Life & Work with Shaun Mathis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Mathis.

Hi Shaun, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I got my start in 2015 when I wrote and co-produced a short film for 2 Chainz and Bankroll Fresh called Take Over Your Trap. The film premiered at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival, and the response was great. From there I started working with several artists, but it wasn’t until I started to release my own films that I secured a spot for myself in Atlanta’s film community. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part, it has been smooth, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t struggles. The struggles for me were minor. I use my own money for my films, so I don’t have to raise money or count on investors. That allows to me to make any movie I want whenever I want. So, in that aspect, nothing holds me back creatively. The struggles that I have had were negotiating distribution or choosing the wrong company to release a film. I’ve had to sue 2 people for breaching contracts, things like that. But overall, it’s been a smooth road for me. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in writing films and TV series. People call me Filmmaker Shaun Mathis and know that there aren’t many people that can write as well as I can. So much so, I also teach screenwriting. I have a weekly class, and I teach writers one-on-one. I am known for my films on Amazon (The Plug), on Apple (Miles in the Life:Story of a BMF Drug Trafficker), on Starz (The Curse of La Patasola), and on Tubi (Eighteen) 

What I am most proud of is my newest documentary, Kevin Samuels: Misogynist or Messenger, which will be released in the late summer of 2024. Other than that, I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to afford a comfortable living for my family while being creative. I’m never been a “starving artist”. 

What sets me apart from others is the quality of my work and how consistent I am. Independently, there are few filmmakers that put out work of my calibur of originality, execution, and quality. 

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was a very creative kid, but that was developed out of a lot of trauma. I was angry a lot from the physical abuse I suffered, and I lived in fear because I didn’t know if I would have to switch foster homes or be sent back to the abuse. I lived 80% of my childhood in survival mode. Writing and being creative is what saved me. I was always interested in writing and telling stories. I thought I’d be an author one day. And in 2006 I did become an author. But that was just the prelude to me becoming a screenwriter. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Filmmaker_Shaunmathis
• Facebook: @filmmaker_shaunmathis
• Youtube: LaconicTV
• Other: @filmmaker_Shaunmathis on TikTok