Rachel Johnson(XLIII)
- Producer
Raised in Las Vegas, Rachel is a proud UNLV alumni! She studied both Broadcast Journalism and Film and received two B.A.'s in 2012- the first in her family to graduate college. She was also the first recipient of the "Nevada Future Broadcasters" award, and spent her senior year floor directing and camera operating at 8 News Now.
To put herself through school she also worked full-time at Starbucks, where she eventually became a shift supervisor. Then for seven years, she was employed at Apple and quickly worked her way up to the position of manager- overseeing hundreds of employees and millions of dollars in revenue. She was then able to take these skills and apply them towards a career in film producing.
In 2018, she founded Desert Cactus Films with her business partner, Danny Chandia. Together, they specialize in VFX productions that utilize a mixture of stop-motion animation, miniatures, and matte paintings.
Their award-winning work has been showcased in film festivals across the country including the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF), Denver Film Festival (DFF), Breckenridge Film Festival (BFF), Austin Music Video Festival (AMVF), Portland Film Festival (PDXFF), Woodstock Film Festival and the Dam Short Film Festival (DSFF).
Outside of Desert Cactus Films, she has also produced and production managed for notable clients such as MGM Resorts, Google, Toyota, Schutz, Wynn Resorts, and Station Casinos.
She has overseen all aspects of film production, from securing funding and assembling talented crews to ensuring seamless operations during production.
She strives to create a positive, healthy, and collaborative working environment, so that everyone on set is able to do their best work; and whether the role is big or small, she takes pride in every project she's a part of.
To put herself through school she also worked full-time at Starbucks, where she eventually became a shift supervisor. Then for seven years, she was employed at Apple and quickly worked her way up to the position of manager- overseeing hundreds of employees and millions of dollars in revenue. She was then able to take these skills and apply them towards a career in film producing.
In 2018, she founded Desert Cactus Films with her business partner, Danny Chandia. Together, they specialize in VFX productions that utilize a mixture of stop-motion animation, miniatures, and matte paintings.
Their award-winning work has been showcased in film festivals across the country including the Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF), Denver Film Festival (DFF), Breckenridge Film Festival (BFF), Austin Music Video Festival (AMVF), Portland Film Festival (PDXFF), Woodstock Film Festival and the Dam Short Film Festival (DSFF).
Outside of Desert Cactus Films, she has also produced and production managed for notable clients such as MGM Resorts, Google, Toyota, Schutz, Wynn Resorts, and Station Casinos.
She has overseen all aspects of film production, from securing funding and assembling talented crews to ensuring seamless operations during production.
She strives to create a positive, healthy, and collaborative working environment, so that everyone on set is able to do their best work; and whether the role is big or small, she takes pride in every project she's a part of.
