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The Last Black Unicorn
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REGISTER ONLINE NOW:
https://www.studentfilmmakers.com/product/how-to-direct-your-first-film_webinar-with-shane-stanley/
Time: 10AM to 11:15AM PST (Los Angeles Time)
Who Should Attend
Directing your first film is an exciting but challenging milestone. This webinar is designed to guide first-time directors through essential tips and techniques for managing the creative and logistical aspects of filmmaking. From pre-production to post-production, you’ll learn how to confidently lead your team and bring your vision to life on screen.
What You Will Learn
SHANE STANLEY – Producer/Director
Shane served as Vice President of Sheen/Michaels Entertainment where he produced several motion pictures starring Marlon Brando, Mira Sorvino, Thomas Hayden Church, Donald Sutherland, Marisa Tomei, Sean Penn, John Travolta and Charlie and Martin Sheen. During that time, Shane made his directorial debut with his own screenplay, A Sight for Sore Eyes. The film was honored with the Special Jury Award at WorldFest Houston, won two Telly Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Film & Television, as well as winning top honors at the International Family Film Festival along with Walden Media’s The Chronicles of Narnia. It went on to win dozens of prestigious awards and was invited to screen at Cannes in 2005.
Shane has also directed countless music videos, many which have aired on VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown, including two that went #1 and another that made the network’s list of Best 100 Music Videos including “Go That Far” with Bret Michaels. The Michaels’ video was used for the television series Rock of Love, where Shane also served as a consulting producer. His other directing credits include Mistrust, starring two-time Golden Globe® winner Jane Seymour as well as Break Even with Tasya Teles, Steve Guttenberg, and Golden Globe® nominee, Joanna Pacula. In 2022, Shane produced and directed the action-comedy, Double Threat starring Matthew Lawrence and Dawn Olivieri (Yellowstone, 1883), which The New York Times listed on their Top 5-Action Movies to Stream Now and was the sole indie feature amongst Hollywood blockbusters on Amazon Prime’s “Top 10 in the US” list remaining there for two months, peaking at #4. The film has enjoyed similar success on Netflix’s world-wide charts, ranking #1 in 16 countries the week of its debut and remained on the platform’s Top 10 most watched film this summer.
Shane’s action-thriller, Night Train, starring Danielle C. Ryan and Diora Baird premiered on HULU where it reached #1 on the platform and remained in the top spot for an astonishing four weeks. Night Train is the story of a single mom struggling to make ends meet as a Hollywood teamster who evades capture by a ruthless FBI Agent while running black market medical supplies in her legendary souped-up pickup truck. It also stars Joe Lando, Ivan Sergei, and Joseph D. Reitman.
Currently, Shane is in post-production on Six Days in Evergreen a music-drama starring Dawn Olivieri, Penelope Ann Miller, A Martinez, and a star- studded cast which he produced, directed, and co-wrote. The film is presented by legendary producer, Mario Kassar (Terminator, Total Recall, Rambo, The Doors, Basic Instinct, Chaplin, LA Story) and will release later this year.
Shane’s book, “What You Don’t Learn in Film School,” a best-seller earning a 4.5-star rating across the board was listed by CNN, FORBES, and BOOK AUTHORITY among the Best Filmmaking Books of All-Time, which covers filmmaking from concept to delivery. It has landed on required reading lists at several universities around the world and is endorsed by some of the most respected names in Hollywood including Producer, Neal H. Moritz, (Fast & Furious, S.W.A.T., 21 and 22 Jump Street) and Paul Williams, Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Grammy® Award Winner and Hall of Fame songwriter.
In addition to his Emmy® Awards, Stanley has received 11 Telly Awards, 2 CINE Golden Eagles Awards, 5 Aurora Awards, 4 WorldFest Remi Awards, and 28 International Film Festival Awards. He has spoken at several prestigious film and art institutes around the country including The Screen Writers Expo, the world’s largest tradeshow for screenwriters, alongside Oliver Stone, Michael Goldenberg (Harry Potter franchise) and Adam Herz (American Pie) about the secrets of marketing to today’s youth. He is on several advisory boards for film schools and art programs across the country and is a contributing columnist for Student Filmmakers Magazine and NoFilmSchool.com as well as an instructor on Stage32.com, FilmCourage.com and IndieFilmHustle.com and SXSW. In April 2021 he testified before the US Library of Congress on behalf of prestigious universities to help amend a 1978 copyright law that made traditional learning difficult for film school students during the COVID/virtual learning era.
He and his wife, actress Val Barri, are active in charities supporting cancer research, restoring hope for inner-city youth, and animal rescue. They live in Los Angeles.
Please visit shanestanley.net and whatyoudontlearninfilmschool.com for more info.
REGISTER ONLINE NOW:
https://www.studentfilmmakers.com/product/how-to-direct-your-first-film_webinar-with-shane-stanley/
How to Direct a Film for the First Time
Essential Tips and Techniques
Taught by Multi-Emmy® Award-Winning Filmmaker Shane Stanley
Date: Monday, June 23, 2025Time: 10AM to 11:15AM PST (Los Angeles Time)
Who Should Attend
- Film students ready to take their first leap into directing.
- Aspiring indie filmmakers planning their debut projects.
- Professionals transitioning into directing from other roles in filmmaking.
Directing your first film is an exciting but challenging milestone. This webinar is designed to guide first-time directors through essential tips and techniques for managing the creative and logistical aspects of filmmaking. From pre-production to post-production, you’ll learn how to confidently lead your team and bring your vision to life on screen.
What You Will Learn
- How to define your vision and communicate it effectively.
- Key steps to prepare for your first day on set.
- Techniques for working with actors and crew.
- How to be a leader – Walk softly but carry a big stick
- Tips for staying adaptable and solving problems during production.
- Practical advice for post-production to ensure your film meets your goals.
- Organize and lead a film production from start to finish.
- Confidently collaborate with cast and crew members.
- Handle unexpected challenges with creative solutions.
- Deliver a polished final product that aligns with your vision.
About Your Instructor and Mentor:
SHANE STANLEY – Producer/Director
- Two-time Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker (nominated four times)
- Produced the #1 Box Office hit Gridiron Gang starring Dwayne Johnson
- Director/Producer of Night Train, Hulu’s Longest Running #1 Hit
- Director/Producer of Double Threat, Netflix #1 Global Hit
- Consulting Producer for the #1 Cable TV Show “Rock of Love”
- Best-selling author, recognized internationally for his film expertise
- Winner of over two dozen prestigious international film & TV awards
Shane served as Vice President of Sheen/Michaels Entertainment where he produced several motion pictures starring Marlon Brando, Mira Sorvino, Thomas Hayden Church, Donald Sutherland, Marisa Tomei, Sean Penn, John Travolta and Charlie and Martin Sheen. During that time, Shane made his directorial debut with his own screenplay, A Sight for Sore Eyes. The film was honored with the Special Jury Award at WorldFest Houston, won two Telly Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Film & Television, as well as winning top honors at the International Family Film Festival along with Walden Media’s The Chronicles of Narnia. It went on to win dozens of prestigious awards and was invited to screen at Cannes in 2005.
Shane has also directed countless music videos, many which have aired on VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown, including two that went #1 and another that made the network’s list of Best 100 Music Videos including “Go That Far” with Bret Michaels. The Michaels’ video was used for the television series Rock of Love, where Shane also served as a consulting producer. His other directing credits include Mistrust, starring two-time Golden Globe® winner Jane Seymour as well as Break Even with Tasya Teles, Steve Guttenberg, and Golden Globe® nominee, Joanna Pacula. In 2022, Shane produced and directed the action-comedy, Double Threat starring Matthew Lawrence and Dawn Olivieri (Yellowstone, 1883), which The New York Times listed on their Top 5-Action Movies to Stream Now and was the sole indie feature amongst Hollywood blockbusters on Amazon Prime’s “Top 10 in the US” list remaining there for two months, peaking at #4. The film has enjoyed similar success on Netflix’s world-wide charts, ranking #1 in 16 countries the week of its debut and remained on the platform’s Top 10 most watched film this summer.
Shane’s action-thriller, Night Train, starring Danielle C. Ryan and Diora Baird premiered on HULU where it reached #1 on the platform and remained in the top spot for an astonishing four weeks. Night Train is the story of a single mom struggling to make ends meet as a Hollywood teamster who evades capture by a ruthless FBI Agent while running black market medical supplies in her legendary souped-up pickup truck. It also stars Joe Lando, Ivan Sergei, and Joseph D. Reitman.
Currently, Shane is in post-production on Six Days in Evergreen a music-drama starring Dawn Olivieri, Penelope Ann Miller, A Martinez, and a star- studded cast which he produced, directed, and co-wrote. The film is presented by legendary producer, Mario Kassar (Terminator, Total Recall, Rambo, The Doors, Basic Instinct, Chaplin, LA Story) and will release later this year.
Shane’s book, “What You Don’t Learn in Film School,” a best-seller earning a 4.5-star rating across the board was listed by CNN, FORBES, and BOOK AUTHORITY among the Best Filmmaking Books of All-Time, which covers filmmaking from concept to delivery. It has landed on required reading lists at several universities around the world and is endorsed by some of the most respected names in Hollywood including Producer, Neal H. Moritz, (Fast & Furious, S.W.A.T., 21 and 22 Jump Street) and Paul Williams, Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Grammy® Award Winner and Hall of Fame songwriter.
In addition to his Emmy® Awards, Stanley has received 11 Telly Awards, 2 CINE Golden Eagles Awards, 5 Aurora Awards, 4 WorldFest Remi Awards, and 28 International Film Festival Awards. He has spoken at several prestigious film and art institutes around the country including The Screen Writers Expo, the world’s largest tradeshow for screenwriters, alongside Oliver Stone, Michael Goldenberg (Harry Potter franchise) and Adam Herz (American Pie) about the secrets of marketing to today’s youth. He is on several advisory boards for film schools and art programs across the country and is a contributing columnist for Student Filmmakers Magazine and NoFilmSchool.com as well as an instructor on Stage32.com, FilmCourage.com and IndieFilmHustle.com and SXSW. In April 2021 he testified before the US Library of Congress on behalf of prestigious universities to help amend a 1978 copyright law that made traditional learning difficult for film school students during the COVID/virtual learning era.
He and his wife, actress Val Barri, are active in charities supporting cancer research, restoring hope for inner-city youth, and animal rescue. They live in Los Angeles.
Please visit shanestanley.net and whatyoudontlearninfilmschool.com for more info.
