Meet Shauna Garrett: Filmmaker, Gaffer/Grip

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

Hi Shauna, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Working in the entertainment business as a filmmaker makes me happy. As a current freelancer, entrepreneur, and as a black woman in an industry that is still male-dominant, I find myself thrilled by the amount of risk-taking required to keep this dream alive in such a fast-paced, competitive field. On the flipside, finding happiness in filmmaking can be exhausting at times. It is hard to strike a healthy work-life balance, find time for physical and mental health care, and with a pandemic raging on we’ve all pretty much kissed our social lives goodbye outside of Zoom and Facetime calls. For me, the key to maintaining my happiness has been to focus on the big-picture and remembering my goals. Above all else, my ultimate goal is to bring glory to God in all of my work, without whom none of this be possible. I want to impact the next generation of creatives by making space in the art world for new ideas and marginalized voices.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a long way to go, but I got this far by working and pushing myself to the limit…By sacrifice, by learning and following, by being willing to listen, and by overcoming obstacles like sexism, microaggressions, etc. It has not been an easy journey. I have gained and lost a lot. Overcoming these types of challenges requires a level of maturity and professionalism acquired over time – and the discernment to know when to fight something on the spot/publicly or when to do it privately, but always through the proper channels. What I’d want the world to know particularly about my story that sets me apart from others is that prior to becoming a filmmaker, I studied business, during which I also studied Human Resources and Employment Law. Knowing the basics about these things are a vital tool to protecting yourself as an artist, especially if you’re non-union. Overall, pursuing a career in entertainment requires a lot of sacrifice. It can be hard to get started, but with the right support system and knowledge base, it’s a very rewarding and fulfilling career path.

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.
During a pandemic, there’s not *that* much to do but here’s some of my favorite places to go (and yes, they’re mostly beaches):

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my Mumsy, Lisa Garrett, and my late father, Rodney Garrett. Thank you.

Website: https://www.shaunagarrett.com

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

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

Image Credits
personal photo: Alex Urbina @theurbina all other images: @shaunagarrettfilm