where he studied filmmaking, semiotics, and film history.
Johnson-Cochran's professional career in Chicago began as a journalist, cameraman, and director for the local PBS station WTTW-Chicago. He produced, wrote, and directed documentaries, including the award-winning music special "Going Home to Gospel with Patti LaBelle", "Babies at Risk", and "School Reform-Power to the Parents". He also worked on the nightly news show 'Chicago Tonight'.
Johnson-Cochran's work in television production took him to The People's Republic of China, where he collaborated with the award-winning novelist Anchee Min to create and produce "Stories from America", a 20-part television series focused on the lives of Chinese American students, scholars, and professionals returning to China after living in the United States.
Following the success of his spec screenplay 'My Tribe is Lost', which was sold to Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks, Johnson-Cochran transitioned into screenwriting. He co-created the NBC hit series "Minor Adjustments" and wrote and produced on the television series "Angel Street", which was executive produced by John Wells.
Johnson-Cochran's feature film debut, "Love and Action in Chicago", premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was sold to HBO. The film featured an ensemble cast, including Kathleen Turner, Courtney B. Vance, Jason Alexander, Regina King, and Ed Asner.
In addition to his work in film and television, Johnson-Cochran has produced and directed several documentaries, including "Side by Side-The Story of the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone", which was executive produced by former Secretary of State Madeline K. Albright and actress/director Regina King for the National Democratic Institute.
Johnson-Cochran's feature-length documentary "Be Known", about jazz percussionist Kahil El-Zabar, was nominated for Best Independent Documentary by the Black Reel Awards and two NAACP Awards. The documentary has appeared in over twenty film festivals around the world.
As an instructor, Johnson-Cochran has taught screenwriting for eleven years as part of the USC's Guy Hanks and Marvin Miller Screenwriting Fellowship. He has also taught screenwriting, directing, and documentary filmmaking as an instructor for UNESCO in various countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Russia, and South Africa.
Johnson-Cochran's most recent work includes producing the feature film 'White Water', which was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards for Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Director. He also wrote and executive produced 'Heist 88', a film inspired by the true story behind one of the biggest and most brazen real-life bank heists in U.S. banking history. The film premiered domestically on Paramount+ and Showtime and was nominated for three NAACP awards, with Johnson-Cochran winning the award for best screenwriting for a television film in 2024.
