We recently connected with Michael Hoanshelt and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

A mentor asked me years ago what my favorite thing about filmmaking was. I thought about it for a moment and landed on this. There’s room for everyone at the table. What I mean is, in film, I really believe there’s a role for anyone to thrive in.

If you like building stuff, you can get into set construction.
If you’re into finance, there’s accounting and budgeting.
If you love cooking, you can run crafty or catering.
And of course, if you’re a storyteller or visual thinker, there’s directing, cinematography, editing, and all the creative roles too.

A lot of my life, I’ve felt like I was on the outside looking in. I moved around a lot growing up, so I was often the new kid, trying to find my place. But filmmaking became the bridge. Shooting videos with people helped me connect, even when everything else felt unfamiliar. Most of my closest friendships came from making videos in junior high, high school, and into my 20s. It was what bonded us, the shared mission that brought people together. Even if I didn’t know someone at the start of a shoot, by the end of a long day on set, it felt like I’d known them for years.

That’s probably my favorite part, knowing that just about anyone can find a place to belong in the process. A seat at the table for every gift.

Michael, 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?

Neighboring Light Entertainment is a full-service video production company based in Washington State. We handle everything from concept development to final delivery. Whether it’s documentary, commercial, or narrative storytelling.

The name Neighboring Light Entertainment is rooted in something simple but important: the idea that we’re called to be a light to those around us. Encouraging others, sparking insight, or just creating something that uplifts. Everything we make should carry that kind of weight. I want the work we do to enlighten in some way, whether it’s through beauty, truth, or a fresh perspective.

The Entertainment part comes from the Latin roots inter (among) and tenere (to hold). And to me, whatever holds our attention should do more than distract; it should uplift.

I started Neighboring Light Entertainment because I’ve always believed that art has the power to bring people together, challenge ideas, and create beauty that lasts. I didn’t get the chance to go to film school, but I knew I wanted to learn the craft, so I looked up the film school curriculum, bought the same books, and studied it on my own. Most of my early growth came from just doing it: shooting little videos with friends in junior high and high school, slowly leveling up, and learning along the way.

Since then, I’ve worked in the agency world, shot corporate work, weddings, passion projects and now I’m directing a feature documentary about the rise of multiplayer video games and their impact on society. That film is our first major push to establish Neighboring Light Entertainment as a studio worth paying attention to.

Right now, our core service is video production but what makes us different is our heart. We care deeply about the why behind what we make. Whether it’s a brand piece, a doc, or a short film, our goal is to bring honesty, creativity, and purpose to every frame.

What I’m most proud of so far is the community of collaborators that’s forming around Neighboring Light. Every project is an opportunity to bring people together, and that’s what keeps me going.
If there’s one thing I’d want people to know about Neighboring Light, it’s that we’re serious about making meaningful work. And that meaning is found in the details. When everyone is operating in their gifting, whether it’s behind the camera, on set design, sound, or anything in between. Each piece adds weight. Every role matters.

That’s how it becomes something worth holding our attention.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield had a big impact on me. It helped me shift from seeing creativity as something you wait around for, to something you show up for like a job. As someone who’s always been drawn to the heart and emotion behind storytelling, I tend to romanticize the creative process a lot. But that mindset can get in the way.

This book challenged me to treat the work like work. To stop relying on feelings and start building something brick by brick, day by day. That’s been huge for me, not just as a filmmaker, but as someone trying to build a business.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Something I think non-creatives might not fully see is the catch 22 of validation. As a creative, I want the work I make to resonate with people. I want it to be seen, understood, appreciated. But at the same time, I don’t want to find my identity in that response. The hard part is, what I do is a part of me. So it’s tough to separate the work from the worth.

One of my favorite songs, Stupid Deep by Jon Bellion, hits this perfectly:
What if who I hoped to be was always me?
And the love I fought to feel was always free?
What if all the things I’ve done, yeah
Were just attempts at earning love? Yeah
‘Cause the hole inside my heart is stupid deep
Stupid deep?

It’s that feeling of chasing meaning and validation through the work, trying to earn love or affirmation, when maybe the deeper truth is that we already have value, even without all the effort. I’m still learning how to hold both: to care deeply about what I make, but not let it define who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.neighboringlightentertainment.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hoanshelt-73299a155