Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shane Weiss. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Shane, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I honestly still am learning to do what to do and I don’t think that will ever change. All I know is that I love storytelling and being able to escape into another world for a couple hours. It’s like out of body therapy for me. I went to school for filmmaking, primarily editing, but truly fell in love with the art of writing after taking a screenwriting class and being stuck inside during the Covid quarantine. Watching movies, both good and bad, has helped me learn what to do and also what not to do while writing. The only thing I can think of that would have really sped up my learning process is to have started writing earlier and to write everyday. That right there is my biggest obstacle too… Myself.
I don’t want to act like writing is some noble thing, but it does take a lot of self-discipline and courage to put yourself out there and on paper. It’s scary and intimidating and quite honestly, mentally exhausting. But I love it. That goes with the skill I think is most essential and that is to be true to yourself and the pen (or keyboard) you write with. That obviously doesn’t mean what is written has to be real or gospel, but that it comes from your heart, your past experiences, and what you observe in everyday life. What you feel inside. The passion will be seen and the stories will flow that much easier. Writing is about being honest even in fiction. A person can stick to whatever is deemed the correct formula for screenwriting, but at the end of the day, if it doesn’t come from the heart, it can only be so good.
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.
I got into my craft or the film industry by feeling like an outsider. Like many others who felt that way too, I struggled to make friends and didn’t, and still don’t, see the world like I assume an average person does. For all I know, many people might see things the same way as me and what I just said might sound pretentious, but my feelings still remain the same.
Movies were and still are my outlet to escape to another world for a couple of hours and experience another life. I don’t feel alone during that time and I learn things about myself that I never would have otherwise. Movies make me feel emotions when maybe I can’t seem to feel them on my own, whether it’s laughing, crying, or just anger. Whatever it may be, it’s therapy for me. I want to do what movies have done for me in those ways, for others. I want to tell stories that occupy my head.
I’m still very much learning my craft, but I think what sets me apart from others is my life… and also my weird sense of humor. No one can share my same experiences and how I’ve handled and internalized them all. There are most likely plenty of people out there who we can sympathize or even empathize with each other, but everyone eventually grows into their own individual and that is what is so great about filmmaking. My films can make people feel seen or know they aren’t alone in whatever struggles or feelings they may have, yet how we all express it or deal with it, will most likely be different.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
This might sound like a cliché, but a resource I’d say is people. I used to be very introverted and had to force myself out of my precious little bubble. It wasn’t easy, but once I started to let go, even so slightly, my world grew. I could be the greatest artist in the world, but if I didn’t have the connections I even do today, it would be meaningless. That’s not to say that everyone will be loyal and stick by your side, so it’s important to learn who you want in your inner-circle, but the film industry isn’t something you can survive on your own. Honestly, life would be very difficult, maybe even impossible too. People as resources can be for feedback on your work, actually helping you make something, sending it to other people for future work or publishing, or as simple as being your cheerleaders off to the side. That is very important as being in the film industry involves a lot of rejections and self judgement, so having the support can carry you to the finish line.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is finishing whatever I am working on. Art is made for other people to enjoy or interpret, but at the end of the day, it has to be for you. With that in mind, it’s like getting something off your chest, whether you’ve been holding it in for a day or a year. Seeing it birthed into the world gives me the satisfaction of it’s existence and that I can do it. People enjoying it is just a huge bonus for me, but finishing it shows my resilience and that I can beat any self-doubt I may face along the way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @shaneweiss24
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-weiss-841a05158/
Image Credits
Photos taken by me (Shane Weiss), Caleb Knowles, Ahmet Zappa.