Meshall Shumate, a paraprofessional teacher in the Special Education Department at Midtown, balances teaching with her work as a filmmaker and founder of her independent film company, Shu Productions.
Born in Kansas City, Shumate wasn’t surrounded by many film opportunities. She later moved to Los Angeles to study film at Columbia College, where she earned a degree in filmmaking.
“I wanted to make sure I studied at a school that really focused on film, because I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Shumate said.
Shumate said her education at Columbia College still shapes her career today.
“If you’re going to be in this business, you have to get along with all kinds of people, and not everyone has the skin for it,” Shumate said. “The other big lesson is safety. On a movie set, nothing is more important than keeping people safe, even if it costs extra money. People’s lives are more important than money.”
Kimberly Portee, a special education teacher at Midtown, has worked with Shumate for eight years. She said Shumate’s attitude and work ethic are what help her excel as an educator.
“Ms. Shumate is such a pleasure to work with,” Portee said. “She has an upbeat personality and is always willing to help out however she can. Positivity, being dependable and caring are traits that are so important within the educational institution and when working with students.”
Shumate expressed how balancing her two careers has not always been easy. She said the key to managing both teaching and filmmaking is patience and flexibility.
“Time management is the key,” Shumate said. “In this industry, you have to expect the unexpected. Problems are going to come up, and you have to be able to put out fires quickly while staying calm and collected.”
Cheryl Simien, a production assistant for Shu Productions, said Shumate’s calm and positive approach makes her stand out as a filmmaker.
“Shumate handles challenges with, ‘What is the next step? Let’s find a solution,’ and she keeps calm always with that smile,” Simien said.
Portee said Shumate’s presence at Midtown is also marked by her sense of humor and her ability to connect with others.
“I believe that infectious laugh she belts out pierces our ears, but makes us all find the humor and fall out laughing in any situation,” Portee said. “We’ve been through a lot and she is still here, going strong, giving her all and keeping us laughing with her jokes.”
While filming The Girls, Simien highlights a moment on set that revealed Shumate’s true leadership.
“One of the most memorable moments was on the set of The Girls,” Simien said. “An actor was struggling with their line, and Shumate stopped production to encourage and lift that person’s spirits, even though we were in a time crunch.”
Shumate said she developed a passion for filmmaking as a child and dreams of one day receiving an Oscar. She explained that pursuing that dream will require years of dedication.
“My dream is to walk across that stage and receive an Oscar,” Shumate said. “That’s been my dream for a long time. People don’t realize it takes years of paying dues to get there because the Oscar is the crème de la crème of filmmaking.”
Shumate said her parents, both educators, inspired her to teach as well. She expressed the lessons she learned from her parents continue to influence how she approaches her work.
“[My father] was really serious, but he meant what he said,” Shumate said. “I look up to my parents and I think they’re awesome. My father came through the fifties and sixties, and he was one of the first Black principals during integration. He helped integrate all-white schools, which took a lot of strength and courage. I deeply respect my parents for what they went through and what they endured. I want to honor them and follow in their footsteps.”
Over her career, Shumate has worked on a range of projects, but two stand out as her self-acclaimed proudest accomplishments.
“One was directing a music video for Raven-Symoné,” Shumate said. “I had five minutes to pitch an idea to her father, and he loved it. The other was my first feature film. My mother and I raised $10,000 and shot a low-budget movie that went on to win two film festivals.”
Shumate said she hopes her persistence shows students that with patience and determination, any dream is possible.
“No matter how many obstacles or how many times you hear no, you have to keep telling yourself yes,” Shumate said.
