Filmmaker Profile: Gregory Schell
Jan 21 2007 / Park City, UTSurfer/Filmmaker/Actor Gregory Schell was born in Los Angeles and began making short films as a teenager. He won the L.A. National History Day Film Competition when he was in 7th grade. His short film, Destination North: The California Frontier, took first place at the competition. As a freshman enrolled at UC Santa Barbara, he studied film and began making short comedies on 16mm. He directed his first 16mm short, Silence of the Lamb Chops, starring veteran comedians Harvey Korman and Chuck McCann. He also helped pay his way through school by booking a series of television commercials as an actor. He has appeared in commercials for McDonald’s, Miller Genuine Draft, Toyota and Clif Bar.
Later on, he attended San Francisco State’s Graduate Film Program where he directed the award-winning 16mm short, Dead Letter Office. He then went on to direct his first feature documentary titled The Far Shore. The film has played in numerous international film festivals, sold thousands of DVD copies worldwide, been written up in over twenty magazines and is currently airing on FUEL TV through the year 2006.
Gregory is currently on tour with his new feature documentary, Chasing the Lotus… an in-depth look at surfing discovery around the world, narrated by Jeff Bridges.
Filmmaker: Gregory Schell
Film: Chasing The Lotus
Hometown: Santa Monica, California
Age: 36
Lat34: How many years have you been filming
GS: 10
Lat34: Favorite location to shoot
GS: Exteriors, oceans, mountains
Lat34: How many films have you made?
GS: 2 features
Lat34: What is your Current project(s)?
GS: Morning Glass
Lat34: Athletes or teams you've worked with?
Lat34: Favorite Bands/Music Many pro surfers/skaters and tons of great
bands?
GS: The Mother Hips, Fog City All-Stars, Tim Bluhm, Ithaka, Chris Bell
Lat34: Are you excited for 2007?
GS: YES
Lat34: What's one thing people should know about life?
GS: The best things in life are not things
