about
John J. Budion is an award winning writer, director, and visual effects artist, with over 20 years of experience in the film and television world. He started out his career at the tender age of 17, while concurrently working towards his degree at New York University.
John demonstrated his knowledge of directing and visual effects in a campaign for E*TRADE's 2010 Talking Baby spots. Sneaking in his comedic style, the spots debuted during and after the Super Bowl of 2010. Many critics have regarded them as the "funniest" and most "believable" work on the campaign yet! In addition to still running on air today, the spots have wracked up millions of views on YouTube from people enjoying them from all around the world.
The campaign gained even more recognition when John was selected for SHOOT Magazine's 2010 New Director's Showcase for his Etrade "Lottery" spot. Additionally, his Etrade "First-Class" spot was Short-Listed in Cannes that same year!
In 2019, John jumped into the directing and writing of his first feature film titled ROCKAWAY. After winning 9 major awards including several BEST FEATURE FILM nods, ROCKAWAY attained a theatrical distributor as well as a streaming one. In addition, it received a glowing review from The NEW YORKER where it was called an “agonized and sharply moving film.” It can now be found worldwide on almost every digital platform!
John completed VFX Supervision and lead the VFX team for Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move, for HBO Max, and Sean Baker’s Red Rocket, for A24. In addition he lent his visual effects talent to SMILE for Paramount, as well as I SAW THE TV GLOW for A24, which made its premiere at Sundance 2024. In addition, John lead the VFX team for the Academy Award Nominated film NICKEL BOYS.
In 2025, John and his wife will be premiering an animated short titled YOU.MATTER starring Tony Award Winner Laura Benanti, and Cody John.
John is currently working on packaging and financing for his sophomore script Civilian, which follows a military veteran struggling to adjust to the monotony of civilian life after being deployed back into society.
John is repped by Cory Thompson out of Rewind Artists.
Awards + Nominations
2008 SHOOT magazine's "Best Work You May Never See" (Director) -"The Great Escape" (Coca-Cola)
2010 SHOOT magazine's "New Director's Showcase" (Director) - "Lottery" (E*TRADE)
2010 Cannes Lions Shortlist (Director) - "First-Class" (E*TRADE)
2011 MTV VMA Nominee for Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects (lead Flame Artist) - "Power" (Kanye West)
2012 MTV VMA Nominee for Best Direction and Cinematography (lead Flame Artist) - "Princess of China" (Coldplay feat.Rihanna)
2012 OMMA Winner for Best Online Integrated Campaign (Director) - "Business Speak" "Mustache" "Storytime" (Clean our Cloud campaign for Greenpeace)
2015 EFFIE Award winner - Positive Change Effie - (Director) - Clean our Cloud Greenpeace Campaign
2017 Winner - Audience Award - Best Feature Film - Rhode Island Int. Film Festival (Writer/Director) -ROCKAWAY
2018 Winner - Best of Fest - Catalina Film Festival (Writer/Director) - ROCKAWAY
2019 Winner - Best Feature Film / Best Director - Long Beach Int. Film Festival (Writer/Director) - ROCKAWAY