Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanna Johnson.
Shanna, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Hey I’m Shanna! Originally from San Francisco, CA. I was a little girl with big dreams of being a professional Actress one day and today that dream remains the same. South Florida has been my home for years now but, I just recently decided to fully pursue my dreams in 2016 after years of struggling with personal issues. Low self-esteem, stage fright, fear, and periods of depression.
In August of 2015, I was five months pregnant with my now four-year-old daughter and the unexpected happened; her father passed away just days after discovering that we were going to be having a girl. That was my final push! I came to the realization that life is short and our dreams are worth living. So in 2016, I established my company, Ink To Real Productions in hopes to focus on doing all the things that I enjoy. I got a few of my creative friends together at the time and decided to write and film my first web series. I love working behind the scenes and in front of the camera. It wasn’t long before I started deciding to offer services and collaborate with others in the community to just capture and create. Today I spend a lot of time gaining whatever knowledge I can from former peers, classes, and through lots of practice. I’m grateful to have my boyfriend, who is always my right-hand man when an opportunity presents itself. Film and everything that falls underneath it continues to and will always be my first passion.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. When I started out, I didn’t even know what a boom mic was or how to properly format a script. I didn’t understand cinematic lighting or the importance of capturing certain angles. I didn’t know how to direct actors or guide them to doing their best in a scene. It took me studying YouTube videos, reading books, and watching lots of films to improve my craft. Eventually, when I started including photography and graphic design in my business, I incurred similar road bumps. Let’s just say, I have come a long way (laughing). There’s always room to learn and grow in whatever field you are pursuing.
Please tell us about Ink To Real Productions.
Ink To Real Productions was established to help bring creative ideas to life, originally specialized around just film, screenwriting, recording projects such as short films, web series, promos, music videos, and more. Over the past year, photography and graphic design have slowly been introduced and has given me the opportunity to learn and create so much. The company is known for taking some people off guard when they figure out that a woman is behind the lens majority of the time but, people genuinely see and believe the passion that goes into what I do. I am so proud to see the smile on people’s faces when they see the finished product. No matter how big or small the task. What sets Ink To Real Productions apart from the others is that we are always thinking outside of the box. My number one question that I ask myself is: “ Is this creative enough? I love to make sure that I can always add a special touch. I care about making sure that I can help bring everyone’s vision to life. We are a traveling service, so I do cater to clients throughout South Florida and occasionally travel to other states by request.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like our city is a good place for a business like mine if you know how to network and secure the right projects. The filmmaking aspect can be a struggle at times as a lot of people in the field have relocated to Atlanta, Los Angeles, or New York but I meet new creatives all the time who help make it work. If someone were just starting out, I would recommend them to start from wherever they are. South Florida may not be the ideal location as it once was for filmmakers due to lack of film incentives but, it doesn’t mean you can’t make something amazing. Create a solid crew, buy your equipment, and get to work.
Pricing:
- 10% off any service for all first time clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ink2realproductions.com
- Phone: 9544796819
- Email: ink2realproductions@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ink2realproductions?igshid=1pgtzqbkylkop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ink2realproductions/
- Other: https://m.youtube.com/ink2realproductions?uid=0JXIU1tmHSjkjIQXNECbSA
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
