The Shot Before the Shot

CCRI alumnus Johnny Villella '97

CCRI alumnus Johnny Villella '97 has spent three decades capturing Rhode Island's most memorable stories — one frame at a time. Before he even turns on a camera, Johnny Villella already knows the story he wants to tell.

The Community College of Rhode Island alumnus and co-chief videographer at WPRI-TV doesn't arrive at a shoot hoping to find the right angle. He arrives with a vision already forming in his mind.

"I shoot in my head before I get to the shoots," Villella said. "I know exactly where I want to set my cameras up. I know the exact angles. I'm editing in my head while I'm driving to the shoot."

That meticulous preparation has become the foundation of a remarkable career that has spanned three decades and earned Villella a reputation as one of New England's most accomplished visual storytellers.

As he celebrates 30 years with WPRI — beginning as an intern and freelance videographer before joining the station full-time — Villella has accumulated an extraordinary collection of professional honors, including nearly 20 New England Emmy Awards, 13 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, and numerous Associated Press awards. Yet despite the accolades, he remains focused on what drew him to the profession in the first place: telling compelling stories that connect with people.

Throughout his career, Villella has worked alongside many of Rhode Island's most recognizable journalists. From legendary broadcasters Walt Buteau, Sean Daly, and the late Jack White to current newsroom leaders Mike Montecalvo and Tim White, his camera has helped bring some of the state's most important stories to life.

Much of his award-winning work has come through WPRI's Target 12 investigative team and the station's long-running Street Stories series, which highlights inspiring and uplifting stories from communities across Rhode Island. Whether documenting major investigations, covering breaking news, or profiling everyday people making a difference, Villella approaches every assignment with the same commitment to excellence.

When asked the secret to his success, his answer is straightforward.

"Hard work and dedication," he said. "You really have to be committed to this job."

His longevity is especially notable given the dramatic changes that have transformed the television news industry over the past 30 years.

When Villella began his career, news photographers were working with analog cameras and tape-to-tape editing systems. Stories were physically assembled using equipment that has long since been replaced by digital technology. Today, videographers have access to tools and platforms that were unimaginable when he first entered the profession.

Rather than resist those changes, Villella embraced them.

In April, he filmed a story on CCRI's comfort dog, CeCe, using his cell phone, allowing him to capture angles that would have been difficult with a traditional broadcast camera. It is a perfect example of how he continues to adapt while maintaining the storytelling principles that have guided his career.

"You have to change with the times," Villella said. "I tell everybody this all the time. If you don't want to learn a new editing concept, or if you don't want to learn this, or you don't want to learn that, you're going to be out of the business because it is going to rapidly change."

What has never changed is his preparation.

Before every assignment, Villella carefully plans his approach, checks his equipment, studies locations, and anticipates key moments before they happen. Experience has taught him that there are no second chances in television news.

"The governor of Rhode Island isn't going to sit there and wait all day for you," he said.

By the time he returns to the station, he often already knows how the story will be constructed. Years of collaboration with reporters such as Tim White and Mike Montecalvo have created a level of trust and communication that frequently requires few words.

"I can just look at them and they can look at me and I know exactly what they're thinking. We don't really have to say anything," Villella said.

That instinct is particularly important during interviews and emotionally charged moments.

"We're not just filming the interview. We're listening to the subject matter because there are moments where, for example, you know someone's going to cry, and you don't want to be on a wide shot for that, so you zoom in. It's so important to have that communication with the reporter during the process. We're not just out there filming it and just pressing record and sitting back."

Over the course of his career, Villella has witnessed history through the lens of his camera.

One of his most memorable assignments came in 1999 when he traveled to Martha's Vineyard following the disappearance of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s plane. Villella and reporter Kristine Johnson were among the first journalists on the scene when search crews recovered belongings connected to the crash.

More recently, he completed work on his first documentary project, The Last Don of Providence, a four-part series examining the story of Luigi "Baby Shacks" Manocchio, the final mob boss to lead New England's most notorious crime family. The documentary has been nominated for a 2026 New England Emmy Award.

Yet despite the high-profile stories, investigative reports, and industry recognition, Villella says the work that means the most to him is often the most personal.

For Villella, success isn't measured by the number of awards on a shelf. It's measured by the impact his stories have on the people who watch them and the communities they serve.

"The awards are certainly satisfying, and it's nice to be recognized for a job well done," he has said, but the true reward comes from knowing a story has made a difference.

As he marks three decades at WPRI, the CCRI alumnus remains driven by the same passion that launched his career. The technology may continue to evolve and the industry may continue to change, but his commitment to storytelling remains constant.

"I can't imagine doing anything else."

For someone who has spent a lifetime helping Rhode Islanders see the world more clearly, that's perhaps the clearest picture of all.

"I love meeting people in the community. I love making a change, doing a story on somebody, and having them email you and say, 'That made a positive impact on my family,' or, 'I still remember that story to this day.' That's what keeps me going."
— Johnny Villella '97