Filmmaker Natalie Johns creates spec gun violence prevention PSA

Natalie Johns

Filmmaker Natalie Johns has turned her personal fears as a parent into a compelling gun violence prevention campaign, creating a powerful Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at driving change.

Inspired by her deep love for her family, Johns decided to address the issue of gun violence, a problem that has become disturbingly normalized in the U.S. She wanted to capture the joy and fragility of parenthood in her PSA, believing that the love parents feel for their children should be a motivating force to advocate for stronger gun laws.

“Gun violence should not be a normalized part of life in America,” she notes. “I felt it was worth putting my whole heart on the line to deliver this message.”

Her campaign, inspired by organizations like Everytown.org  and Moms Demand Action, is both a personal and public call to action. Johns, alongside longtime collaborator and cinematographer Bill Kirstein, filmed her family’s daily routine, showing the tender, everyday moments that could be shattered by gun violence. Watch below:

These moments became even more profound when, during filming, her daughter’s preschool was placed on lockdown due to an armed gunman nearby. The incident, though resolved without injury, was a stark reminder of the terrifying reality parents face today—an experience that added urgency to her work.

“The coincidence of filming this PSA and experiencing my family’s first lockdown was both shocking and surreal. I simply could not wrap my head around it,” shares Johns.

The PSA aims to inspire parents and citizens to take meaningful action, emphasizing that gun violence is not inevitable and can be prevented with the right laws in place. Johns encourages people to join the 10 million Americans already part of the Moms Demand Action movement by texting ACT to 64433. This campaign also highlights important legislation like The GoSafe Act, which seeks to regulate the sale and transfer of semi-automatic firearms while protecting the right to responsible gun ownership.

Johns hopes the PSA will push voters to prioritize gun control when choosing their representatives, advocating for policies that ensure a safer future for families. For her, the fight against gun violence is not about the grand moments in life but about protecting the small, everyday joys that could be taken away in an instant.

This grassroots effort calls on people across the nation to step up, vote for gun-sense candidates, and support common-sense gun reforms. Through her emotional and deeply personal storytelling, Johns delivers a message that resonates with parents and communities, offering a pathway for change that is grounded in love, safety, and responsibility.

CREDITS:

  • Directed and Produced by Natalie Johns
  • Cinematography: Bill Kirstein
  • East Side Camera Rental 
  • Editor: Sophia Lou
  • Sound Mix: Cesar Haliwa
  • Color Grading: Matt Turner
  • Graphic Design: Nick Frew
  • Music Supervisor: Abbey Hendrix
  • Soundtrack: “Unchained Melody” by Norah Jones
  • Licensed Graciously by Norah Jones, Universal Music  obo Blue Note Records and Unchained Melody Publishing

This article was brought to you free. The independent team who brought it to you is not. Please support Reel 360 News and Reel Chicago by donating here.


Natalie Johns

Filmmaker Natalie Johns has turned her personal fears as a parent into a compelling gun violence prevention campaign, creating a powerful Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at driving change.

Inspired by her deep love for her family, Johns decided to address the issue of gun violence, a problem that has become disturbingly normalized in the U.S. She wanted to capture the joy and fragility of parenthood in her PSA, believing that the love parents feel for their children should be a motivating force to advocate for stronger gun laws.

“Gun violence should not be a normalized part of life in America,” she notes. “I felt it was worth putting my whole heart on the line to deliver this message.”

Her campaign, inspired by organizations like Everytown.org  and Moms Demand Action, is both a personal and public call to action. Johns, alongside longtime collaborator and cinematographer Bill Kirstein, filmed her family’s daily routine, showing the tender, everyday moments that could be shattered by gun violence. Watch below:

These moments became even more profound when, during filming, her daughter’s preschool was placed on lockdown due to an armed gunman nearby. The incident, though resolved without injury, was a stark reminder of the terrifying reality parents face today—an experience that added urgency to her work.

“The coincidence of filming this PSA and experiencing my family’s first lockdown was both shocking and surreal. I simply could not wrap my head around it,” shares Johns.

The PSA aims to inspire parents and citizens to take meaningful action, emphasizing that gun violence is not inevitable and can be prevented with the right laws in place. Johns encourages people to join the 10 million Americans already part of the Moms Demand Action movement by texting ACT to 64433. This campaign also highlights important legislation like The GoSafe Act, which seeks to regulate the sale and transfer of semi-automatic firearms while protecting the right to responsible gun ownership.

Johns hopes the PSA will push voters to prioritize gun control when choosing their representatives, advocating for policies that ensure a safer future for families. For her, the fight against gun violence is not about the grand moments in life but about protecting the small, everyday joys that could be taken away in an instant.

This grassroots effort calls on people across the nation to step up, vote for gun-sense candidates, and support common-sense gun reforms. Through her emotional and deeply personal storytelling, Johns delivers a message that resonates with parents and communities, offering a pathway for change that is grounded in love, safety, and responsibility.

CREDITS:

  • Directed and Produced by Natalie Johns
  • Cinematography: Bill Kirstein
  • East Side Camera Rental 
  • Editor: Sophia Lou
  • Sound Mix: Cesar Haliwa
  • Color Grading: Matt Turner
  • Graphic Design: Nick Frew
  • Music Supervisor: Abbey Hendrix
  • Soundtrack: “Unchained Melody” by Norah Jones
  • Licensed Graciously by Norah Jones, Universal Music  obo Blue Note Records and Unchained Melody Publishing

This article was brought to you free. The independent team who brought it to you is not. Please support Reel 360 News and Reel Chicago by donating here.