I slow-cook stories seasoned with purpose—tales that sit in silence, then erupt.

I'm Shawn Spitler, an Emmy®-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and novelist-in-progress. My work blends romantic fables, mythic sci-fi, slow burns, and the occasional high-impact action sequence. I’m drawn to emotional weight, poetic restraint, and stories that unfold like long-forgotten love letters—personal, powerful, and often punctuated by longing.

Before I could drive, I was making backyard movies on VHS. Years later, the U.S. Marine Corps taught me to capture truth in a single frame as a combat photojournalist. At NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, I learned to shape that truth into story. Since then, I’ve written screenplays, directed films, and helped others tell theirs—with a lens aimed squarely at the human condition.

I live and create in the Midwest, where quiet streets and heavy skies still make room for myth. My short films have screened internationally and are available on Vimeo. I’m currently developing my first feature film and debut novel—both slow-cooked and seasoned with purpose.

This site is the central hub for all of it. Here, you’ll find updates on projects in development, access to my short films, and handcrafted essays exploring storytelling, process, and emotional resonance. If you’re drawn to stories that linger—stories with silence, weight, and fire beneath the surface—you’re in the right place.

Let’s connect.

📚 Join my Substack for occasional letters from the creative frontlines.

🎬 Watch my short films on Vimeo or YouTube

📩 Get in touch if you’re looking to collaborate, commission, or simply say hello.