Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Piccinino
Hi Shaun, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I began my career in the small town of Chico California, performing in stage plays, learning from my father (Barry Piccinino, a stage director), learning photography from my Mother (Cindy Piccinino) as well as writing and directing commercials for local businesses in town. At 20, I moved to Southern California to follow my passion for filmmaking.. To date, I’ve been fortunate enough to direct eleven feature films, three TV series as well as commercials and music videos, specializing in action sequences and visual effects, skills I refined on early projects like “Deadliest Warrior” and the “Robot Chicken Star Wars specials”. Six of my films made it to Netflix and Three even topped the charts there. Definitely all pinch me moments as my hope is always just that the films hopefully find their audiences. I’m currently in preproduction for my 12th feature film in Las Vegas.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any worthwhile pursuit, my journey has been filled with challenges, and there have been moments when I’ve questioned whether I should continue in the film industry. Those low moments have happened more than once over the years. However, my passion for creating and the desire to evoke some kind of emotions from an audience have kept me driven and moving forward. At the core, I know that entertaining people or offering them an escape for a few hours is what I’m meant to do. The past few years have been especially uncertain, with the pandemic and strikes making things even more difficult. But I’ve done my best to maintain the mindset of “never stop creating,” whether that’s by writing more during those downtimes or making short films and/or proof of concept vidoes to keep the creative flow alive. One of my favorite mantras for this business is, “Never give up, never surrender.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The term that best encapsulates what I do is, “filmmaker.” I see myself as a filmmaker from start to finish—writing, directing, acting, producing, stunt coordinating, post-production, and seeing it through to delivery. I truly enjoy every aspect of the process. It’s what drives me and makes me excited to get out of bed each day (well, almost every day).
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
My favorite piece of advice I like giving to aspiring filmmakers is to get out there create, create, create! Never stop creating because you will grow, expand and your voice… your art is important. It matters, the world needs your art. As artists we are the glitch in the Matrix…
Contact Info:
- Website: www..directorshaun.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-piccinino-2060aa8?
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@piccininopictures
- Other: https://www.direct.me/directorshaun
Image Credits
Viktoria Chernetski
Gloria El -Achkar
