Community Highlights: Meet Cleiton Schneider of Schneider Cinema

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cleiton Schneider.

Hi Cleiton, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a creative film producer and director for the past 8 years. However, I did not have a glamourous start in the cinema universe at all. I came to America in 2007 as a missionary and was an aircraft technician in Brazil. I never had any prior theater or filming experience when I arrived in the US. In 2010, I was challenged by a friend to go to an audition for a local casting call for a small production company in Takoma Park, MD. Curiously, I was cast as the leading actor by the director to play the role of “Jesus”. By that time, it was the greatest challenge of my life. Not only for not having any acting experience or real filming skills, but because the director decided to film both in Portuguese and Spanish and I had to deliver it. It was the first Portuguese feature film in history to be produced in the US, “O Messias Não Conhecido” / “The Unknown Messiah”. 

The low budget movie, which later became a mini TV series, aired on Univision (a major Latin TV Station in North America). I worked for 2 years with that production company and learned enough to decide to professionalize myself going to school. In 2015, I graduated from Full Sail University (FL) with a bachelor’s degree in science of Film & TV production and established Schneider Cinema, LLC – my own production company. While in school, I was assigned as the director of photography for a mini NASA documentary at the Kennedy Space Center – Cape Canaveral, FL with the Launching Director, Tim Dunn. From 2014 to 2015, I have written, produced and directed four professional commercials for best commercial contest empowered by Doritos® for the chance to be aired on the Super Bowl. In early 2015, I started developing two feature projects through my production company as a creative producer.

Later on, in 2015, I took a big step forward in my filmmaking journey by moving to Los Angeles. Here, I knew I could immerse in the Hollywood world and develop myself as a solid filmmaker with empirical knowledge and surrounded by giants of the Mecca of Cinema. My experience in Hollywood began working as a production assistant and occasionally a background actor. My kick-start was awarded with major productions like “Agent X”, starring Sharon Stone, then “CSI Finale”, right after “True Detective” starring Colin Farrell; then “West World” starring Anthony Hopkins, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris & Rodrigo Santoro, on HBO. Also, “Blunt Talk” starring Patrick Stewart and then “All the Way” starring Anthony Mackie and the upward Bryan Cranston, just to mention a few. But I did not stop there. In late 2015, I was able to become an official member of the acclaimed Actor’s Union in Hollywood, “SAG-AFTRA” (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). Right after that, I had the privilege to work as one of the passengers of the movie “Sully”, Directed and produced by the legendary Clint Eastwood, starring Tom Hanks along with Aaron Eckhart, produced at Universal Studios lot – Studio City, CA. That was a really cool experience as they brought a real airplane (Airbus A320) to Universal Studios backlot to simulate the flight landing and the evacuation scene. They had flooded the airplane with us inside and we had water by the knees most of the filming. Huge blue screen, long hours, wet feet and Tom Hanks was the coolest dude in the world. Mr. Eastwood the fastest and most precise director I ever had the honor to work with. Not more than 3 takes per scene. The man was quick, serene and so accurate. I was being paid to learn from the greatest in Hollywood. Acting, directing, producing, camera set ups, lighting techniques and the production flow… you name it. It was a real master class.

After I was done experiencing being on set for so many long hours on big projects (more than a 100) I wanted to focus on my production company and decided to make my house available for bookings to Hollywood productions so I could still make money and concentrate on my projects. With that, I was able to host more than 70 projects.

From feature films, documentaries, TV series to music videos, commercials and photoshoots. I was literally having Hollywood inside my house and my network went to another level. Working with big names like Fitz & The Tantrums, Tabitha Brown and Lizzo (Lizzo’s number 1 music video in views with 245+million views so far: “Truth Hurts”). Then, I started managing different locations for other clients with big mansions and very expensive hours. I did that for almost three years and then I decided to open Schneider Cinema, LLC an office for development in Beverly Hills, to focus on the creation of high-end content (which is my true passion) for theater and TV/streaming, close to the big fish names like Imagine Entertainment and Franklin Entertainment. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. Many ups and downs starting with language barrier, then changing profession after being over 30 years old. So much uncertainty. Leaving school without knowing if I was ever going to put my feet on a film set or be hired by Warner Bros or SONY to be an executive assistant and eventually become a studio executive. Yeah! I’ve dreamed of that and it never happened. I’ve sent my resume to dozens of studios, production companies and agencies trying to get my foot at the door. Did it over and over and guess what? Never received one single phone call back. Ever! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Schneider Cinema, LLC we are specialized in the development of high concept uplifting content for theater and TV/streaming. I am a creative producer and I coordinate three creative teams that work with me remotely from different sites of the US and Brazil. Our multi-culture development team gives every project we embrace a vibrant and dynamic touch as we all come from different walks of life and different parts of the world. Our goal is to create and develop inspiring content that our mothers can watch without having to cover their eyes or ears (laughings). Our goal is to educate, elevate and entertain.

Today, as we continue to strive for excellence in everything we do at Schneider Cinema, we are excited to have 4 major copyrighted projects ready to go and to be produced including two TV series: “The Good Thief”, a faith-based project and “Undocumented”, a fresh approach to immigration, corruption and prejudice. Also, 2 Reality TV Shows: “The Final Match”, a basketball-related reality TV show that we are aiming to present to Netflix and ESPN (in development). The show is a variant of a soccer-related reality tv show from Brazil that we’ve partnered with and will air at the end of May 2021 on SBT (major TV station in Brazil) called “Uma Vida, Um Sonho / A life, A Dream”. The sport-based reality tv show was created and idealized by Leonardo Ferraz (my friend & partner) and will get the finalists a two-year contract with a major European 1st division club. We are producing the same thing here with Basketball and going for an NBA contract.

And the second reality TV show involves the homeless community, and it is an out-of-the-box approach on how to minimize homelessness in major cities like LA and many others. We have a few more projects in the incubator that will go into production soon like biopics, animation and hero related projects. We are so excited to share our long developed babies with the world.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentorship is the key to get ahead, to go above and beyond. Matter of fact one of my projects deals with “Mentorship.” You simply can’t make it big without a mentor. Finding people that are 10, 20, 30 years ahead of you in the field, you’re most interested in will help you to get there faster and help you go further. All the great names in history you can think of that accomplished great things had a mentor. You name it. Since I have always believed in networking, I have made sure I was always going to places I knew the people I wanted to connect with was going to be. Like parties, private events that you get in with an invitation or paid tickets, film screenings, workshops and so forth. When you can’t network with big names try their secretary or assistant and go from there. Be natural, be spontaneous and be yourself. Don’t try to impress, it usually hurts more than helps. I had a few mentors and I still have. Some of them were organic connections within my network and some of them I have to pay by the hour. Hey, information, experience and the right feedback is expensive. Don’t be cheap. Invest in yourself. Having Hollywood inside my house was a great asset to have access to top-notch professionals, but one thing that helped to amplify my network was the “90 Days Challenge.” I have made a 90 days challenge to myself. It was extremely helpful as I aimed to meet 90 different people from different backgrounds, different fields and niches for 90 days, one a day, everyday and that pushed me to leave my comfort zone and stretch my wings and go meet the world. I came back with several great connections and a fresh range of people that I could connect with on demand. You gotta Innovate. Don’t be cheap, don’t be shy. Be bold, be blessed, be great!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.schneidercinema.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleitonschneider_filmmaker/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schneidercinema
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7864189/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Image Credits:
Schneider Cinema, LLC Cleiton Schneider Kevin O’Neill Cooper Chapman Disco San Andreas Ana Caram Rocky Balboa Movie Poster – Columbia Pictures