Meet Shayne Lightner | Director/Writer/Producer, Present Entertainment

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

Hi Shayne, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“The cavalry isn’t coming.” It’s a quote I heard from filmmaker Mark Duplass. To me, it’s a helpful mindset with which to approach everything. When we’re making ourselves, inventing ourselves, there’s always that temptation to think “If only I could get to this point, things will be easier. Or if I get this break, things will be great.” And while that’s possible, it’s not actually how things work day to day. At every level, even at the most successful levels, you have to continue to make your own way. You have to push things along and make things to happen. You have to set things up so that if someone is going to make a decision to help you, it’s an appealing choice because it helps them. At that point, you’ve done all the hard work and if they don’t say ‘yes’, someone else will. You’re actually being of help to them. So to always keep in mind “The cavalry isn’t coming” is to remind myself that things don’t get any easer, at any level, and to do whatever it takes to achieve whatever I’m trying to achieve. It’s not easy to keep that in mind. And it’s not easy to do what needs to be done to achieve what you want to achieve. But I find it helpful and affirming to have a realistic view of the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey is one where it took me a long time to find my place and my voice in work, but I got there through following my heart. And through ‘doing’ and trial and error. And not giving up. The first lesson for me is one you hear often, which is “get in where you fit in” or simply where you can get in. For me that was documentary filmmaking. To have an idea for a documentary subject matter and then shoot a lot and put it together in the edit using a sense for story I developed earlier as a writer was and is very powerful. I also picked up a sense for the importance of place or location. Then when I made the transition to feature films, I used that same voice or perspective but applied it to genre movie structures. So I think what separates me from others is I always tells stories about particular places and of those from historically underrepresented backgrounds within those places. I just completed my second movie (“Me Three”, distributed by Cineverse June 3, currently available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Google Play and Cineverse.com) about a particular area in Los Angeles–West L.A.. My first, “Get Bossy” (also distributed by Cineverse and available everywhere), was fictionally set in a section of Long Beach called Belmont Shore. And my third, “Robin’s Hood”, which I’m preparing to shoot, is set in the Inland Empire, in San Bernardino and in the mountains above. None of this was easy but I did it by continuing to make projects and using whatever gifts I may have, as an artist, to be a vessel and let the creative spirit come through me. So what I want the world to know about me and my brand is how powerful being creative and resourceful is and, as Robert Rodriguez says, you don’t need to know. In fact if you don’t know (how to do something or what to do) that’s okay because the energy you bring to it will make its way into the work. Sometimes it’s good to not know because then we don’t take ourselves too seriously and the stakes are low and we can move quickly. And then it’s okay to succeed not knowing, because that’s inspiring to others as well! The most important thing is to finish and move onto the next thing. And finish that! And in the end, trust that whatever gifts you have will come out over time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
L.A. has so much to do! I really have affection for this city. I’d take them to the Mann Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, Dodger Stadium and Catalina! I’d also take them for drives around different locales. And I’d take them to eat at Versaille restaurant, for Cuban food.

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?
First, of course my family and friends. I’m nothing without them (literally!). Then the next level out, for me, Swarthmore College. Swarthmore is a small but nationally recognized liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. My experience there was transformative. Swarthmore did three things for me: It accepted me for who I was, it gave me the tools to teach myself (the most powerful tools there are) and it asked me to use those tools to help make the world a better place. And that’s what I’ve been trying to do ever since, while also staying true to myself. And then going out even further, to the next level, there are a number of people I’ve never met who deeply inspire me. These include first and foremost Tyler Perry, but also Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, the aforementioned Mark Duplass, James Michener, James Cameron, Ridley Scott and Terry Rossio, just to name a few. Being creative is hard and lonely but I’m constantly nourished and inspired by them.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayne-lightner-a762b0/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedirecta