In 1994, Johnson established his own independent production company, Gran Via Productions, and won the Los Angeles Film Critics New Generation Award for his very first effort; "A Little Princess", directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Under his new banner, Johnson produced the comedy "Home Fries", written by Vince Gilligan and starring Drew Barrymore, and the dramatic thriller "Donnie Brasco", starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp. Gilligan won a screenwriting competition of which Johnson was a judge, subsequently had two of his screenplays produced by Johnson, "Home Fries" and "Wilder Napalm". Johnson would later serve as a producer for Gilligan's television series "Breaking Bad". He also served as executive producer for CBS-TV's "L.A. Doctors" and "Falcone", and for the hit drama "The Guardian".