Shanda  Renee'

Shanda Renee` is a multi talented artist whose passions have taken her from the canvas to the micro-phone to photography, modeling, writing and acting. The all American girl is of Cherokee Indian and Swedish nationality. Most people that know Shanda Renee` on a personal level would agree she is a direct split down the middle, having a soft sweetness about her with a side of feisty. In most situations Shanda has an almost vulnerable, sweet approach yet should that fail her she snaps into feisty mode to get the job done! Shanda’s life has taken her down many amazing roads in recent years and yet it took many travels down darker roads to fuel her with the inspiration and passion that now drives her daily. From the young age of 3, life introduced her to many forms of abuse and that black cloud didn’t seem to lighten up through out her childhood, adolescence and early adult years. Shanda is working on her first auto biography in which she tells the story of a girl destined to fail who ends up fulfilling dreams she never imagined, taking her to the red carpet!

Everything that Shanda touches represents her life experiences in some form. Her oil paintings are very abstract and never have a controlled sense about them. She allows her hands to just move and what comes out is what they are. Shanda will admit she will never out sing her   incredibly talented mother whom her voice is almost an exact replica however will never stop singing because music allows her spirit to dance. Her photography is also recognized due to its “unique style.” She still uses film! Shanda only uses natural sun light or “simple, cheesy house lamps,” to light her subject. There is something in her eye that sees the absolute most beautiful side to people that even they are amazed at when they see what she saw through her photos.

On the flip side, photographers love shooting Shanda due to her freeness in front of the camera, innocent, vulnerable side that she is not afraid to show, sexy seductive nature that oozes from her pores and her uninhibited attitude. She feels as though she has seen and gone through so much that there is not one emotion she has not felt and why not use them for creativity’s sake!

Although Shanda has so many interests and talents, there are two that take up a large portion of her heart. Writing, acting and soon to be directing. Shanda has been in several feature films including “Raising Helen” with Kate Hudson, “Princess Diaries Two” with Anne Hathaway and “Karma” with DJ Perry! She is currently writing her next project “A place not here,” in which she will write, star and have her directorial debut. She has a strong vision that breaths life. Her mind dreams and believes in the absolute possibility that anything imagined can become reality. Shanda says, “God has saved me creating light from dark and as I have seen my life play out through the lens of a camera, breaking down each event into scenes, I know that making life inspiring films is what I must do. Somehow I must do.”

Working with Dj Perry? “One word that comes to mind when thinking back on how working with Dj was, is comfortable. Dj is one of the rare humans that from the first hello my name is… allows you to feel comfortable. He has a true genuine spirit that is obvious from the inside out.

Although Dj has strong opinions and we had our debates, not once was it for any other reason than simple conversation and company. Having Dj around on the filming of “Karma” was what it took to remember that this is all about enjoying the moment! Cuz that’s what Dj does. Who ever is in the room and what ever room it may be, regardless if the camera’s were rolling or we were sippin on King Fisher beer in one of our hotel rooms, it was that moment and it was real! Dj and I only got to actually share one scene and it was probably the best scene to determine my opinion of Dj’s acting skills. My acting skill needed… to play dead. My character was shot and killed lying dead on a barn floor with a pool of blood next to my head. Dj’s character being the cop/investigator was to run in with a mob of cops following, stop at my dead body and than continue on to Anna, the lead female who was crying in the corner of the barn. Now you would think laying there still with your eyes closed playing dead is the easiest acting skill necessary, but it’s not! It is terrifying to hear the stampede coming at you thinking one of them is going to trip and fall on you, or not stop quick enough, or as they run past you in the rush of the scene step on your head. I mean after all your dead and you don’t feel anything right? Not to mention your natural reaction is to open your eyes when you hear all this commotion. However, I took a deep breath and thought, this is Dj… suddenly feeling safe and well… comfortable. We had less than a minute before sunlight and there was time for one take to get this scene nailed. I played perfectly dead and Dj even took the extra second to check my pulse. What a guy!”