Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheldon Woodson.
Hi Sheldon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
To be specific about my film career, I’ll start with my time in the military. I was stationed on the USS John C. Stennis, an aircraft carrier, off the coast of Virginia, and then transferred to San Diego, California. I believe we had a crew of over 2,500 people, but the air wing doubled that to 6,000 people on board during a cruise or deployment. This made the lunch lines long. To pass the time, most people brought books to read or lined up with friends to chat. Because we couldn’t all get in line at the same time to chat with friends, our best bet was to bring a book. I wasn’t a book reader, but I was fascinated by the folks who brought these huge 600- to 1,000-page books with them in line, so I decided to challenge myself to do the same. The first book I read was on warlocks, wizards, and trolls; a fantasy novel I can’t remember the title of, but it blew me away. Reading became better than watching TV, so I became a reader. After reading 100s of books, I wanted to challenge myself to write. Stephen King, Ann Rice, and John Grisham wrote books that sometimes totaled well over five to eight hundred pages, so I thought I could write something, and I did. The first book I wrote was called “Destination”; it was about life after life, heaven and hell, and redemption. I got it published, and it became a mild sensation in the Bible Belt. This became my first success and my start in writing.
I’ve always tried to get my book made into films but found that the club called Hollywood was contrived; you had to know somebody who knew somebody, and even after getting to know the somebody who would help you, this person or company wanted all the rights and most of the money, so I decided to do my own thing, especially after Spike Lee, John Singleton, and a few other indie filmmakers came on the filmmaking scene. I read what I could, watched every interview, and pulled the trigger on doing what I could with what I had.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I attempted to make my first film a few times, things just never seemed to line up. People either flaked out or didn’t show up when they said they would. I served in the military for 24 years, with multiple deployments and cruises, so I only had my weekends. Time was always a major factor in trying to make a movie. For a while, I sent inquiry letters with my movie script to production companies and only received “we do not accept unsolicited material” denial letters back. At the time, I didn’t know what that meant, but I knew the answer was no. I put my dream on pause for a little while until I could make the money to produce my own movie. So I started selling Real estate. I did pretty well, and I had the money to make my movie, and the week before I started shooting, COVID started. No one knew what was going on, so I waited and waited and waited until I couldn’t wait anymore, and I decided to make a short film with the equipment I had. My wife and I starred in it, and after production, I sent it to the film festivals. And it all worked out.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, let me start with this. I’m a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, a retired Real Estate Agent, and a forced-retired federal government refugee due to DOGE at the start of President Trump’s second term. Though it was upsetting at the time, it shaped who I am today: a writer, producer, and director of my own film production studio, Woodson’s World Studios. I make films from my books, adapted into screenplays, and from original scripts I write and film for streaming and eventually theatrical release. Depending on the circle you’re in, I’m known for filmmaking or book writing. In film, I’m known for the films “Come Outside,” “Vessel,” and “The Model, The Mannequin, and Me.” Both “Come Outside” and “Vessel” are available on multiple streaming services, including Amazon Prime, TUBITV, Plex, Apple TV, and others. My books, “Destination – Sowing and Reaping,” “Spiritual Eyes – Seeing is Believing,” and “Darkness in the Light,” are available at all major booksellers.
I’m most proud of my progression in the film industry and the connections I’ve made in accomplishing my goals. At one time, I pursued some sort of acknowledgment in the industry. The awards, invitations to events, parties, and festivals let me know I’m seen and am a part of something I love. What sets me apart is the work I do; I call my work “spiritual mystery.” It’s a genre that does not exist, and I’m sure it will catch on and become the new thing to look at and love.
How do you define success?
Success is the progression of a worthy ideal. If you can see it, you can be it, but you also have to go after it. I’ve had a 24-year career in the military, but I don’t see it as success by my definition because I didn’t visualize it. I also have an undergraduate degree in Business Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Business Management. Though that’s seen as success, it’s not for me because my goal, and what I’ve always focused on, was becoming a filmmaker. My filmmaking career is my success because it’s what I’ve always desired. The other accomplishments were tools that helped me get there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://woodsonsworld.com/indiefilmproducer
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodsons.world/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheldon.woodson
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-hc-sheldon-woodson-bs-mm-dr-hc-delta-mu-delta-6893bb13
- Twitter: https://x.com/woodson_sheldon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WoodsonsWorldStudios
