BIO
Shane’s pursuit of a career in cinema began in the most unlikely of places. It was during his stint at Westmont College, where he was studying pre-med of all things, that Shane began to realize his love for the arts.
He first pursued a career in acting, which led him to New York City. Shane participated in many stage performances as well as landing feature roles in a number of independent films. While in New York, Shane realized the scope of his cinematic interests were broader than he had originally anticipated. Armed with a low-grade VHS-C camcorder, Shane began shooting his own short films.
“I had been acting in a number of student films in and around New York City when I realized that I was more interested in what the fella behind the camera was doing than what I was doing. After some serious consideration, I realized that my skill set would be better put to use in the realm of Directing rather than acting.”
After moving back to Los Angeles, Shane’s short films eventually caught the eye of a few key players in the entertainment business. It is through these contacts that the door was opened for music videos. After a couple years of sharpening his skills as an editor and cinematographer, Shane started Red Van Pictures, an independent music video production company.
“My original intention was to make feature films. Directors such as Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Terry Gilliam, Oliver Stone and Milos Forman, as well as newcomers Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, P.T. Anderson, and more helped to shape my artistic coming of age. My first significant mentor happened, however, to be a music video director, hence my foray into the world Musical Cinema.”
Shane joined the Wild Plum family for commercial representation in 2008, helming several American Idol/Ford music videos in both that year and 2009. In 2008 Shane joined forces with Manager Brad Mendelsohn at Circle Of Confusion for feature film work.
Recent Work:
Avril Lavigne – “Smile” – Music Video
Brantley Gilbert – “Country Must Be Country Wide” – Music Video
Mike Posner ft. Lil Wayne – “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” – Music Video
6 Ford Spots for American Idol Season 10
1 Short film for Artist Panic! At The Disco – “The Overture”
Awards and Acknowledgments:
Shane Drake was selected as one of the new directors to
watch in Shoot Online’s New Directors Showcase 2010
MTV Video Music Awards 2006:
Artist: Panic! at The Disco
Song: “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
Video of the Year – Won
Best Rock Video – Nominated
Best Group Video – Nominated
Best Art Direction – Nominated
Best New Artist – Nominated
TMF Awards 2006:
Artist: Panic! at The Disco
Song: “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
Best Video International – Won
MTVu Woodie Awards 2007:
Artist: Say Anything
Song: “I Can Get Sexual Too”
Best Video Woodie: Video of The Year – Won
Kerrang! Awards 2007:
Artist: Paramore
Song: “Misery Business”
Best Video – Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards 2008:
Artist: Panic! at The Disco
Song: “Nine in The Afternoon”
Best Direction in a Video – Nominated
Best Pop Video – Nominated
Artist: Paramore
Song: “CrushCrushCrush”
Best Rock Video - Nominated
Artist: Fall Out Boy
Song: “Beat It” Ft. John Mayer
Best Rock Video – Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards 2009:
Artist: Paramore
Song: “Decode” from the Major Motion Picture Twilight
Best Rock Video – Nominated
MTV Australia Awards 2009:
Artist: Paramore
Song: “Decode” from the Major Motion Picture Twilight
Best Rock Video – Nominated
CMT Music Awards 2010:
Artist: Laura Bell Bundy
Song: “Giddy On Up”
USA Weekend
Breakthrough Video of the Year – Nominated
American Country Awards 2010:
Artist: Laura Bell Bundy
Song: “Giddy On Up”
Breakthrough Artist Music Video – Nominated