Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Hickey.
Johnny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in low income housing via the Bunker Hill projects in Charlestown. The street life I fell into got me known to local media and law enforcement as the notorious “Oxy Bandit” in the Boston area a title I never felt deserved or proud of. Instead of continuing down that path, the life of an Oxy Bandit was short lived after I was thrown from an 80ft cliff in Quincy and woke up seven days later at BMC being told I’d never walk again. During my hospital stay I refused fall narcotic pain killers for the simple fact those same drugs were what let me to the horrific position I found myself in. It’s still explained as nothing less than a miracle how I healed and was able to not only kick drugs with substantial injuries that justified opiate pain killers, but also how I manifested a way to get on my feet and walk again.
These experiences gave me the courage to chase my childhood dream of becoming a film maker and I decided to make the film Oxy-Morons, which I wrote, directed and starred in. I became hooked on the movie and entertainment industry and I haven’t looked back since. When my options were limited, making movies saved me, and now I want to give others battling the opiate epidemic the same opportunities to turn their lives around by giving them vehicle through the F.I.G.H.T. Opiates program.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth?
There were a lot of bumps and bruises getting here, but things are just simply amazing now. I just wrapped my second feature as writer/director on a psychological thriller, Habit, which is in post-production with Sugar Studios in Los Angeles where I am also co-starring and executive producing in a feature film “Shopper.” a story I created that now has some bigger Hollywood hands attached. Just recently I was retained to direct a film the “Stalking Fields” produced by MTVs Jordan Wisely and Sean Crampton, which is pretty rad considering it’s my first time as a director for hire, so feels nice to have earned that title.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I’m grateful for my TEAM: My childhood best friend Chris “C.T.” Tamburello from Charlestown who continues to bring F.I.G.H.T. to a nationwide audience as he competes on behalf of our program on MTV’s Champ vs Stars and MTV has now placed a segment directly around CT, myself and FIGHT. Also, Chris Faraone and BINJ for believing in me and my journey backing me all the way since day one of my mission. But, my biggest shout out goes to my daughter Jaylee (whom I’ve been raising as a single dad for several years now). She is the inspiration for me to wake up every day and live my dreams as a filmmaker and use these gifts I’ve been blessed with to deter her generation and any future generations from opiate use, and drive them to living their dreams, no matter how difficult or impossible it might feel… “it’s also kind of fun to do the impossible.”
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about F.I.G.H.T. Opiates – what should we know?. The Film, Intervening, Getting, High, Team or FIGHT for short, will give hound adults the skills and resources via film, journalism and entertainment needed to fight the opiate crisis with a vehicle to deter future generations from becoming victims to the brutal pandemic through stories not only of the collateral damage but also stories of inspiration and hope. FIGHT members will also learn about job opportunities in the entertainment and media. Stories produced by FIGHT will be distributed through platforms and outlets nationwide in a TRUTH style campaign where the videos will actually be made by some of the adolescence both directly and indirectly affected by the opioid crisis.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thejohnnyhickey.com
- Email: JOHNNYHICKEY@YAHOO.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fightopiates/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejohnnyhickey/
- Other: https://www.fightopiates.org/
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