Spotlight on Will Shanahan '09
Source/Author: Lily Schneider '19, Alumni Intern
October 07, 2019
Will Shanahan ‘09 has always had a passion for film. Today, Shanahan has created films and commercials for multiple corporations including the Atlanta Braves MLB team, Dateline NBC, and the YMCA, just to name a few. Shanahan has continued to share his skills and love for film by starting the non-profit organization, The Tampa Foundation. The mission of the organization is to inspire the community to share positive public art. He is committed to working with Diamond View, a creative film agency in Tampa, as a director. Although Shanahan has found some challenges along the way, including changing his college major, he did not give up on his dream.
We had the opportunity to catch up with Will Shanahan and learn more about what he has been doing since graduating from Shorecrest in 2009:
After Shorecrest, where did you go to school and what did you study?
I went to the University of Colorado, and began as a film major. Boulder was a change of pace after growing up in Florida, but I loved the mountains and outdoors. I switched my major after two years because I had doubts about my ability to make it into the film industry. Our professors were very transparent about the likelihood of one of us making it in Hollywood—almost impossible. I decided to switch my major to history and considered a career in law. I graduated with a degree in history in 2013. Even though I changed my major, film and production were still my passion, so I took any classes I could, and shot films shorts with friends. The summer before senior year, I got an internship with "Dateline NBC," and that changed everything for me. It solidified that film/TV production was what I was going to pursue. I haven't looked back since.
Did you always know you wanted to get into film and directing? What was your path into directing?
I was always fascinated with cameras. My dad had a huge Nikon film camera back in the ’90s, and I constantly wanted to use it, but I was too young and it was too fragile. Our family got a digital camera when I was in early Middle School, and I immediately started making "Star Wars" and LEGO action-themed short films with my friends. For inspiration, we used to binge watch TV shows - before Netflix came around - buying DVD box sets to popular series and watch them start to finish. Two television shows that had an impact on me were "The O.C." and "Lost." A film that had a great impact on me was "Garden State" which came out in 2004. I remember after I watched it for the first time, I said to myself, “This is what I want to do.” I later took videography in high school, and although it didn’t cover much about production, it helped grow my interest and showed me that a career path was possible.
Your early experiences were in network television. Can you tell us a little more about this and your position?
I interned with "Dateline NBC" at Rockefeller Center in NYC. I assisted producers with day-to-day tasks, cataloging B-roll, and sitting in on edits. I was the only intern to be credited on two different episodes of Dateline as Assistant Producer. The episodes are called "In an Instant" and "Written in Blood.” It was a valuable experience in a fast-paced environment. I loved the production side of the internship, but through this experience I learned that I wanted to do something more creative than news.
How did you come to work at Diamond View?
After I graduated college, I moved to New York. I struggled to find consistent work since I had little experience on a set. I applied for some open jobs in the Tampa/Saint Petersburg area because it was a growing media market, and it was where my family lived. I interviewed at multiple places, but couldn't find the right fit. Eventually, I saw an ad for an Assistant Producer role at Diamond View. I went in for an interview and immediately hit it off with the team. Back then, we only had six employees and no one knew what they were doing, but we had a lot of fun and passion and clients could see that. We kept getting more and more opportunities and growing. I grew within the company started off as an Assistant Producer/Editor, then I moved into a Producer and Assistant Director role for about two years. At the beginning of 2016, I directed my first broadcast commercial and since then I have been full-time directing. The company has grown to 25 full-time employees with satellite offices in Atlanta and Miami to service our clients in those markets. Our biggest client is the Atlanta Braves, and we are currently going in talks with other professional sports teams as we see it as the perfect niche for our talents.
Tell us a little about Diamond View and what you do for the company?
Diamond View is a video production company based in Tampa with satellite offices in Atlanta and Miami. We specialize in short-form, emotionally charged content. Our motto is: “Story First,” so we work with clients who want us to tell the story of their company and our goal is to make videos people can feel. We have won various awards from "Tampa Bay Business Journal:" Coolest Office Space, numerous Tellys and three Emmys.
I am a part of the Executive Team and my role with the company is Film Director. I oversee projects from concept to completion and I have a different role in every step of the production. In pre-production, I work on creative, scripting, casting, and the breakdown of shots and logistics. On the day of production, I work with our director of photography to set up our shots and I work with the talent to give direction. In post-production, I sit with editors and make sure they understand the vision of the video and collaborate with them in the edit bay.
I am a part of the Executive Team and my role with the company is Film Director. I oversee projects from concept to completion and I have a different role in every step of the production. In pre-production, I work on creative, scripting, casting, and the breakdown of shots and logistics. On the day of production, I work with our director of photography to set up our shots and I work with the talent to give direction. In post-production, I sit with editors and make sure they understand the vision of the video and collaborate with them in the edit bay.
Now that you work mainly in commercials, what do you like best about this area of film production?
I like the fact that no two clients are ever the same. We are always learning about different companies and industries in order to come up with creative ideas that meet their expectations. I like the simple fact that I get to be creative daily. I like the fast-paced environment of production. There is no time to overthink, I just make a decision and go with it, and my crew and team support me. It’s enjoyable to work on creative for different types of industries, it's a great feeling when we can come up with creative that accurately conveys the client’s story. They usually get very excited when this happens.
What has been your favorite project or commercial that you have worked on?
What advice do you have for graduating Shorecrest classes?
If you are really passionate about something, don't wait to learn about it in school. In my field specifically there are so many different ways to get valuable information, but the best way is to get out and experience it. So don't be shy—reach out to people in the field that interests you, as they will more than likely be willing to help. As you get older, free time starts escaping you, so take advantage of what you do have now and work on things that make you happy. If anyone is interested in production, I would encourage them to reach out to someone they know who has been in the field. I'd be more than happy to give someone advice.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I started a nonprofit organization with the CEO of Diamond View called The Tampa Foundation. Our mission is to inspire the Tampa Bay community through positive public art, such as murals and wall art. Examples of the work can be found on the linked website. We are always looking for anyone who is willing to donate their time, treasure, or talents.
