Meet Shane Stanley | Filmmaker

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

Hi Shane, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I subscribe to the theory, no risk, no reward and fortune favors the brave. You can go work for the man and live a comfortable existence but are you going to truly be fulfilled? I had the whole future mapped out for me in several industries growing up… but at the end of the day, I couldn’t conform, be a robot or expected to fall in line. Sure, it’s been hard at times, many bumps and bruises along the way but wouldn’t trade any of it in for anything.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a filmmaker. What sets me apart from others, I think is because of my passion for music growing up, it was the bands who had a plug in and play attitude, like Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, The Rolling Stones…bands who left their mistakes on the album. They weren’t over produced or polished. I take the same approach in my films. Just plug in and play… it’ll work itself out and give the viewers something organic and real. I think the only VFX we’ve used in the past 20 years outside of muzzle flashes on guns (because we use airlift guns on set) have been the removal of product labels we couldn’t get clear. What I’ve learned along the way is to trust your gut and find your own voice. Its good to be influenced by others but you have to carve your own path. Like a great musician’s sound, you know them when you hear it, I wanted that for me on my films; you know its mine when you see it. I think I’ve achieved that. Was it easy? Heck no, but if it was everyone would do 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.
They must go to Griffith’s Observatory, the Los Angeles Co. Museums of Art, Universal Studios. I am a California native and a sucker for the attractions. They never get old. Heck, I used to work on the Universal Lot for Castlerock and every day on my lunch break would steal a golf cart and go up to the theme park and act like a tourist. It never gets old for me… I try to hit the Santa Monica Pier once in a while, I mean who doesn’t want to go 100 feet over the pacific ocean in a rickety old ferris wheel? I would recommend walking through 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica, The Getty Museum is a must and there are countless restaurants all around this great city. Catch a Dodger game at Chavez Ravine… you have to go to The Rainbow Grill on Sunset Blvd. for their pizza and make sure to drive on the 405 fwy to experience some real Los Angeles traffic.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
That list is endless… I could not have had any success with tremendous family support, colleagues who believed in me and pushed me to be better and stuck their necks out for me. A lot of it was the doubters and people who tried to keep me down. They encouraged me more than they’ll ever know.

Website: www.shanestanley.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaneStanleyOfficial/