Pride Spotlight: Sam Shannon

In celebration of Pride Month, we’re spotlighting some fantastic LGBTQ+ creators who inspire with their work, actions, and visuals. Here’s spectacular multidisciplinary artist Sam Shannon (pictured below). She directs, creates magical moving images, and has completed dozens of successful notable brand collaborations. We caught up with Sam on Pride, love, and here creative influences. 

What does Pride mean to you?

To me pride starts from the inside with respect and love for yourself. Every person deserves to feel proud of who they are on an individual level and as a part of a community. In this current political climate I can’t think of a more important time to remind ourselves of how strong our collective voice is and to continue to fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

How can we continue to support the LGBTQ+ community?

To support is to respect. If you practice respect for all people and spread that mindset it’s the most emotionally impactful way to support the LGBTQ+ community.

What’s your most unforgettable professional memory?

I recently directed a music video for Conrad Clifton. We spent three nights in the dead of winter shooting outside with temperatures below 15. The project was by no means the fanciest and certainly not the biggest budget but it had such heart. Filmmaking is about the team and when you experience a feeling of collectively working towards a single vision despite physically taxing circumstances, there’s nothing better.

Who’s your biggest creative influence?

As a director I try to look outside the film world for influence. I find painters, sculptors, and college artists extremely influential when I’m looking to define a mood for a film. My favorites are Ellsworth Kelly, Agnis Martin, Richard Serra, Matisse, and John Baldessari. Since I work a lot in fashion I also have a huge catalog of photographers that I reference such as Viviane Sassen. Stephen Shore, Martin Parr, and Wim Wenders.

 What works brings you the most satisfaction?

I think there’s this idea that a director has to be this intimidating military type figure, punishing people into making good art and that a temperamental and aggressive attitude is somehow forgivable in the pursuit of success or real art. I’ve never found satisfaction in demanding subservience and refuse to believe that you need that type of attitude to be respected or successful. It’s a tricky balance but respect is something you earn by being decisive yet above all kind. Satisfaction comes when I feel that I’ve hit that balance.

 Is love important in art?

I think that art is love, to fall in love with a piece of art or to love making it. My goal with every film is to create an immersive experience, however short, for someone to truly get lost in. It can be something challenging or have a political or social agenda but overall I strive for something that feels honest, all encompassing, overwhelming, land leaves you with an unforgettable memory, like true love.