09/12/2025
Six years ago today, we lost Daniel Johnston — a true original, whose art and music still echo in so many hearts.
While making a documentary about the wild, larger-than-life Ron English, he told me something that stopped me in my tracks: he and Daniel had been close friends for 40 years. They’d shared stages, swapped drawings, and even paired up for art shows where Daniel’s raw sketches met Ron’s vivid painted interpretations.
But what moved me most was their late-in-life collaboration — painting together, on the same canvases. I told Ron I was worried they might not get the chance to finish before Daniel passed. Ron agreed, and within weeks we were in Texas, setting up canvases for Daniel to draw on. Together, they finished the work.
I had the privilege of filming those moments — two geniuses, two friends, weaving their imaginations into something neither could make alone. I also recorded Daniel’s last interview, a conversation that feels even more precious now.
That short film is nearly finished. It’s called Folie à Deux: The Frog and the Rabbit. Keep an eye out.
Today feels like the right day to finally share this story. ❤️
