The Envelope: A Short Film About Imposter Syndrome

Have you ever finished a project only to find yourself unable to turn it in? You got all the hard work done but now that it’s time for people to see it, your hands get itchy and your noggin starts sweating. Bay Area director Jayson Johnson has created a short film, The Envelope, about that universal human experience.

Procrastination is both the mortal enemy and the sick abusive muse of writers for time immemorial. She yanks us onto the couch and then dances around us in the corner of our eyes so that no soothing rest can be found until our assignment is complete. But why do we procrastinate on things we’re proud of and want to do? Self-doubt, perfectionism, imposter syndrome — the little voice that questions whether we should do anything at all is often the cause of procrastination. 

The Envelope is a short film aimed to help others get over these root causes. The story follows a woman who can’t seem to write down an address on an envelope. Johnson explains, “This project is more than just a piece of art—it’s a deeply personal narrative I’ve created to inspire other creatives to overcome imposter syndrome and fear, empowering them to realize their dreams.”

In The Envelope, aspiring novelist Clara struggles to mail her manuscript to a publisher. Although it’s about a romance novelist, Johnson dug deep into his own career as a filmmaker for the inspiration. He says, “For years, I’ve battled the inner voice that questioned whether I truly belonged in this industry or if my achievements were simply luck. This film is my response to those doubts—a reclamation of my voice and a celebration of resilience and self-acceptance.”

A Career in Film

And Johnson has definitely run into luck in his career. He accidentally landed a wine steward job at Francis Ford Coppola’s winery. At the time, Johnson didn’t even know that Coppola did wine. But he worked his way up to a member of the creative marketing team and got to work side by side with the legendary filmmaker, picking up lots of lessons along the way.

You might know Johnson’s earlier work on such shows as “Wives With Knives” and “I (Almost) Got Away with It.” But now Johnson is working on indie projects that speak to his own fears and frustrations. “I’ve faced moments where seemingly small tasks became overwhelming,” Johnson explains. “Not because of their difficulty, but because of the weight of my own expectations and imposter syndrome.” We can relate to that!

Advice for Filmmakers

Making a movie isn’t easy. Johnson describes, “As a indie filmmaker/creative I think it can be difficult to shoulder the burden of a film project.” But he has advice for aspiring filmmakers: Ask yourself are you sure? That question can help you understand if you’re going to be able to weather the disappointment and rejections along the way. “In the end it’s not talent, skill or even connections that help you to achieve your goals,” Johnson says. “It’s perseverance.”

Filming has wrapped and the team is deep in editing mode, but it’ll be available soon. And when The Envelope releases, Johnson hopes viewers will be inspired to “embrace their flaws, laugh at their mistakes, and never let the fear of falling short stop them from taking the leap.”