Private Project

Just Keep L-I-V-I-N

The people of earth have become depressed and disillusioned. With no where else to turn, Angel Johnny Marfa is called to come down from honkey tonk heaven, and make sure everything is alright, alright, alright.

  • Johnathan Freeman
    Key Cast
    "Johnny Marfa"
    Jonathan R. Freeman is a New Mexico born, Texas raised, New York City forged, LA actor/artist/writer/country music superstar. He’s been on TV and in the movies. He has acted in such acclaimed series as CITY ON A HILL (Showtime), GOLIATH (Amazon), BETTER THINGS (FX), CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL (Comedy Central), NCIS: HAWAII, and CSI:VEGAS (CBS), and WALKER: INDEPENDENCE (CW). And has voiced multitudes of video games and beer commercials. Treaded the boards performing everything from Shakespeare to musical theater and has been singing his songs on stage in one form or another for god knows how long. His current project is Johnny Maria and The Lights, a Southern-fried, Cali-fied Texas tornado of good times. He’ll be playing the lead role in the premier of a new play by Sam Henry Kass, directed by Ronnie Mario at Theater 68 in North Hollywood this September.
  • Johnny Marfa and The Lights
    Original Music
  • Stephanie Sanditz
    Director
  • Stephanie Sanditz
    Writer
  • Eric Michael Kochmer
    Producer
  • Ross Kolton
    Cinematographer/Editor/Color
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 29, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Stephanie Sanditz

STEPHANIE SANDITZ is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker based in LA via NY, and originally from Broken Heart, Missouri, the subject of her feature film, LEGENDS ONLY that won a Tribeca Film Festival Award for New Voices in Screenwriting she is set to direct.

She has written over 14 films for various studios & sold original TV shows to multiple networks. Her Boxing Romance, PERFECT ADDICTION, released #1 on Amazon Worldwide and was just named one of NYTimes “Top Five Action Movies to Stream.” She recently finished action-comedy, HELL WOOD w Carsten Lorenz (INDEPENDENCE DAY) & optioned series SHOW ME STATES to Emmy-Winning Happy Accidents (Ginny&Georgia).

She has adapted multiple books & comics to features - including HEATHEN, for Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT), MY LAST SKIRT for Grammy/Tony Winning GrandSlam Productions, TALKING TOM, for Raja Gosnell (SMURFS) & optioned DANCE PARTY to AGC Studios (MOONFALL) w Queen Latifah starring. Other feature credits include GOD ON A HARLEY for Mimi Gitlin (THELMA & LOUISE), BEAUTIFUL BASTARD for Lionsgate, & INFERNAL DEVICES,  prequel to the MORTAL INSTRUMENT SERIES, distributed by Sony &  Screengems. 

In TV, she sold an original pilot PYRAMID to FX w Rob McElhenney (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Wrexham), a pitch to Mila Kunis (BAD MOMS) & ABC Signature (HIGH POTENTIAL), then wrote, starred & produced autobiographical pilot, THE HIGH LIFE, starring opposite Amy Landecker (Transparent) & Jesse Garcia (Flamin Hot), winning multiple awards, including Best Actress, Pilot & Writing at Austin, Bentonville, Dances With Films, Hollywood Reel Independent festivals. She also wrote, produced & showran series Chat. Like. Love. For Dreamworks' AwesomenessTV. 

She has acted in many series, plays & films, is the co-star of Amazon's 37 PROBLEMS and Universal Feature THE LIST. 

She is the Co-creator of the Hollywood Womxn’s Happy Hour & organizer for Planned Parenthood, The ACLU, & The Ferguson/St. Louis Library Foundation, which she started w her father, Beau Willimon (House of Cards) & Jon Hamm (Mad Men). 

Brillstein Entertainment, Myman Greenspan Legal.
New York University, BFA Tisch School of The Arts, Dean's Honors Scholar.  

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I met Johnny Marfa on stage singing a Pat Benatar cover with him when he was the legendary king of Rock and Roll Karaoke at Arlene’s Grocery in New York, then reconnected over a decade later to try and combine forces. I have always been inspired by his talent, charisma, and deep kindness.

We have both overcome some pretty dark personal experiences, and have also both been able to overcome them, by fighting, living and creating, by embracings as much pain as pathos as humor.

In my work I always say I want to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. When I saw Johnny play a decade later, he reminded me - I also want them to get up and dance.

We made this video on NO budget and a lot of love. He had a song and a bar space he has aresidency. And I had a vision. I wanted to celebrate his music, and pay homage to timeless spaghetti westerns, as well as great story videos of the 80s and 90s.

Johnny Marfa and the Lights are band making waves across the globe. They champion classic country with new twists and a desire to burn hearts and dance floors. Jonathan Freeman (Marfa) has been a touring country musician since a child. Hes got stories that will make your head spin m, heart break and also put diamonds on your tears. He’s also an accomplished actor of stage and screen. Thus music project is his breakout project gaining followed and residencies in the hottest spots of LA and Texas.

The title of the song is also an ode to Matthew McConnaughey's sage advice in the cult classic "Dazed and Confused.)

My hope in directing this video - Is to remind people all over the world, no batter how tough times are, how lonely you feel, how broke you may be, if you get yourself on a dance floor, let the music in, and remind yourself you are still alive, everything will be alright...