Shawn Maher(I)
- Visual Effects
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
With the world of film making becoming so specialized and rigid it's rare to find a person who can step outside the box and see things from a unique perspective but Shawn Maher is exactly that rare person. Having been a visual effects cameraman for Toybox, a camera operator for several features, an Imax Film DP, and a unit DP on the 2008 Sci-Fi film 'Outlander' Maher's wide array of experience contributes to his particular strength - knowing exactly what looks good in front of the camera and understanding how to achieve a desired effect from behind it.
As any artist or master craftsman will tell you, one doesn't just happen to produce excellent work, it takes years of effort, talent, and a little bit of luck. For Maher the emphasis was always on the first two. He began directing music videos in the 90s during the art form's blockbuster years. Indeed, very shortly after beginning his foray into promos he garnered several awards from Much Music, the East Coast Music Awards, the Junos, and the Country Music Television Awards. To date Maher has shot over 50 music videos with more than half of his total falling well inside top 10 countdowns on Much, MuchMore, CMT and MTV.
Not surprisingly, his immediate success as a video director led to commercials where he shot several spots that have done the near impossible in the demanding industry - they received rave reviews from the clients themselves. However, this might seem par for Maher's unusual course when you take into account that he didn't suddenly burst onto the music video and commercial scene as a dual threat helmer and shooter. He honed his seasoned chops at Toybox during the years when even Hollywood had to book far in advance to get work run through the motion control and animation house's doors. Thus, it was in this high pressure and extremely high-standard environment that Shawn Maher spent a 5 year period shooting more than 100 spots as a special effects cameraman. So sure, Maher is proud of all his hard work and of his talent but if you ask him he'll tell you himself that he has been lucky. His very varied path in the world of film making has provided him with an extensive technical background that augments an innate artistry. He has the know-how to produce the 'wow' and when looking at his work it's clear that he can consistently achieve the most difficult thing in film - Shawn Maher can turn vision into celluloid reality.
Currently Shawn is working with George H. Ross of t.v.'s "The Apprentice" with many of his charitable foundations and live events.
Shawn Maher: "I think having a mentor is probably one of the most important things I have experienced in my life. I have been lucky enough to have a mentor, George H. Ross, the Executive Vice-President to the Trump Organisation in New York City. You know he knows things and has experienced things that you know you just can't find on the internet when you are actually doing deals. So I really believe you can find some great information on the internet, but you really want to find someone who has been there and done it before you."
As any artist or master craftsman will tell you, one doesn't just happen to produce excellent work, it takes years of effort, talent, and a little bit of luck. For Maher the emphasis was always on the first two. He began directing music videos in the 90s during the art form's blockbuster years. Indeed, very shortly after beginning his foray into promos he garnered several awards from Much Music, the East Coast Music Awards, the Junos, and the Country Music Television Awards. To date Maher has shot over 50 music videos with more than half of his total falling well inside top 10 countdowns on Much, MuchMore, CMT and MTV.
Not surprisingly, his immediate success as a video director led to commercials where he shot several spots that have done the near impossible in the demanding industry - they received rave reviews from the clients themselves. However, this might seem par for Maher's unusual course when you take into account that he didn't suddenly burst onto the music video and commercial scene as a dual threat helmer and shooter. He honed his seasoned chops at Toybox during the years when even Hollywood had to book far in advance to get work run through the motion control and animation house's doors. Thus, it was in this high pressure and extremely high-standard environment that Shawn Maher spent a 5 year period shooting more than 100 spots as a special effects cameraman. So sure, Maher is proud of all his hard work and of his talent but if you ask him he'll tell you himself that he has been lucky. His very varied path in the world of film making has provided him with an extensive technical background that augments an innate artistry. He has the know-how to produce the 'wow' and when looking at his work it's clear that he can consistently achieve the most difficult thing in film - Shawn Maher can turn vision into celluloid reality.
Currently Shawn is working with George H. Ross of t.v.'s "The Apprentice" with many of his charitable foundations and live events.
Shawn Maher: "I think having a mentor is probably one of the most important things I have experienced in my life. I have been lucky enough to have a mentor, George H. Ross, the Executive Vice-President to the Trump Organisation in New York City. You know he knows things and has experienced things that you know you just can't find on the internet when you are actually doing deals. So I really believe you can find some great information on the internet, but you really want to find someone who has been there and done it before you."