Peer Review: Leah Shore

Who are three contemporaries that you admire?

A few that stand out to me are Leos Carax, Celine Sciamma, Gregg Araki, and Joey Soloway. 

Leos Carax’s surreal and vibrant visuals, paired with his unique storytelling style, make his films a true feast for the senses. 

Celine Sciamma’s work is deeply personal and introspective, and I admire the way she explores complex themes such as sexuality and identity with a soft touch.

Joey Soloway’s work is incredibly authentic and grounded, with characters and stories that feel real and relatable. 

Greg Araki’s combination of queer and surreal ideas is something I hope to achieve one day. It’s all about perspective.

Above: Trailer for Holy Motors, directed by Leos Carax.

Please share three to four pieces of work that exemplify great multi-media direction?

There are a few pieces of work that I consider to be truly exceptional. One of my all-time favourites is Holy Motors by Leos Carax. This experimental/narrative film is both commercially successful and visually stunning, featuring some of the most unique storytelling techniques I've ever seen.

Another director whose work I greatly admire is Jan Svankmajer. He is known for his grotesque stop-motion films, which are truly one-of-a-kind. However, he also creates incredible multi-media films that incorporate live-action, puppets, and stop-motion animation. 

I relish the challenge of bringing different styles together to create something truly weird and innovative.

My personal favourite is Lunacy which is a creative and imaginative take on the Marquis De Sade.

Finally, I have to mention Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. This film is a true work of art, incorporating a wide range of techniques, including stop- motion animation, live-action sequences, and even some truly bizarre animations. One of the standout performances in the film comes from Robin Williams severed head, which is just one example of the film's maximalist and fantastical approach to storytelling.

Each of these directors has pushed the boundaries of what is possible with multi-media storytelling, and I am inspired by their work every gosh darn day.

Above: Trailer for The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, directed by Terry Gilliam.

What do you like most about the work that you do?

I love the ability to merge different genres and create something truly unique. For me, it all starts with a solid script - I believe that a great story is the foundation for any successful project. 

Once I have the script, I start to envision how I want the final product to look, whether that be through live-action, animation, stop-motion, or a combination of all. 

I believe that there is a real opportunity to increase representation of female and queer filmmakers in this field.

One of the things I'm particularly proud of is my ability to produce high-quality animations and live-action films. Not many filmmakers have the expertise to work across multiple mediums, but I relish the challenge of bringing different styles together to create something truly weird and innovative. 

In my work, I am inspired by directors who have successfully transitioned from animation to live-action filmmaking, such as Tim Burton, Brad Bird, Gregory La Vave, Mike Mitchell, Terry Gilliam, and Mike Judge. While these directors are all incredibly talented, I believe that there is a real opportunity to increase representation of female and queer filmmakers in this field.

As I started creating products with unique and humorous stories behind them, I realised my passion for storytelling. 

Overall, what I love about my work is the ability to bring together different styles and techniques to create something that is truly unique. By combining my passion for storytelling with my technical expertise, I'm able to produce something I haven’t seen much of that is also emotionally resonant.

Above: Trailer for Lunch, directed by Jan Svankmajer.

What was your journey to becoming a multi-media director?

My journey began when I attended art school. Initially, I thought I would pursue industrial design, but as I started creating products with unique and humorous stories behind them, I realised my passion for storytelling. I felt that film and TV were the best mediums to combine all of the arts that I adore, such as sculpting, painting, music creation, singing, and writing. 

As I delved into filmmaking, I started creating experimental films that explored different techniques and visual styles. Over time, my work shifted towards more narrative-based content, and I found my niche in creating dramedy. I've made several short films and content that are character-driven combined with a unique visual style. 

We need help from our crews, producers, EPs, and friends. We cannot make and direct content without them.

One of my recent projects was my film Puss, which was filmed in my apartment, had a bare-bones crew, but managed to create a visually and character-compelling story. This inspired me to challenge myself and to write compelling characters and incorporate humour in a way that felt organic to the story.

Overall, my journey has been a combination of following my passions, experimenting with different techniques, collaborating with creatives, and developing a strong understanding of storytelling. I am excited to continue creating content that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.

Above: David Cronenberg, Jan Svankmajer, Leos Carax, Steven Spielberg.

What is one thing all directors need?

Help. We need help from our crews, producers, EPs, and friends. We cannot make and direct content without them. They lift you up, help you execute whatever vision you are going for. Additionally for someone who isn’t a man, we need help from friends, filmmakers, companies, film festivals to cultivate us and lift us up and give us a chance. 

Who was the greatest director of all time?

Oh dear god. I have no idea. What a difficult question. Possibly [David] Cronenberg? [Jan] Svankmajer? [Leos] Carax? Shoot... [Steven]Speilberg? Not sure. While I am personally drawn to the surreal and experimental styles of directors like Cronenberg, Svankmajer and Carax, I also recognise the incredible impact and influence of directors like Spielberg, [James] Cameron, [Steven] Soderbergh, [Guillermo] Del Toro. 

Ultimately, I think it’s impossible to choose just one director as the greatest of all time, as each one brings something special and unique to the table.