Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Shada.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in Colorado and Nebraska, I was lucky to have an early education immersed in the natural world. After moving east and completing a film degree at Emerson College, I moved to Los Angeles. The alumni network from Emerson opened many doors for me professionally. Once I found stable work in the industry, I returned to producing my own short films as well as staging new scripts with theater companies around town. My narrative shorts, Beauty School and Sexless, both premiered at the Oscar Qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival before broadcasting worldwide on ShortsTV with DirectTV. Seeking to branch into longer-form storytelling drew me to write a screenplay adaptation of Willa Cather’s The Song of the Lark, which participated in Sundance Co//abs, Stowe Story Labs at the Sidewalk Film Festival, and in the Joan Scheckel Filmmaking Labs. I also finished a personal narrative script titled Come Home with Me and I am actively seeking production collaborators and financing in order to produce this feature film in Colorado within the next year.
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?
Finding balance between earning a living and bringing creative projects to life always presents many challenges. I often struggle to meet the demands of a full-time desk job alongside nurturing creative collaborations, let alone to both pay rent and fund my projects. Nights and weekends have become more valuable to me in the last few years. In 2020, the universe conspired for me to move from K-Town to the Westside. Now, in Venice, I have really learned to slow down my lifestyle, especially because I sold my car and started biking both to save money and to mitigate my personal carbon footprint. I mentioned in my ShoutOut LA interview last year that balance is a process, not a destination. In the fall of 2022, I accepted a job opportunity in a completely different industry outside of entertainment. It was really difficult for me to take the leap, but I’m so glad that I made the decision to leave my studio job for a more forward-thinking, socially conscious employer. In the last year, I’ve committed to prioritizing my creative projects, redirecting my energy back into writing and directing feature films. Moving to the Westside also opened up the opportunity for me to join Ten Women Gallery on Main Street in Santa Monica, where I share my botanical photography while I continue developing projects as a filmmaker. Though the change was scary, moving away from a day job in entertainment opened up new pathways for my life and art.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Attending Waldorf School, an immersive, nature-based early education program, highly influenced my work. I always seek natural beauty in the world and relationships surrounding me. My photography, on sale at tenwomengallery.com, features botanical subjects, including flowers growing in my father’s garden, vegetables from local area farmers’ markets, and berries brought down to LA from the Central Valley. I envision these pieces as bouquets intended to be hung in clusters that brighten up any kitchen, dining room, or living space. I just launched a spring series of framed prints that are now available both in-store and online.
I am also committed to elevating stories that center the feminine experience. My adaptation of Willa Cather’s novel The Song of the Lark centers on the powerful story of a woman birthing her truest self. I trust this story will speak to young women seeking role models who make their dreams a reality through hard work and determination. I also hope my film can renew popular interest in Willa Cather’s work, opening her books to a new generation of readers.
In my dramatic feature film Come Home With Me, a college freshman falls into an obsessive, unreciprocated relationship with her high school crush when he leaves for war in Iraq. This film leans into my experiences as a girl of Middle Eastern descent growing up in post-9/11 America during United States military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The lead character’s preoccupation with her childhood friend threatens herself respect, limiting her ability to grow into taking responsibility for her life. Writing this project helped me better understand how my life circumstances and choices influenced who I am today. I look forward to fleshing out the cast as I move towards production.
What matters most to you?
Artistic integrity matters the most to me right now in my career. Being true to myself, trusting the process, and following the guidance of my inner life are key in finding fulfillment. I want to tell stories that resonate with me, knowing that the truer I am to myself, the more likely I am to find others who resonate with the stories I tell.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.samanthashada.com
Image Credits
Michelle Blackwell
Zhenya
Alberto De Coste Calla
Stephanie T. Keefer
Moni Vargas
Jaclyn Bernstein
