Meet Rachel Shimko | Director

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

Hi Rachel, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
“Hey thanks for having me, what a great question to get started on! As a kid from a small town I didn’t know anything about the movie business when I first got in and lemme tell you, there was so much to learn – What a C-47 is, how to read a call sheet, the difference between a 10-1, 10-2 and (god forbid) a 10-3. So much technical knowledge but the difference between the film industry and any other work has to be the hustle!

From the outside, LA seems easy: be beautiful and witty and the world is handed to you. But people in film work hard… REALLY hard! We pour our lives into what we do but somehow in all that struggle something magic happens: we don’t hate each other, we become family. I’ve made some of the best friends of my life from being in the industry. There’s something about being on set together at midnight when it’s 20 degrees out and so windy you can barely film anything, so you’re doing HIIT workouts between takes just to keep from freezing to death before you wrap.. in six hours… I think the public sees that bond between actors sometimes in funny stories and pushing through the hard times. That’s all of us all the time though, working hard and laughing and crying with each other all the way. I’ve spent so many hours on set laughing with my beautiful and witty friends and those are memories, completely set apart from whatever it is we’re making, that I wouldn’t trade for the world. It’s a crazy thing we do but we’re kind of crazy people.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“My first love in the industry is Directing, so at any given time you’ll find me elbows deep in some project. I was an assistant director for years and will still hop into that from time to time, it gives me the chance to be on set and collaborate with other creators. It helps me challenge myself when I direct! Storytelling via film is something that’s had my heart ever since I was a kid. I grew up in Joshua Tree, yes I’m the only person you’ll ever meet who did! When people ask me what that was like I can honestly say I loved it. As a filmmaker in the desert I found a love of authenticity in the art around me that pushes me to find the ‘real’ in everything I work on, even in the absurd. I think these days it’s easy to fall into complacency by telling stories that are safe but to me it’s so much more fun to push the envelope and find an authentic way to approach an unconventional situation. In my most recent short film ‘Murder She Wanted’, Written by Emily Browning, the main character posts an online add looking for an actor to break into her house and stab her. Where’s the real in that?? That’s the challenge! That’s life after all, unconventional.

Currently you’ll find me on set pursuing unscripted directing. This summer, thanks to the Disney Entertainment Television Directing Program, I had the incredible opportunity to join the Bachelor and was mentored by their outstanding team of directors. If you want to see the best of the best working, this is where you’ll find them. I couldn’t have asked for a better family to be adopted by, and I came out of the show a stronger director and storyteller for my time spent there. Needless to say, when my time on the show was done I was ready to hop right into another season. Directing on the Bachelor is and will always be a highlight of my career.

As for the future… The world is full of beautiful places and unique stories and I’m out to find them. I know my approach to the industry is different because I have this mad passion for translating real people to the screen, whether that’s scripted or un. I’m currently on the hunt for my next directing gig. There are a lot of irons in the fire right now and it’s an exciting time of figuring out which direction to go next. That said, anyone out there looking to create or collaborate, give me a shout. It’s the perfect time. In the meantime I’ve fallen back to my old ways, and have two more projects in development. I can’t say much about them yet but one is another collaboration with my favorite creative partner, Emily Browning, and the other involves a boat, haha!”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
“Sunset hike to the wisdom tree, a drink at Idle Hour with the girls, it’s a great excuse to walk through downtown and the arts district with lunch at grand central, rattlesnake and rabbit brats at Wurstküche, and a beer at Boomtown Brewery. Perfect spots

If I can, my favorite place to take friends is to set. Even after all this time it’s still a magic place for me and I love to share it with those close in my life. If someone can sneak us on a studio lot for the afternoon, I’ll always take the opportunity!

Finally, on that fated drive to LAX, we can stop by Redondo pier to say a quick goodbye to the ocean and look for the GoPro I lost there while underwater pumpkin carving in October”

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
“I love this subject, mentorship and partnership are two of the most important lifelines we have in this industry and I can so easily say I would not be where I am without them. I was a Production Assistant and an Assistant Director for a long time so the first big ‘I love you’ goes to my AD/PA family, you know who you are and that your years of talking me up, ranting about film, drinks after work, and showing up on my first rag tag sets, helped pushed me to get to this point, you showed up early in a way nobody else was yet. I love you, I miss you and I cant wait to work with you all again.

Speaking of work, mine would not be where it is without the incredible collaborations I’ve had with Emily Browning. Early on the two of us bonded over this mad energy to create and that continues even when we’re not working on the same project. Emily is such a talented writer and performer and what a great sounding board for ideas. We have the best evenings running through each other’s projects and if you’re not following hers already, you should be.

Finally, the rarest commodities in our industry are time and energy, how much do you have to put into the project in front of you or the people around you? I would love to dedicate this shoutout to two incredible directors who have generously poured their time and energy into me, Jaffar Mahmood and Joe Guidry. For the last few years they have been a constant source of inspiration both on set and off. Words can’t sum up my appreciation for you both, I hope to be anywhere near like you someday.

Thank you for giving us the chance to talk! Shoutout is a great place for creators and I’m so glad to be a part of it!”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheldoeslife/

Image Credits
Brandon Dowling, Oliver Singer