Polly Cohen Johnsen


Polly Cohen Johnsen is an American film executive and producer. She went to college at the University of California at San Diego, where she majored in Chinese, and is also a graduate of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California.
Johnsen began her career working at Warner Bros. in the physical production department while in graduate school. She then became a story editor for producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg at Jersey Films, where she worked on such projects as Gattaca. During her tenure at Jersey Films she teamed up with producer Roy Lee and Glen Gregory of Propaganda Films to create an online tracking board, where script readers could discuss the scripts they read. Online tracking boards have since become a useful tool throughout the film industry.
Johnsen re-joined Warner Bros. in 1997 as a creative executive and worked on such movies as Three Kings, The Perfect Storm and Analyze This.
She was promoted to production executive in 1998 and then to vice president, production in 1999. In 2003 she was named senior vice president, production and in 2006, executive vice president, production. As an executive, she was noted for recommending the first Harry Potter book for a potential film series, which became one of the studio's most successful franchises of all time. As a senior executive, she oversaw the Harry Potter films, Blood Diamond, I Am Legend, the Scooby-Doo series, and Superman Returns, among others.
Again in 2006, Johnsen was tapped by former Warner Bros. studio head Jeff Robinov to take over as president of production at Warner Independent Pictures. Among the films she oversaw at the arthouse division were The Painted Veil and Slumdog Millionaire. In 2008, The Hollywood Reporter recognized her on their Power 100 list, as one of the most influential women in Hollywood, and Glamour featured her in their editorial, "Success Secrets from the Women who Run Hollywood."
Once Warner Independent Pictures closed in 2008, Johnsen agreed to a first-look producing deal with Warner Bros. under her banner, Polymorphic Pictures. She has since produced and Wrath of the Titans for the studio. She also produced Ceremony, written and directed by Max Winkler and starred Uma Thurman and Jake Johnson.
In 2013, Johnsen launched , a website in which writers could share their true stories and Hollywood producers could read them in consideration for potential projects.
Johnsen recently served as a panelist at the and also sits on the USC School of Cinematic Arts Alumni Board.
She is married to Robert Johnsen, co-founder of , with whom she has one child.

Filmography

All films, she was producer unless otherwise noted.

Film

;Miscellaneous crew
YearFilmRoleNotes
1999Three KingsStudio executive
Uncredited
2000The Perfect StormStudio executive
Uncredited
2001Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneStudio executive
Uncredited
2002Scooby-DooStudio executive
Uncredited
2003GothikaStudio executive
Uncredited
2004The Big BounceStudio executive
Uncredited
2004Starsky & HutchStudio executive
Uncredited
2004Studio executive
Uncredited
2004Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanStudio executive
Uncredited
2004CatwomanStudio executive
Uncredited
2005House of WaxStudio executive
Uncredited
2005Must Love DogsStudio executive
Uncredited
2006Superman ReturnsStudio executive
2006Blood DiamondStudio executive
2007ClublandStudio executive
2007Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixStudio executive
Uncredited
2007License to WedStudio executive
Uncredited
2007Mama's BoyStudio executive
Uncredited
2007I Am LegendStudio executive
Uncredited
2007P.S. I Love YouStudio executive
Uncredited
2008Slumdog MillionaireStudio executive
Uncredited
2008Yes ManStudio executive
Uncredited