Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Mathis.
Shaun, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Atlanta in 2010 specifically to get into the film industry, but being a single father was difficult and it took a little while. However, I got my start in 2013 with Sharon Tomilson at Studio 11 Films. A year later, I started my own production company, Outspoken Films, and released two web series, Rich Brothers & Threesome. But my big break came in 2015 when I was hired to co-write and co-produce the short film Take Over Your Trap for 2 Chaniz & Street Execs. The success of that film led me to produce several music videos for Street Execs and co-direct the feature film Soul’d Out with producer 2-17. Shortly after, I partnered with Justin Toulon and we started Laconic Productions.
Under the new production company, we released the successful feature film, The Plug, which as four million Amazon views. In 2019 we released the feature documentary Miles in the Life: The story of a BMF Drug Trafficker narrated by acting legend Clifton Powell which has reached 2 million Amazon views. Since our projects have won dozens of film festivals. I have written, directed or produced 31 feature and short films working with the likes of DC Young Fly, B. Simone, Karon Riley, rapper Scarface, author Zane, Freebandz Ent, T.C. Carson, Bossip & John Stewart to name a few. IN the mist of all that, I also conduct one of Atlanta’s few Writer’s Rooms and I’m the co-president and founder of a non-profit organization called Film Family.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
To be honest, it actually has been a smooth road. I operate under two main principals, integrity and quality. I treat everyone I work with and for with the upmost integrity and I and my production company delivers impeccable quality in everything we work on. I think it’s because of that our road has been smooth. When you work in production, there are always struggles on set but as far as my journey to where I am now, I haven’t had many.
Laconic Productions & The Writers Room – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company, Laconic Productions, is a full-service production company. We specialize in feature films, short films, commercials and music videos. My company, who I co-own with Justin Toulon, has the capability to take a project from conception to completion in in-house editing, writing, producing and post-production. We are known for our two biggest projects, The Plug & Miles in the Life: The story of a BMF Drug Trafficker. What sets us apart from the others is our quality. We produce TV & theater-quality projects. We may be an independent production company but our work doesn’t look independent. We also have a much faster turnaround time than many companies in out here. I am very proud of the work my partners and I have done and are very excited for the future of our company.
The second company I run is called Atlanta’s Writer’s Room. In the Writer’s Room I teach beginner and novice writers the art of storytelling and screenwriting. I have a weekly group class which is conducted via zoom and I also do one on one instruction. The Writer’s Room has been very successful in that I have two writers that have been accepted to prestigious film colleges, AFI (American Film Institute) as well as USC in California. What sets my Writer’s Room apart from the others is that not only to I teach individuals how to write, I also teach how to go into production and the Writer’s Room produces three short films a year giving the writers hands-on experience in producing their content. Currently, we have 60 active writers.
The third company I’m apart of is a non-profit called Film Family of which I am a co-founder and co-president. The Film Family mission is to build an inclusive community for all people of color to bridge the gap, create opportunities, break barriers and evolve the art of filmmaking. We accomplish this through workshops, sharing opportunities and charitable work.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck has not played a role in my life or business. Hard work, integrity, quality and consistency has played major roles in my life and business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laconicproductions.com | www.filmfamily.org
- Phone: 16788829798
- Email: shaun@laconicproductions.com
- Instagram: @filmmaker_shaunmathis | @laconicproductions | @filmfamilyorg
- Facebook: shaunmathis
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