We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shayla Benoit. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shayla below.
Shayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest parts of scaling a business is maintaining quality as you grow. How have you managed to maintain quality? Any stories or advice?
For me, quality control directly correlates with my clients. I’m always collaborating with them to make sure we are telling the story to the best of our ability, and the story that best describes who they are. That starts with “beginner’s mind” for me. I’m always trying to look at each project as if I’ve never heard of it before. If I can take someone off the street, and they are able to tell me my client’s mission or experience by simply watching a video or film, then I’ve done my job.
Shayla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am the President and Founder of Shady Theatrics LLC. We are a film production company that works with a myriad of clients in both the corporate and arts communities. My background is in theatre, so I bring my unique style of story-telling to each film I create. I love to work with my clients to help find their voice and what sets them apart.
We direct, produce, write, choreograph, film, and edit your project, so we are a one stop shop. I love that we are constantly meeting new clients and learning more about their art and businesses. It makes every day unique and interesting.
We pride ourselves on efficiently capturing the personal experience offered in every event and project, while adding our own style to each film.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
I completely fell into filmmaking. I went to arts middle school, high school, and college for dance, theatre, and musical theatre. After I graduated college, I started working around the country performing at various theaters.
In 2009, my friend and I decided it would be really fun to create a spoof music video for the show we were performing in. The owners of the theatre gave us one hour to shoot our video, so that unknowingly taught us how to produce something quickly and efficiently. We were really surprised and elated when the video spread around the musical theatre community, so we started making more.
Our big break came when our video was chosen to air at The Tony Awards for the live studio audience. I’ll never forget hearing an entire theatre laugh at what we created. That was the moment where I decided that this side hustle and hobby could be more of a business.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
In January of 2020, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer, and I was told I would have to put my life on hold for 6 months of chemo. What I didn’t know was a respiratory global pandemic was looming around the corner and I was battling a respiratory cancer. I also had no idea the toll chemo would take on my body and how long recovery would actually be.
I carry heavy equipment and what I do is very physical. Chemo made it very difficult for me to walk at times, let alone carry 50 pounds of camera equipment.
I spent two years rehabbing my body to get healthy enough to physically work again. I luckily was able to edit remotely while I was in treatment and recovering.
I then was diagnosed with a second cancer in 2022 right when I started going back to work. This time, the treatment was surgery.
I am fully back to work now and in full remission and I pray I stay that way. I am still recovering on a daily basis, but I am grateful to my community for helping me to survive and get through. My incredible clients have been there to welcome me back with open arms, and I am hopeful that I can move forward with my new life and body.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shadytheatrics.com
- Instagram: shadytheatrics, shaylabenoit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadytheatrics
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-benoit-1806201a7/
- Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user55215369
Image Credits
Susan Stripling Photography Find the Light Photography Matthew Schmidt Photography