FILMMAKER Zac Shaw exudes passion in every aspect of his work, and this shows in every word and expression. His eyes light up and he becomes animated when he is talking about anything to do with a camera, lighting, or lenses. Zac lives and breathes his passion at almost every waking moment and always has a camera at the ready.
Born in Hervey Bay, twenty-two years ago, Zacariah Mackay Shaw has always had a creative flair from as far back as he can remember.
His mum and dad parted ways before he was born so he was brought up by his mum and stepdad, Brad. They lived in various places around the country until settling in Port Stephens in New South Wales.
Despite being a self-proclaimed nerd during his school days, with a penchant for Star Wars and superheroes, Zac also harboured a keen interest in acting and drawing. His creative spark ignited at the age of eight or nine when he downloaded a video editing app on his iPod for fun. This marked the beginning of Zac's venture into filmmaking, creating mini skits that quickly earned him the reputation of the "kid who was always making videos" around school.
While still in school, Zac did a Certificate III in Screen and Media at TAFE, delving into every aspect of filmmaking. It was during the cinematography segment that he fell in love with the technical intricacies. Learning the nuances of working with cameras, understanding lighting, and exploring the impact of different lenses on an image fascinated him. This newfound passion led him to apply for a Port Stephens Council Mayoral Scholarship, which he won, securing funds to purchase his first camera, a Sony A73. That same council employed him to do a video for them, this was his first videographer job of many.
Post-high school, Zac continued his education at TAFE, pursuing a Diploma in Screen and Media, and made some lifelong friends along the way. Over time Zac’s skills developed and he eventually moved out of his mum and stepdad's place and moved to Sydney, where he lived for just over a year, but he wasn’t happy living in the city as he didn’t have any family or friends there. So, in March of last year, Zac reached out to his dad in Eli Waters and ended up moving in with him for a bit. This was a good period together and Zac spent the time setting up his own videography business.
Zac’s dad, Robert Mackay, is well-known and respected within the music scene and has recorded many artists over the years.
Following the move to Hervey Bay, Zac is already making a name for himself. After sending in his showreel to Fraser Coast Films Zac was invited to shoot the behind-the-scenes photos of the premiere of the film The 13th Summer. They must have liked his work as he secured the job of filming the behind-the-scenes footage and photos for their next movie He Loves Me Not. Zac loved the experience and looks forward to many more.
Never one to sit still, Zac has diversified his portfolio by engaging in real estate videography, showing his diversity. Looking ahead, he would like to see his business grow and work on some larger, high-end projects, Cinematography remains his primary passion.
Reflecting on his life so far, Zac emphasizes the importance of persistence. He debunks the notion that starting a business or achieving personal goals is not easy, emphasizing the need to persevere. As he continues making diverse videos, from music videos to wedding videos and everything in between, Zac Shaw looks forward to a future of continuous growth and creative fulfillment wherever that may take him.
By Kim Parnell
From What’s On Fraser Coast
