Answered an ad while a student at Cal State-Long Beach, which was
looking for employees. That ad was for George Lucas whom Johnston
became acquainted with. He was employed a storyboard artist who would
watch Lucas do his editing. Eventually, Johnston decided to leave
Lucas' company and travel with the money he had saved up. But Lucas
suggested that he go to USC film school (his alma mater), which Lucas
would get him to the front of the line for applicants, pay for his
tuition, and keep Johnston as a part time employee with his salary.
Johnston said he would have been crazy not to accept the offer and
immediately said yes.