Meet Shaun Vivaris | Writer. Director. Olympic Bowler.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shaun Vivaris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shaun, what role has risk played in your life or career?
The biggest risk I’ve taken in my life was moving down to LA to begin with. Straight out of college I was working as an editor for a startup film website in the SF Bay Area, writing and editing articles about film and entertainment, while trying to be a filmmaker on the side. Then the company went under and I had this realization that I was never going to achieve my goal of being a feature film director if I went and found another company desk to sit behind. So I said screw it and moved to LA.

It took some years, but I’ve been fortunate in being able to build relationships that allowed me some great opportunities, including making my first feature film—a comedy called LISA MANIA, which just premiered this month.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I feel like being a storyteller is in some ways like trying to be your own therapist. You craft narratives of a world you want to see or have your characters explore whatever themes and subject matter you’re obsessed with and just can’t get away from. So as an inherently cynical person, I make films that are ultimately very hopeful, but populated by very cynical characters trying to find that positive ending. I guess it’s my way of convincing myself that everything works out eventually.

Fantasy and period pieces are my favorite genres by far, but it’s tough to do them justice at small budgets. So the most tasteful balance I’ve found in my own work is making grounded films with fantastical elements or twists to them. I’ve always loved genre-blending movies anyway, so while this compromise may have started as a limitation, it’s become an integral part of my narrative style. Maybe my second or third feature will be a full on fantasy.

I’m incredibly proud of my feature film LISA MANIA. It’s an oddball comedy that may not be to everyone’s taste, but making my first feature has been a huge goal post in my life for so long that it felt like such a weight off my shoulders when I finally completed it earlier this year. The whole process taught me a lot about who I am as an artist and what filmmaking really means to me. I also met some really great people along the way, in addition to getting to work with old friends. So the whole journey of making it is an experience I’ll always cherish.

But in terms of what I’m currently most excited for, it’s a short film that I just completed with my eldest brother and some close friends. It’s a full on period piece that follows a conquistador in 16th century Spain, so we had the armor, the costumes and everything. It was a blast to make, even when we were outdoors in sweltering heat. I can’t wait until the day I get greenlit to do a feature like it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I’m not on set, I’m a super homebody–and this pandemic did nothing to help that–so my hangout spots are really limited. But as a Bronx, New York native, I have to rave about Mulberry Street Pizzeria in Sherman Oaks. It’s one of the best NY style pizzas I’ve had in all my years in California. I take all my friends there. That and bowling–I absolutely love bowling. In an alternate reality where bowling was still in the Olympics I’d be an Olympian. I bounce around between Burbank and the Valley. Then I’d probably take them to whatever major theater is closest. I’m not too picky so as long as there’s reserved seating.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my family, both found and given. Years of indie filmmaking really taught me the importance of relationships so I cherish the old ones that have seen me through and the new ones I’ve found along the way. (NY, SJ, and LA fam. You know who you are.)

Also huge shoutout to Visual Communications and the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival and all the great people I’ve met through them. VC’s a nonprofit that champions Asian American artists and it was through them in large part that I was able to make my first feature film.

Website: shaunvivaris.com

Instagram: @shaunestshaun

Twitter: @shaunestshaun

Image Credits
Aena Cruz Elio Hernandez Kirby Penafiel Sthanlee B. Mirador