We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Sheedy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Some of the best advice I’ve ever received is the simplest: “If you wanna be a filmmaker, go make films.” I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2010, and shortly after, my friends and I took that advice to heart and made our first feature film. It was a great learning experience and we accomplished the goals we set out for it, but after it was all finished I found myself waiting around for something to happen. Well, it turns out that isn’t super practical. Having just invested a good chunk of change on a feature, I focused on writing for a few years. Honing that skill helped me figure out how to be a better storyteller, and once I’d saved up enough I was looking to make some short films, but I found myself waiting around again. I was waiting for things to be perfect – the perfect story about the perfect characters in the perfect location that we’d make with the perfect equipment. I was making excuses for myself, and I had to kind of restart my brain on why I even got into making films in the first place – it was never about setting out to make the perfect film, but rather just getting out there and making them with the intention of learning how to do it better and better each time. So the most important factor to success, for me at least, is to accept that there will be compromises along the way, and to just get out there and make something. Build up worthwhile experiences that lead to more worthwhile experiences.

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Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an independent filmmaker with a specific interest in horror and sci-fi, but I love blending genres and creating memorable, relatable characters. I’ve done a feature film and a variety of shorts that have garnered acclaim online, and at film festivals all over the world.

As a kid, I became enamored with going to the movie theater and catching specials on television about how movies were made. I remember being at home and watching “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and then not being able to sleep that night from being too engrossed with the idea of telling my own stories. I would write my own little books and scripts, illustrate pictures, and crawl around with my toys and frame up shots. Eventually I got my hands on a camera and then I was off.

Nowadays I work as an editor for a production company, and that helps me fund my passion projects. It’s a lot of time management to work full time, make films on the side, and still have a life, but I’m driven by the deep satisfaction that comes from creating films and putting them out into the world. It’s a sense of fulfillment I don’t get doing anything else. I’ve also learned to look at every moment in life, whether trivial or exciting, as an opportunity to find inspiration for ideas. I think that takes some of the pressure off, knowing that an idea could come from anywhere at any time.

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Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m based in Atlanta, GA, and if there’s one thing I really love about living here, it’s having a city that is full of different experiences just waiting to be discovered. I personally love getting outside, going to concerts and trying out different restaurants. My job and my passion often have me sitting in front of a computer in a dark room most of the day, so any time I can find an excuse to be out in the sun I take it. My dog keeps me in shape with our daily walks, and we love heading to Sweetwater State Park for a few hours or making our way down the Beltline, which is this enormous walking path that takes you all around the city and past a plethora of local businesses, breweries, and restaurants. All of that walking is going to work up an appetite, and there’s no shortage of food options here, but one of my personal favorites is a delightfully tasty Korean/Mexican fusion joint called Hankook Taqueria. The current taco record is 21. Someday I’ll conquer that. And then in the evening, maybe catch a show at The Masquerade or a flick at the Plaza Theatre, which hosts festivals, film events, and shows a variety of current and classic films throughout the year. And bonus points if it’s spooky season, because that’s when one of my favorite haunts is open – Netherworld Haunted House.

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Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m fortunate enough to have a very supportive family, and they encouraged me to explore my filmmaking interests at a young age, even lending me the family camcorder so that I could head off into the neighborhood and burn through hours and hours of Hi8 tape. I have stacks of VHS tapes my friends and I filled up over the years that are incredibly sentimental and nostalgic. When it came time to consider college, I was already convinced that I wanted to explore a future in film. And while in school, I met my wife, Meagen Lee, who continues to encourage me in the same way. I’m also grateful for all of the friends I’ve met since then who have helped me create so many different films.

Website: https://www.jasonmsheedy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonmsheedy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-sheedy-98101a16/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamjasonsheedy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jsheedy

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo9CLWl0JpxBS8sEJ4g6GCg

Other: And here’s some websites for our latest films:

Reclaimersfilm.com

Magesofragefilm.com

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Image Credits
“The Mages of Rage” and “Checkpoint” BTS and poster photography by Michael SeRine

“Patient,” “Checkpoint,” “The Mages of Rage,” and “Disembodies” poster design by Brett Brooks

FilmQuest red carpet shot by FilmQuest Film Festival

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.