Today we’d like to introduce you to Schaef Shockley.
Hi Schaef, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My passion for filmmaking began when I was young and first saw The Lord of the Rings movies. The scale of the story told through those three films blew me away. Steve Irwin was also influential in my life as he combined his love for the outdoors and wildlife with a sense of adventure, inspiring others to care about and reflect on the wonders of the natural world.
These interests led me to attend an extracurricular school in New Zealand directly after high school. Armed with a Nikon D50 and an iPod Touch 4th Generation, I began learning the principles of photography and how to edit videos using Windows Movie Maker.
While I was there, I did a lot of soul-searching and decided to pursue forestry as a career, as it seemed more profitable than filmmaking and would allow me to experience the natural world through my work.
A few years down the line, I was introduced to drone technology in college, and my interest in filmmaking began to resurface. In 2020, while working as an arborist, I realized I wasn’t in the right career field and needed to return to camera work.
Two years later, my friend Jessica Anderson, owner of Thorn & Moon Apothecary, posted that a local filmmaker, Danny Stygion, was shooting a horror movie at her shop. I reached out to Danny and offered to help with camera work on set, and he accepted. Since then, I’ve been part of several of his projects and was even cast as an actor in his feature-length film One Last Trip.
My goal now is to pursue my original dream of becoming a film director. Recently, a crew of some of my closest friends came together to shoot a short film titled Stramonium. My wife, Corrie, even played the lead character.
I wrote the screenplay during the power outages caused by Hurricane Beryl. It explores themes of hiding one’s true self from those who are closest to you, spirituality, and psychedelia. This short film will be my directorial debut, and I’m very excited to begin submitting it to film festivals after postproduction.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been struggles along the way. Self-doubt will always be knocking at the door, but pursuing your dreams means not letting it in and continuing to press forward.
I’ve had to research cinematography, visual composition, project management, and storytelling techniques.
Being part of a community of like-minded people has been a huge help as well.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
With Stramonium, I studied and wrestled with the screenplay for a year, working to build a story that focuses on a character’s personal struggle within a supernatural context.
My personal directorial style is heavily influenced from Italian Giallo films of the 1970’s and 1980’s, with stylish camera work and creative lighting. A few directors that inspire me include Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Darren Aronofsky, and Anna Biller.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a precocious, imaginative kid who was always interested in going outside and straying off the path. I enjoyed studying a wide range of topics, often reading textbooks about animals, Greek mythology, and X-Men comics.
I believe this sense of independence and imagination has helped me pursue my passions in life and become a better storyteller.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schaefshock/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@schaefshock
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm15025196/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Image Credits
Corrie Shockley, Danny Stygion, Felipe Posada.
