We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shana Gagnon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shana below.

Shana, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was 9-years-old I saw the movie ‘My Girl’ in the theatre. That was it for me. I knew I wanted to be an actress. Later I discovered I wanted to make movies.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My friends call me Batgirl! That’s all you need to know. I am Batgirl. Okay, just kidding. Kind of. But let’s talk about filmmaking! I am filmmaker. More specifically, I am a director, actor, writer and producer. I also worked steadily as an acting coach for many years in Los Angeles. In 2019, I moved back to my hometown in a suburb outside of Detroit. I am happy to be home. And I have continued to make films here. There are A LOT of talented filmmakers in Michigan. And there is no better place to make movies.

Actors love working with me because I know how to empower the actor to executive an authentic, meaningful, and vulnerable performance. Often times when people watch narrative films I have directed they say, “This felt like a documentary! The acting was so REAL!” That’s because it WAS real. I am not interested in anything other than telling the truth. The same goes for myself as actor.

I am best known for my drama short SECRET. This is a piece about grief that I directed, wrote and starred in. SECRET screened in over 30 festivals from 2017-2019. It took home many awards; including Grand Jury Prize Best Short film. Most recently, I directed, co-wrote, and co-executive produced the drama short film BIRDIE. My friend Aerial Robinson stars in this film. She also co-wrote and co-executive produced. She wanted to create a film about motherhood, battling depression, and leaving Hollywood to raise her son in rural Missouri. This film has done well in festivals this year (2023) most recently taking home BEST DRAMA SHORT at Silicon Beach Film Festival at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Future projects: I am producing, directing, and starring in the title role of the full length feature film (or mini-series) MAUDE. This is based on the international best-selling book written by my real-life Aunt, Donna Foley Mabry. I narrated the audiobook, which is available on audible. The book is available on amazon in all forms. We are still very much in pre-production. We started in 2019 – but the pandemic slowed us down – but we are picking it back up. I am determined to make this film happen. And it WILL happen. Hell or high water. “I have promises to keep…and miles to go before I sleep.”

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

If you are an artist, you just have to do it. I work a corporates day job, like most people. Some day, directing movies will pay my bills. I do this work because I have to express myself creatively. I make films that help people. When a story wants to be told – you tell it. You make it happen. This just in – making indie films is SERIOUSLY hard work. It’s a grind. It’s not for the weak or wishy washy. You have to want more than anything. Period. What is rewarding? Seeing an audience moved to tears by your work. I have an incredible team of filmmakers that have always had my back. Randy J. WIlliams and Mark Broe. Thank you.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes. To fulfill the dream I have had of making movies ever since I was a 9-year-old girl. I owe this to that kid. I owe it to my Aunt Donna Foley Mabry to fulfill my promise to turn her international bestselling book MAUDE into a big film. I will make it happen.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @batgirldirector @phantom_films_llc
• Facebook: facebook.com/birdietheshortfilm,
• Youtube: Phantom Films LLC

Image Credits
I have rights to all images