Meet Robert Short: Filmmaker & Director

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

Hi Robert, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Why did I pursue an artistic or creative career? Quite honestly, I didn’t feel like I had a choice. There is a feeling of completeness and comfort that I feel whenever I am doing something artistic. I remember being in high school and competing in dance contests. That’s right! A brother got his dance on. Besides the fact that my crew and I were good, that feeling I had every time I was on stage was undeniable. But like most kids, black kids, pursuing a career in the arts was not an option. As a young black man, I was expected to graduate from high school, get a job, not even a career, have a family, provide for that family, and that’s your life. While there’s nothing wrong with that, I knew I didn’t want to settle for that. I knew I couldn’t settle for that. I knew what I wanted to do; the question was, how do I do it? I believe that my choice was supposed to happen because God allowed people to come into my life, at the right time, with the right opportunities. Through dancing, I met people who were pursuing acting on stage. That led to me getting involved in the world of acting. From there, I met people who were into filming, which led me into a world I knew was made for me. Although I still love acting, there’s just something about being behind the camera that is fulfilling for me. I love figuring out camera angles, lighting, sound, editing, and all the facets that go into bringing a story together. Thus far, I have had an amazing journey. Not that everything has gone the way I’ve wanted them to go. But being able to learn from mistakes is what I believe will make me a better artist. I have an idea of where I would like my career to go, but even with that, I know that if I stay true to what God wants me to do, I know He’ll open doors that I never even dreamed of. And with that, I will never hesitate to pass on what I’ve learned to others. Because honestly, that’s what it’s all about. There’s room for everyone to be successful, so I never feel the need not to help someone with what God has allowed me to learn. I believe this is what God wants me to do, so the more I’m a blessing to others, the more God will pour into me and bless me. To sum it all up: I didn’t pursue an artistic career; it pursued me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business name is Shawt Films & Theatre. Due to the pandemic, we’ve been focusing more on films. We consider ourselves a one-stop-shop because we write, shoot, direct, edit, and create original scores. We do short films, actor scenes/reels, music & dance videos, commercials, and promotional videos for all platforms. We have obtained certificates to ensure we run our sets abiding by all COVID protocols. Having your own business is all about sacrifice. It’s about consistency and persistency. I want our company brand to be synonymous with honesty and excellent quality. We treat everyone how we’d like to be treated, no matter how big or small the project is. Everything we know is through research and trial and error. We understand that nobody is going to hand us anything. If there’s a project we want to do ourselves, we save up for it and make it happen. I admire that about us, our tenacity. We don’t wait for people to tell us where we fit in the film industry. We use our God-given talents to create work that we’re proud of and know others will enjoy too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I enjoy outdoors so Stone Mountain is a go to for me. Atlanta has some really great parks like Piedmont Park. I’d also recommend a visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. STK Steakhouse is a great restaurant. Who’s Got Soul and K&K Soul Food are also great choices. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
God for giving me the vision and my wife for helping me bring it into fruition!

Website: www.WeAreShawtFilms.com

Instagram: instagram.com/shawtfilmsandtheatre

Twitter: twitter.com/shawt_films

Facebook: facebook.com/shawtfilms