Shonna is a highly visual director whose work truthfully centers story and character. She is passionately invested in telling stories that prioritize, investigate and celebrate the human experience, and which explore universal themes through relatable characters with strong points of view.  She strongly believes that visual storytelling - whether in short form snackable content, commercial/brand narratives or cinematic long form - has the power to transform the world, spark meaningful dialogue, connect human beings and build empathy. 

 

A graduate from York University's Creative Ensemble Theatre Conservatory (BFA Honors), Shonna is described as an 'actor's director' who is all-in, highly committed and collaborative in her approach to the work. She has been credited for her ability to direct raw talent in scenes with high emotional stakes. She has a strong ability to create compelling imagery through her work in scripted narrative, documentary and branded content. In addition, her passion combined with her reputation for working closely with writers elevates her tenacity for discovering and leaning into compelling stories that lift off the page.

 

Shonna made her directorial debut with the short film Residue which debuted at the Reelworld Film Festival, and was licensed for national television broadcast and streaming through CBC's Gem. Residue was also featured on Breakfast Television, CBC Arts, CHCH TV, TO Indie and Black on Both Sides. Her second film 'Mothers: Out of A Pandemic', a documentary short Executive Produced by Jennifer Podemski and Lauren Grant, had a successful festival run winning  "Best Long Form Short Documentary" (Documentary Film Festival Toronto/LA) and "Best Social Doc" (CIFF). Shonna has also directed impactful branded content, including the Gold Series x Pantene campaign which won the Grocer Impact Award for MLS and Procter & Gamble.

 

As a director, Shonna has successfully completed one-on-one Director-Observerships on award-winning television productions with some of the industry's leading directors and producers in Canada and the US.  Contributing to Shonna's abilities as a director is her impressive resume which highlights over a decade of key positions in production, as well as executive positions that she has held at award-winning production companies, distribution companies and deeply rooted organizations in Canada's film and television industry. She has worked on productions for Paramount Pictures/Elevation Pictures, Sony Pictures/Lifetime, Warner/OWN, CBC, Reel One Entertainment, Pier 21 Films, Bell Media and several independent production companies. As a highly regarded team member, Shonna's all encompassing experiences has made her a director who comes with a thorough understanding of the production process and pipeline.  A producer's dream! 

 

Shonna credits her parents' and Grandparents love of film, television, and music for planting the seed in her developing an understanding of storytelling and a deep appreciation and passion for the art of visual storytelling from a very young age. Whether she was engaged in an extracurricular creative activity or on set as a child actor, Shonna would watch performers, directors, and crew work at their craft with both intrigue and fascination. She knew from a young age that the world of film and television was where she felt most at home.

 

Shonna deeply loves the process of creating and feels equally at home in rehearsal, on set, in a writers room and in an editing suite. She hopes to leave this world with a body of work that is impactful, motivating, transcends time, elevates community and transforms the world just a bit. She believes this goal is best achieved through fostering truthful and meaningful connections with other human beings globally and through the process of collaborating on important works of art - one episode, film and commercial at a time.