Se7en Questions with Filmmaker
Shawn Burkett
Who are some of the artists or some of the works
that inspired you to get started in your field? Of today’s current artists, who do you draw inspiration from?
I’m a huge fan of Ti West. His film The House Of The Devil was such a minimal film that focused on the story and kept you on the edge of your set. But the film that made we want to get into film was David Slade’s Hard Candy. That was such a beautiful and another minimal film that keeps your attention. And I generally draw from people who are in depth and passionate about their projects.
What have thus far been some of the negatives of being an indie artist in your field?
Well, I do my best to look at everything in a different way. There is so much negativity in this world, but when it’s aimed directly at you it can knock the wind out of you. So, I try to look at the positive in everything. For instance, there was a woman who messaged me regularly after I announced Don’t Fuck In The Woods. I ignored her for a few weeks and then one day, I just asked her WHY? She told me that what I was doing was wrong, and that I was just making porn, and that I objectified as well as explicated women. So I replied, and reassured her that the film wasn’t anywhere as bad as what people had built it up to be. I told her a bit about me, and my kids and that the title was just meant to be as upfront as possible. She didn’t support the film, but at least the hate mail stopped, lol. But no matter what, you will never please everyone, and people will always have negative things to say about your film, even if they love it. So it’s best to just keep your head up and eye on the prize.
What have thus far been the positives of being an indie artist in your field?
It’s great being able to get a group of people together with the common goal of creating a film. 90% of my friends are from the film industry and they are more family than friends. But also, there’s traveling! I love traveling to all the film festivals and meeting other artists as well as talent, or shooting in a different state with other production companies.
What have been your favorite completed projects to work on up to this point? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
First would be Betsy. That’s the closest I’ve gotten to being able to have my entire vision come to life. And Don’t Fuck In The Woods is up there just because I look back at that film as a real struggle that filmmakers come across.
What projects are you currently working on or have planned for the near future?
At the moment I will be the Director of Photography on Tory Jones next film Wicked Ones. Other than that I’m planning on raising funds for my next creature feature Stranded, in late February 2019!
Where do you see yourself in a few years and what would it take for you to consider your career a success?
I’ll still be making films, for sure! But I would very much like to break into other categories of film!
If you couldn’t do this anymore, what career path do you think you would have followed and why?
I’m gonna pretend like this isn’t a thing, lol. But I would probably remain in the industry in some form, either composing or editing.
