Eric Willis of Shining Light Industries: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker
I believe people need to be more aware of the special needs population in this country. The stigma that can be attached to those with special needs is often incorrect. I would start a movement to where anyone could sign up to spend a day, or a week, with someone with special needs to see how their world works. We can often get caught up in our own lives and not even fathom what someone else may be going through.
As a part of our series called “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A Filmmaker”, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Eric Willis.Eric Willis has been an Independent Filmmaker since 2016 when he directed his first short film “Silence” at the ripe, young age of 46. Since then, he has directed and produced 27 short films 6 music videos, and his first feature film, “Love, Misery, and the Goth Girl” that will soon be out on streaming services around the country. Some of Eric’s short films include such award-winning titles as “Plenary”, “Grumpy Old Women”, and “Film Set Tourette’s”. Eric has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri and a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from University of Phoenix. Eric currently has three short films and his second feature film in pre-production and all are scheduled to shoot by the end of 2023.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit of the ‘backstory’ of how you grew up?
I grew up in every day, Midwest America. My parents were hard-working, normal parents. I grew up with a big imagination from the start. Always being drawn to figures on television or in music. I discovered acting in second grade as I was cast in the lead in our class production of “Seven at One Blow” from the Brothers Grimm. I continued my love of theatre in high school and college receiving a Bachelors of Arts degree in Theatre. I was married in 1998 and had a son in 1999 so theatre took a back seat for many years. As my son became older, I found I had a lot of free time on my hands and discovered the world of Independent Filmmaking in 2015. The rest is history.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
In 2015 I saw an ad for a casting company here in Kansas City and decided to get back into acting after 20 years. I scored a few roles in some independent films and I was hooked. I remembered I had a short story I had written in college and still had a copy. I took that story, made it into a script, and shot it in six hours.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your filmmaking career?
In one of my most recent short films, Plenary, I had an actress get sick the night before the shoot and couldn’t make it. We were scrambling to find a replacement and we had the makeup artist sit in to read with the actresses till we figured out what to do. As we heard her read, we were all blown away. We ended up shooting the film with her in the role and she knocked it out of park. Later we found she had never even read the script or done any acting.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
There are a lot of interesting people I have encountered since becoming a filmmaker. I encountered a local musician in a KISS tribute band that has since launched no less than six other tribute bands, all this while in his early 60’s. We became friends before I became a filmmaker and as I discovered filmmaking, we planned a Mockumentary on his KISS tribute band titled “Monsters of Mock. An Almost Kiss Mockumentary film.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Devonte Brown. He is a local filmmaker/cinematographer. In 2017 he graciously agreed to be the director of cinematographer for my second film. I basically had no clue what I was doing but he liked the script. He taught me so much on the little time we had on set from how to set up a shot to make sure to feed your cast and crew. He was incredibly patient with me and I consider him my mentor as a filmmaker.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Always forward, never back.”
I am very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Life itself is diverse and the stories we tell should be as well. It allows all types of different stories, or different views of the same story, to be told. This type of diversity can do nothing but help bring us together.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I will be working on my second feature film in the fall titled “Wholesome Grove” and I will be shooting my first short film with no dialogue in June titled “One Last Sunrise.”
Which aspect of your work makes you most proud? Can you explain or give a story?
The aspect of my work that makes me proudest is that many of my films have a strong female character somewhere in the film. I was raised by a strong willed mother who is also one of the kindest women you will ever meet. I try to incorporate those qualities into my female characters.
When you create a film, which stakeholders have the greatest impact on the artistic and cinematic choices you make? Is it the viewers, the critics, the financiers, or your own personal artistic vision? Can you share a story with us or give an example about what you mean?
I would have to say the viewers. I strive to elicit certain emotions in my films. While I have made films in several genres, I like to concentrate on the “family drama” style of film. I want my audience to be emotionally moved by what they are seeing. In one of my short films titled “The Head or the Heart” I wrote a rather ambiguous ending to the film so the audience would make a decision in their head as to how the situation ended based on how they viewed the lead character. As I was writing I pictured the audience shouting a loud “UGH” as the film ended and that happened on several occasions. Mission accomplished.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I believe people need to be more aware of the special needs population in this country. The stigma that can be attached to those with special needs is often incorrect. I would start a movement to where anyone could sign up to spend a day, or a week, with someone with special needs to see how their world works. We can often get caught up in our own lives and not even fathom what someone else may be going through.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this.
Gene Simmons. From the age of nine I have been a huge KISS fan and as an adult I have grown to admire his confidence and business acumen. I would love to pick his brain on how to be more confident on getting my work out to the rest of the world.
How can our readers further follow you online?
https://youtube.com/@shininglightindustries5428
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Eric Willis of Shining Light Industries: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became A… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.