Washington DC Filmmaker and CEO of ShoCase Entertainment Antjuan “ShoCase” Ward on Setting No Limits for Himself
ANTJUAN ‘SHOCASE’ WARD
FILMMAKER
CEO OF SHOCASE ENTERTAINMENT — ‘Insomnia’
(Read more here and watch the trailer)
Film Courage: Where did you grow up?
Antjuan Ward: Well for the first 12 years of my life I was living between Washington DC and Maryland mostly but I spent 3 years in Los Angeles, California. I grew up with my mom and my little brother so for me it meant a lot of responsibilities. We didn’t have a lot but my mom made sure we had enough to at least keep a smile on our faces. We always found a way to laugh through our hardest times.
Antjuan as a child (sitting in the back) — eldest son of five kids
Film Courage: Which of your parents do you resemble most?
Antjuan: You know what, its tough to answer this one because I’m like the split between the two. From my mom I resemble her strength and tough exterior with a soft core. From my dad I would say his open mind and wisdom. If we are talking looks, my mom according to my family (lol)
Film Courage: Did your parents lend support toward creativity or encourage another type of career/focus?
Antjuan: Well with all parents who do not have a creative background, they mostly want you to follow in their footsteps and go to college, get a good job which of course is not a bad route if that’s what you want. I will say my mom was always open to hear about my creativity and to say she was proud of me. My dad, by the time he came back in the picture, didn’t really know that side of me but he taught me some early lessons when it came to business which help me today. My mom was more so encouraging me not to give up than on what career to go down and my father has a background in law enforcement and military, so of course he wanted me to go that route like any father would.
CHECK OUT ANTJUAN’S KICKSTARTER PAGE FOR INSOMNIA WEBSERIES!
Film Courage: What were your plans after high school?
Antjuan: I was big into football so I wanted to go to school and play. Didn’t work out obviously (haha). I always used my creativity as more of a release or an escape. I never thought about going to school to enhance my craft but I always met people who were in that creative field like actors, creative writing, music or film industry. From meeting these people they gave me the goosebumps I needed to enhance my craft myself.
Film Courage: Did you go to film school?
Antjuan: No, but I wish I would’ve thought about it.
Film Courage: Biggest takeaway from college?
Antjuan: The biggest negative was that if you do not have control of your dreams and it’s in the hands of someone else, then it’s going to come down to politics. The biggest positive, I was exposed to so many ethnical backgrounds and many walks of life. I learned that no matter what race you are or where you are from, we all pretty much do the same things and can always find a common ground. From those two perspectives I never let anyone handle my dreams, and though I didn’t treat people differently in the first place, I have a more of an understanding of how people act and why they think the way they do .
Film Courage: How would you describe your perfect day?
Antjuan: Being on an island with a recording studio that I can easily access and a camera in one hand and a Magarita in the other. Letting the world in front of me being the subject at hand.
(Read more here and watch the trailer)
Film Courage: You are in the pitch video for INSOMNIA and do an amazing job carrying the message. What is your advice to filmmakers who do not want to be in their own project’s pitch video?
Antjuan: I would say, if you don’t want to be in your pitch video then find another creative way to get your point across. You are a filmmaker, make it a short film or a commercial. Something unique that people would think is cool or different. Do not be scared to pass your creative plateaus.
Film Courage: How did you cast your actors?
Antjuan: I put up a listing on IMDB and Backstage, and actors had to audition once they were selected. It took a while because I wanted the best people for the job. I know I did a great job and when this series is released you’ll see why.
Film Courage: What other methods have you used outside of crowdfunding to raise money for this web series?
Antjuan: Having investor meetings, asking friends and family to put in some money for it and using my own money.
Film Courage: What camera(s) will you use to shoot the 6 episodes of INSOMNIA?
Antjuan: We will stick with DSLRs Canon 5d Mark 3 and if everything works in my favor we will get to play with the C300.
Film Courage: Do you plan on submitting it to festivals? Are there any other plans for distribution?
Antjuan: Yes, local festivals, because of our release date, January 17, 2016, we will have to submit to the festivals that allow for submissions late 2015 early 2016. Hopefully we can spark the interest of someone at the streaming service studios or another network.
Film Courage: What do you want audiences to gain from watching INSOMNIA?
Antjuan: Enjoy the action, love the drama. The feeling that comes across from each character, I want it to be felt. I want people to watch this, ask questions and want more.
Film Courage: Is there a thin line between ‘Dreams versus Reality’ and ‘Darkness versus Light?’
Antjuan: Yes, indeed. We live in a world where most people work day in and day out just to live out their dreams. The reality for some people is so bleak that without their dream, what else would they have. For the people who actually make their dreams a reality, sometimes they realize that their old reality was better. As far as darkness versus light, I think people are capable of the same amount of the good as evil. Our experience in the life we live determines what route we go down. I’m that person that believes all evil has the potential of being good but also vice versa. Film Courage: What happens when someone tells you ‘No’?
Antjuan: Depends on what you mean. If I’m trying to get something accomplished and you say No, then I’ll find another way. I’ve been told no so many times that the few ‘yeses’ I have received catch me off guard. So I really look at a ‘no’ as a brick wall in my way and I have figure out how to get around it.
Film Courage: Why is the term “No Limits” how you live your life?
Antjuan: Bruce Lee once said, “If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” I really believe this. Think about it, what is a limit? It’s a point which something does not or may not pass. But how do we know if it’s a limit or not if we don’t try to push pass it? You are only limited in your mind. 20 years ago the internet was a thing you had to buy, with some big bulky computer and get a connection to access it. Right now you are probably reading this on your mobile phone. What if they thought the limit was what we had 20 years ago? I wouldn’t be able to type this and scroll down my Facebook Timeline at the same time.
Film Courage: Who are your heroes and why?
Antjuan: I don’t really have heroes, I just have people that inspire me to be better and pick me up when I’m down. That would be my close friends and my family.
Film Courage: How would you like to be remembered?
Antjuan: As a person who let nothing stop him. A person who stayed true to his word and when he got to the top, he reached down to the bottom to help as many people as he possibly could. An innovator. A creator.
(Read more here and watch the trailer)
BIO:
Antjuan Ward’s artistic yet entrepreneurial spirit dates back to his high school days where he spent many hours developing his rhyming and songwriting abilities. Known to many as a walking talent show thanks to his poetically driven lyrics, admirable athletic abilities and intellect, the moniker “ShoCase” naturally fit his “do it all” mentality.
“The term “No Limits” is how I live my life! I don’t strive to meet expectations, I strive to work past them,” states Ward when asked about his tireless work ethic. “For me, it’s not enough to be the best at a few things. I want to be the best at everything I set out to achieve. Winning is the only option. Failure is not!”
While artistic expression fueled ShoCase’s drive in his early years as a young MC and songwriter, college is where he developed his business acumen. Sticking to his “ShoCase” mentality of doing it all, Ward applied his artist management skills to successfully branch off into event management and promotion in the Washington D.C. and Greensboro, N.C. market. No matter his development path, Ward always found time to return to his first love of performing and songwriting, which has won him both local and online songwriting competitions over the years.
Having developed skills that would serve him well not only as an artist but as a businessman, Ward launched ShoCase Entertainment in 2011, a full fledge entertainment production and talent management company. Under the creative advisement of producer and engineer, Kosmik, and Don Hankins, film and photography director, Ward not only learned how to instrumentally create sound but how to visually bring that sound to life.
Since its founding, ShoCase Entertainment has produced music videos, short films and commercials all under Ward’s creative advisement, while helping to launch the careers of some of music’s most-buzzed about new artist today including (Michael Marshall, Danielle Lyndsay). A true creative force and genius, ShoCase’s drive and creative influence makes him a true force to be reckoned with.
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