Rising Stars: Meet Shayne Lightner of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayne Lightner.

Hi Shayne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey is one where it took me a long time to find my place and my voice in
work, but I got there through following my heart. And through ‘doing’ and trial
and error. And not giving up. The first lesson for me is one you hear often, which
is “get in where you fit in” or simply where you can get in. For me that was
documentary filmmaking. To have an idea for a documentary subject matter and
then shoot a lot and put it together in the edit using a sense for story I
developed earlier as a writer was and is very powerful. I also picked up a sense
for the importance of place or location. Then when I made the transition to
feature films, I used that same voice or perspective but applied it to genre
movie structures. So I think what separates me from others is I always tells
stories about particular places and of those from historically underrepresented
backgrounds within those places. I just completed my second movie (“Me Three”,
distributed by Cineverse June 3, 2025 currently available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime,
Google Play and Cineverse.tv) about a particular area in Los Angeles–West
L.A.. My first, “Get Bossy” (also distributed by Cineverse and available
everywhere), was fictionally set in a section of Long Beach called Belmont Shore.
And my third, “Robin’s Hood”, which we just started shooting, is set in the Inland
Empire, in San Bernardino and in the mountains above. None of this was easy
but I did it by continuing to make projects and using whatever gifts I may have,
as an artist, to be a vessel and let the creative spirit come through me. All of this came together and culminated last year where I had a movie (“Me Three”), a documentary (“Living Ubuntu”, my fourth financed doc) and a well-regarded short I was hired to direct (“Judgmental Prick!”) released. So what
I want the world to know about me and my brand is the power of being creative
and resourceful, allowing my gifts to be used for others and, as Robert Rodriguez says, you don’t need to know. In fact
if you don’t know (how to do something or what to do) that’s okay because the
energy you bring to it will make its way into the work. Sometimes it’s good to
not know because then we don’t take ourselves too seriously and the stakes are
low and we can move quickly. And then it’s okay to succeed not knowing,
because that’s inspiring to others as well! The most important thing is to finish
and move onto the next thing. And finish that! And in the end, trust that
whatever gifts you have will come out over time.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
To me by definition if you’re stretching and trying to do big things, there’ll always be struggles and challenges. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. To me the more important question is “Given that with every path there are struggles, with this path, how did you know these were the challenges and struggles you wanted to take on?” And my answer to that is you know you’re onto something you should be doing in life and this world when you enjoy the process of the work, regardless of the outcome. In other words, the joy is in the ‘doing’, not the accomplishment (or more commonly, it’s the journey not the destination). But I’d go one step further and say things are even “bleaker” than this (I put “bleaker” in quotes for a reason I’ll come back to in a second). Because even when you find the thing you enjoy doing, in my experience it’s healthy to have the perspective that no one will help you. In other words, “The cavalry isn’t coming.” It’s a quote I heard from Mark Duplass. To me, it’s a helpful mindset with which to approach everything. When we’re making ourselves, inventing ourselves, there’s always that temptation to think “If only I could get to this point, things will be easier. Or if I get this break, things will be great.” And while that’s possible, it’s not actually how things work day to day. At every level, even at the most successful levels, you have to continue to make your own way. You have to push things along and always make things happen. You have to set things up so that if someone is going to make a decision to help you, it’s an appealing choice because it helps them. At that point, you’ve done all the hard work and if they don’t say ‘yes’, someone else will. You’re actually being of help to them. So to always keep in mind “The cavalry isn’t coming” is to remind myself that things don’t get any easer, at any level, and to do whatever it takes to achieve whatever I’m trying to achieve. It’s not easy to keep that in mind. And it’s not easy to do what needs to be done to achieve what you want to achieve. But to me, knowing this isn’t actually “bleaker” but is helpful and reaffirming to have this realistic view of the world.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a narrative feature film and documentary Director. As mentioned, it took me a long time to find my place and my voice in work. I trained in network television, at the feet of some of the best directors in tv. As a Director, I believe I’m known for having a voice that can tell genre stories based in truth of a particular place and with a particular pace. I also integrate music and location photography deeply in my work. What sets me apart from others is a I do have a voice and the ability to use all the tools of cinema to use it to tell a unified, emotional story. Technically I’m most proud of being able to shoot and edit. Lastly, being called to tell stories of those historically underrepresented is something I’ll continue to pursue and stand by, regardless of what’s going on in the wider world. So staying true to my voice and calling, and listening to my leading by being willing to take risks and dive in even though I may not know it all or even a lot, is something I’m most proud of.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Going back to the prior section, I’d say this also hinges on your definition of risk. I’d never risk anyone’s life or wellbeing. Thus the risks I deal with are perceived financial and career risks for myself. Often times those carry heavy perceived anxiety. Over time I’ve certainly felt elements of that, which has been hard. But ultimately I’m most grateful for the risks I took because if I hadn’t have taken them, I could’ve never grown and gotten to another level. In the entertainment industry (where the stakes are not life and death but only whether something is actually a moving and compelling story), I learned one of the most important lessons in my first job as a messenger in a production company mailroom. I used to deliver packages to studio lots and there are always many sound stages with doors that have harsh warnings on the front: “Absolutely positively no admittance whatsoever!” In the beginning I used to wonder what was behind those doors until one day a mailroom pal mentioned “You know that’s to keep out anyone who wanders by when the flashing light (by the entrance) is on. Otherwise, you should go in.” “Yeah but it says ‘Absolutely positively no admittance whatsoever!'” He just looked at me amused. “When the traffic light turns yellow, do you slow down or speed up?” I knew my answer to that. So the next time I was on the lot, I gathered my courage, faced the door, braced myself, reached out, pulled it open and went in. I crossed the threshold. And you know what? I didn’t melt. I didn’t evaporate. No one threw me out or off the lot. Honestly, no one even cared or paid me much attention (the first of several reminders to come in my life that I was the star of a movie only I was watching). But from that point on, the lesson for me in the entertainment industry was when the ‘door’ says “Absolutely positively no admittance whatsoever!”, that’s my cue to go in. I hope I can always have that courage.

Pricing:

• -Please check out “Me Three” on Amazon or AppleTV via streaming.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.shaynelightner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaynelightner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PresentEntertainmentLLC
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayne-lightner-a762b0/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thedirecta

Image Credits
Christopher Lee Powell for image# 20250215_140305.