Dig In Magazine Interview with Sonoma County
Actor & Filmmaker,
Christopher Shawn Shaw

Christopher Shawn Shaw is an actor and director that resides in Northern California's Sonoma County region. His love of filmmaking has led him to enter his film, "Skip Listening," into the 168 Film Project (www.168Project.com). The theme for this year’s 168 Hour Film Project was "Hearing God." "Skip Listening" is a comedic short film about a narcissistic radio DJ (Skip Stonewall, played by Comedian Thor Ramsey) who does not take the time to listen and hear the people around him. He doesn’t even know one of his radio staff (Lexi Marman, www.LexiMarman.com) is Deaf! "Skip Listening" was awarded Runner-Up Best Screenplay-Comedy (Thor Ramsey), Runner-Up Best Comedy, Runner-Up Best Film, and Joshua Schleh’s BTS short was Runner-Up Best Behind-The-Scenes Documentary.

Dig In Magazine: Where are you based out of?

Christopher Shawn Shaw: I currently reside in beautiful Sonoma County in Northern California.

DIM: How did you get involved in film and filmmaking?

CS: As a child, I was fascinated by film and television, and had aspirations of becoming a "movie star," even majored in acting in college, and it was in college where I learned basic cut-to-cut editing. My parents had also purchased me my own VHS Slimcam Camcorder, so I got more and more interested in directing and editing on the side in college as well.

DIM: Where did you study acting and filmmaking?

CS: I studied acting as a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Otterbein College (now Otterbein University) in Westerville, OH (I was born and raised in Ohio). After moving to Southern California in late 1994, I also studied some at Weist-Barron-Hill Acting For Television & Film...and before attending there, even took Judy Carter’s Stand-Up Comedy Workshop, where we actually got to perform at a real club at the end of the workshop. It actually went rather well.

DIM: Where did you come up with the idea for the film, "Skip Listening"?

CS: The theme for this year’s 168 Hour Film Project (www.168Project.com) was "Hearing God." Based on that theme, each team in the competition gets a Bible verse to springboard off of and integrates their verse into their short film. Actress/Model Kristin McCoy (www.KristinMcCoy.com) came onto our team as a Production Coordinator, but that soon changed. Before we knew our specific Bible verse, we had our first production meeting where the crew got to meet each other and talk about the game plan for the shoot...and we all shared a fun fact about ourselves. Well, Kristin’s fun fact was that she has been an ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreter for the past 12 years. I was like, "Hmmm...The theme is ‘Hearing God’...Kristin’s involved with the Deaf community...Nobody else is going to explore this!" So, Kristin became one of our story team, Deaf Actors Casting, ASL Consultant, and even had a small acting role in the production. After we got our verse, which was Nehemiah 8:9b – 10, we could then write the story, incorporating the locations and resources we had into it. We had an on site story team of about 5 people, Comedian John Branyan (www.JohnBranyan.com) in Indiana was our Remote Writing Consultant, and Comedian and star of SKIP LISTENING Thor Ramsey (www.ThorRamsey.com) was our head screenwriter for the short film. We are planning to put together a feature-length film version of SKIP LISTENING (www.SkipListeningShort.com), too, with Thor Ramsey as the head screenwriter again.

DIM: What is the film, "Skip Listening," about?

CS: "Skip Listening" is a comedic short film about a narcissistic radio DJ (Skip Stonewall, played by Comedian Thor Ramsey) who does not take the time to listen and hear the people around him. He’s so self-involved that he doesn’t even know one of his radio staff (Lexi Marman, www.LexiMarman.com) is Deaf! Skip stumbles into a traumatic circumstance that forces him to hear in a way that he would have never considered possible before, with special thanks to the Deaf community. One of the tag lines for "Skip Listening" is "What is the difference between Skip Stonewall and a room full of Deaf people? They can hear better."

DIM: What was your role in the film?

CS: I had the honor and privilege of being the lead Producer on the film, being the Director, and even had a small role acting in it...as Billy Bob, one of my previously-conceived short film characters. God blessed us with a stellar cast and crew of professionals, and they are more so the reason "Skip Listening" turned out as well as it did than me. God graciously blessed us this year with a team of key people who continue to work together on other projects.

DIM: How did you find the cast and crew for "Skip Listening"?

CS: Our team this year (Team 3) basically started with just me committed to it. I had asked my now producing partner, Josh B. Jacobs (who also played The Kidd in "Skip Listening") to join me again. We had participated in the 168 Hour Film Project a couple years ago, there was a total of about 7 of us that year, and I – for one – was wearing way too many hats, and basically the cast was also the crew, for the most part. It was major guerilla filmmaking...and ridiculous (but was still fun). I was determined to not do that again this year, however, so after Josh committed to working on the 168 this year with me, we brainstormed a list of crew positions we desired to be filled. He got on the horn with his friend, Colleen Bennett, who graciously came on board as our Line Producer...the person who assembles the crew. So, initially via Colleen, the crew team started snowballing, and someone else on the crew would bring on somebody else, and so forth. Our behind-the-scenes filmmaker Josh Schleh (also a friend of Colleen) shot and edited an award-nominated BTS (Behind-The-Scenes) Documentary in which we talk a little bit about how the crew came about, too. Please check that out via the www.SkipListeningShort.com web site, by clicking on the "168" tab. Thank you.

DIM: In terms of getting the cast and crew together for the film, what were your requirements in the hiring process? What were you looking for in an actor or a crew member to help out on this in this film?

CS: Honestly, availability and the willingness to work for a few days (or less) for little to no financial compensation. Creativity and personality were pluses, too, of course...However, I didn’t choose most of the crew; other people referred them and/or brought them on board. As far as actors, I’m really big on casting. The actors need to look the part they are playing and be able to act believably. So, that department is absolutely crucial for the director to be hands-on in, which I was, along with Colleen and our screenwriter and lead actor, Thor Ramsey. Deaf Actors Casting was beautifully handled by Kristin McCoy, who also served as part of our story team, as our ASL (American Sign Language) Consultant, and as an actress in the short. And as far as Thor Ramsey goes, I met him on Facebook (as well as Remote Writing Consultant John Branyan), eventually asked if he’d be interested in joining the team, and he thankfully was and did. None of us knew what the story would be at that time, just that I sensed the genre was comedy, but not even that was solidified until we got the Bible verse for our team to integrate into whatever our story would become.

DIM: Where has "Skip Listening" been shown?

CS: "Skip Listening" premiered this past March at the 168 International Film Festival at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. My pastor was so supportive that he even sponsored a Northern California premiere on May 1st at the new facility for City Life Fellowship (www.CityLifeFellowship.com), and that premiere was the first official/public City Life Fellowship event at the new meeting location. It screened with some other short films in June at the historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, CA. That was the first time it publically screened in front of a very mixed audience, and multiple people commented afterward that it was their favorite presentation that night. Comedian Thor Ramsey has also screened "Skip Listening" at some of his stand-up comedy events. We’re planning some fundraisers for the feature-length film YOUTH GROUP that Thor wrote the screenplay for as well, taking place in Northern and Southern California and Washington, where we plan to screen "Skip Listening," too. We also hope to have an online premiere of it soon.

DIM: How did you get involved in the 168 International Film Festival?

CS: I was first told about it by an acquaintance at a Christian fellowship I attended in Northern California, because she knew I was interested in filmmaking. I took the information, but procrastinated really looking into it and getting involved until about 2 years after. I finally participated in 2008, and am so glad I did. I love the 168. If shooting schedules and so forth permit, Thor and I plan to do it again in 2011. (I’ve actually already signed up for 2 entries.)

DIM: What was "Skip Listening" recognized for at the 168 International Film Festival?

CS: "Skip Listening" was Runner-Up Best Screenplay-Comedy (Thor Ramsey), Runner-Up Best Comedy, Runner-Up Best Film, and Joshua Schleh’s BTS short was Runner-Up Best Behind-The-Scenes Documentary. "Skip Listening" was also nominated in the following categories: Best Production Design (Colleen Bennett, Matthew Eason, Scott Fales), Best Sound Design (Durand Trench, Billy Savage), Best Editor (Matthew Reithmayr), Best Cinematography (Dominic Bartolone), Best Supporting Actress (Heather L. Tyler), Best Supporting Actor (Robert G. Lee), Best Actor (Thor Ramsey), Best Actress (Lexi Marman), and Best Director. It was the second most-nominated short film at the 2010 168 International Film Festival.

DIM: What other film festivals have you been involved with and in what capacity?

CS: I’ve mainly only been involved with the 168 International Film Festival, but "Skip Listening" has been entered into other film festivals as well. It screened at the AOF (Action On Film) Festival in Pasadena, CA, in July, and is scheduled to screen at the Redemptive Film Festival in Virginia in November, to name a couple.

DIM: I noticed that you have acted, directed, produced and edited what do you like to do the most?

CS: I like being on set the most, I think, so directing. Editing is a really close second, though, because although it is very tedious and time-consuming (and I take a lot of time with the footage), it can be so much fun (and funny) and very creative. I’ve laughed out loud a number of times during the editing process of certain comedy shorts, and it’s really fun to see it all come together. To me, directing and editing go hand-in-hand more or less, because the director has to be thinking about how the footage he or she is shooting will look in the editing process, and make sure the footage is compatible to be edited together and flow properly.

DIM: Where do you get the funds to make your films?

CS: Most of it thus far has been money God has blessed me with through my current full-time job, as well as contributions from friends and family. A huge chunk of what made "Skip Listening" affordable was the result of A LOT of gracious favors and people sharing their expertise and time for little to no financial compensation. Josh Jacobs and I did some fundraising via e-mail for "Skip Listening" as well (and he helped pay for a huge chunk of it, too). I am currently moving toward full-time filmmaking and other fundraising ventures.

DIM: What other films have you made?

CS: ...YOUTH GROUP is my feature-length film producing (under Thor Ramsey as lead Producer) and directorial debut. It is a romantic comedy, written by and starring Thor, that takes a satirical look at how sincere people can be sincerely misguided...but with a redemptive theme. We are fundraising for it right now and shot some footage for a trailer to help with the fundraiser process. Our other producer and editor, Matthew Reithmayr (www.DoulosMedia.com), is finalizing the official trailer. More information about YOUTH GROUP and upcoming fundraisers for it can be found by searching Youth Group Feature Film on Facebook.
I also recently started fundraising for a comedic web series called D.O.T.Y., created by another 168 Film Project filmmaker, Mike Capozzi (www.MikeCapozzi.com), who has brought me on board as a producer, director, and actor. Colleen Bennett is also producing on that, with Mike as the lead producer, the lead actor, and the lead writer. Comedian Thor Ramsey is also chiming in on the writing, as well as playing D.O.T.Y., a Wi-Fi capable, digital video calendar...and wreaks havoc in Mike’s character’s protective little world.

DIM: I've seen a few of your shorts and they are really funny, what do you like about comedy?

CS: Thank you very much! I love to laugh, and I love that comedy can be very uplifting, as well as a very powerful way to communicate something very important, even very serious at times. Certainly not everything is fun and games, but I do believe people need to laugh more.

DIM: What are you trying to communicate through your films?

CS: Depending on the film, a variety of things. Most of my comedy shorts currently online are very quirky, and some are just simply ideas that I thought would be funny and make people laugh, no real message. Other shorts are faith-based and tackle Biblically based spiritual themes and messages.

DIM: What is your new film "Youth Group" about?

CS: In a nutshell, "Youth Group" is a romantic comedy with a satirical look at certain methodologies and strategies in some church organizations...with a redemptive theme. It explores how sincere people can be sincerely misguided, and it comes to a very redemptive and touching conclusion.

DIM: When does it premiere?

CS: Well, we are currently fundraising for it, looking for people who either want to give to the production or invest in it. It is not a multi-million dollar production, either; our current budget goal is $200,000. We are shooting for a January 2011 production, which will hopefully be ready to distribute by April 2011.

DIM: Who stars in the film?

CS: We don’t have the entire cast locked in yet, but Thor stars as the youth pastor, Guy Sides.

DIM: What was your role in the filmmaking process?

CS: My roles are producing and fundraising, casting, directing, and a small acting role as well.

DIM: What is the name of your production company and how did you come to put that together?

CS: The production company I started with Josh B. Jacobs is G.R.A.T.S. Productions. G.R.A.T.S. is an acrostic for Gotta Rap About This Stuff that I came up with (based on an inside joke involving that phrase) so that we would have something to put on screen for SKIP LISTENING. Obviously, that is a production company for comedies he and I do together...no rapping experience required.

DIM: What inspires you in life and what inspires you to create?

CS: Powerful and poignant messages and examples of a Godly, Biblical nature inspire me in life, especially through the medium of film, and through genuine believers in Jesus Christ in both speech and action. And I need A LOT of prayer and help. Creatively, I’m inspired in a number of ways, too: a funny idea, a dramatic idea, a visual, a really cool camera angle I see on the screen, a really powerful testimony, and so forth.

DIM: What do you watch on television and what are your favorite films?

CS: I don’t have TV programming access, so I mainly (and somewhat rarely) watch DVDs. Most of my time at home lately has been online and asleep (not usually at the same time!). Too many favorite films to name, but one is "Babe." I love comedies (especially over-the-top ones), dramedies, suspense/thriller, some drama, some documentaries, some action/adventure (especially comedic ones). And my favorite TV drama/suspense show is "24." I have yet to see Season 8, though.

DIM: What can we expect from you in the future?

CS: Career-wise, hopefully a lot of projects that are funny, poignant, redemptive, dramatic, suspenseful...from short films to feature-length films, webisodes, documentaries, etc. Everyday life-wise, hopefully a surrendered heart and life to my Creator God Almighty, who genuinely loves and cares for people, like Jesus. I have a ways to go on that one...and it’s ONLY by His grace that I would even come close. Please pray for me, and thank you very much. God bless you!