I direct short films, web-series, short sketches, commercials, tutorials, and more.
I love capturing the beautiful moments in life - whether that involves objects, people, or places.
I've tried my hand at almost every art form and technique there is, and have enjoyed every moment of it.
I like writing moving stories that captivate people's imaginations, and writing anytime an idea occurs to me.
Shannon Litt is finishing up her 4th & final year in Ryerson University's renowned Radio & Television Arts program. She began working professionally in the film world as a storyboard artist, and gained an appreciation for high-quality, professional cinematography. She started making short films soon afterwards, and has produced a wide range of projects since, varying in length & genre. She hopes to become a film director as a long-term career.
As you’ve probably noticed, I’m a bona fide film geek… I’m heavily into creating interesting, beautiful films that make audiences think. I finish what I start, and lead teams expertly.
As a photographer, I like to capture ordinary things at extraordinary times, and extraordinary things at ordinary times. I’ve captured head shots, landscapes, events, and candids.
I draw shots of complex sequences to help directors envision their final products. I have a strong sense of cinematography and dynamic shots to make films stand out.
A strong story is where it all begins! I like to scribble, doodle, and ponder until the perfect script idea comes to mind. I’ve completed web-series, films, short films, and random sketches.
Skills // Apple Final Cut Pro (+ Color), Apple Aperture, DSLR Cinematography, Photography, Storyboarding, Art, etc.
Behind the Scenes // Behold: my thoughts, reflections, rants, and script ideas.
Before my sister essentially harassed me into going to The Cabin in the Woods with her last Tuesday, I had absolutely no intention of subjecting myself to another horror film – not even one co-written by my personal hero, Joss Whedon. I had seen more than my share of films that would do nothing but pop scary creatures out at me and leave me sleepless for nights on end. I blame the Paranormal Activity series and Insidious.
Alas, sibling coercion won me over. A lingering wet-eyed gaze and a quiet, “But ‘Friends With Kids’ is gonna be bad” later, my sister and I were in the packed Carleton theatre for $5 Tuesday.
What a surprise – the theatre was packed with young university students all riled up for the epic event, promising an appealing mixture of gore, geek romance, and typical Joss Whedon charm.
The lights dimmed, the manager personally shushed the sold out crowd, and the show began. Drum roll, please.
The film started out typically enough for your run of the mill teen slaughterhouse flick – a girl who has just “gotten out of a bad relationship” (aka she slept with her married professor, who then dumped her) and “isn’t ready to date yet” is drawn into a camping trip by her gorgeous best friend and jock / science major boyfriend Thor. Well, his name isn’t technically Thor but what the hell – Chris Hemsworth will always be Thor to me.
The second jock in the plot line shows up when Thor (intelligently) throws a football out of a second floor window and nearly hits a cab. The eye candy of the film, green-eyed Jesse Williams, catches it and… Wait, I was caught up in the gorgeous Williams. I can’t remember the next 5 minutes.
Finding places to shoot can be extremely tedious. As an independent filmmaker, unfortunately being unable to afford hiring a location manager, the task ultimately falls to me. That being said, if your budget allows, hiring a good location scout is definitely a good investment. They have resources and contacts that fall beyond the standard director or producer’s realm of expertise. However, in my last project, Thorns, the crew was able to come up with a wide number of locations simply by being Torontonians. If you know your city well enough or know someone who does, I would suggest using your own or their gut instincts for location scouting assistance.
The first thing I do when considering locations is to re-read the scene in which the setting is needed. How does the setting contribute to the action or dialogue? What kind of tone am I trying to convey? What style and size would be best? You’re not going to get ideal locations by being picky about posters on the walls and desk design. Keep the overall mood and picture in mind. Stay objective.
The second thing I do is consider my resources. Do I already know of locations around my city, school and work that would fit? Do I feel the emotions I need for the scene in that location? I find that many of my locations can be found simply by asking family members or best friends. You don’t need a huge network of people to run around scrambling for the perfect location… just think about how many places each of those close to you frequents on a regular basis. That is plenty of opportunity there alone.
Address // 32 Brunswick Ave., Unit #4
Toronto, ON M5S-2L7
Telephone #. // (647) 210-1395
E-Mail // shannonlitt@me.com
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