We recently had the chance to connect with Shai Directs and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Shai, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Wrapping the shoot for my pilot In Our 20’s was the last time I felt true joy. The entire experience felt like a family reunion, with everyone working together in such a beautiful way. Hearing each person share how thankful they were for the opportunity to be part of it made every sacrifice along the way feel completely worth it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shai Directs. I’m a writer, director, and the owner of Arch St Productions, which I established in 2021. I’ve been filming for the past 10 years, but I’ve been creating stories and writing scripts since I was about five years old. While my company originally focused on music videos, we’ve since shifted our focus to producing and releasing TV shows and films. Right now, we’re developing a TV show called In Our 20s, which we plan to pitch and sell. Looking ahead to 2026, I plan to shoot another short film. At the moment, I’m deep in my writing phase, developing multiple scripts at once.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my dad has had the biggest influence on how I see myself. He has never judged me for anything in my life or for any dream I’ve wanted to pursue. Having a parent who may not always fully understand the vision or the journey, but still supports it wholeheartedly, is invaluable. He taught me that as long as you’re a good person, stay focused, and don’t let anything pull you off your path, anything is possible.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. When I was shooting my first web series, Miss Nina, it was my first time ever filming any kind of narrative project. I had always been a music video director, so stepping into something that required extensive pre-production, rehearsals, casting, and multiple location setups was a huge shift. Because it was a low-budget project, I had to do everything myself—filming, editing, even acting. I was severely stressed, and at the time, I thought it shouldn’t be that overwhelming. I wanted to quit. But I pushed through, finished the series, and released it. That experience led to my first short film, A Date With An ATL Man, and eventually to my first TV pilot. It all began with that moment of adversity and my choice not to give up.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the industry is the belief that quantity matters more than quality. There’s this idea that if we push out a million projects instead of focusing on one at a time—or just the right ones—we’ll reach our goals faster. In reality, focusing on quantity often leads to burnout and drains creativity, because you’re just trying to get something finished rather than making it the best it can be. I prefer to focus on one or two projects a year, and if I don’t release something that year, I use that time to plan for the next.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m trusting God with my career—when I know that nothing can take me off the path He has set for me. I used to constantly stress about whether things would elevate my career or if I was making the right moves. Now I understand that as long as I do the work He’s called me to do and trust that He has my career in His hands, I can truly be at peace.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaidirects/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@archstreetproductions
Image Credits
@bookthekodak
