Shawna Baca got her first taste of filmmaking at age six when John Cassavettes rented her uncle's house to make the movie, "A Killing of a Chinese Bookie." Four years later, her uncle lost her at the wrap party for "One From the Heart," where she met Francis Ford Coppola. When he asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she answered confidently: "You." He tried to talk her out of it, but she held her ground.Her first screenplay effort, "Impersonal Impression," a short about a rape victim and her unusual hero, won the 2002 Slamdance Anarchy Competition. Her 2003 directorial debut, "Rose's Garden," has won four awards to date, including Best Film and Best Actress (Tippi Hedren) from the L.A. TV Short Film Festival. After "Rose's" success Shawna wrote and directed "3:52," a 35mm short about a woman's battles with the inner demons that haunt her. It premiered at Sony Picture's Backstage Theater in L.A. and stars a pre-"Ugly Betty" America Ferrera. Panavision granted Shawna with the New Filmmaker's Grant and was awarded a 35mm camera package. 3:52 has won two awards, the Audience Choice Award at the 2006 San Diego Women's Film Festival and the BEST OF the 2006 National Association for Latin Independent Producers.Since "3:52" Shawna has worked non-stop. Based on her sitcom pilot "MiX-Matched," she was chosen to participate in the 2006 Producers Guild Diversity Workshop and Fox Diversity Writer's Program. She has directed "Girl, Please!" an urban talk show pilot; "Tomoko's Kitchen," a comedy starring Cassandra ("Elvira") Peterson (which recently premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, Short Film Corner);; "On the Pow-Wow Trail," a feature documentary about a Navajo Drum Group, directed scenes for NBC's Universal Diversity Talent Showcase; and "Death to Life," a reality show promo for A&E about two ex-gang members who found God. Taking the reality show experience a step further, she was chosen by Steven Spielberg from 12,000 filmmakers as one of 50 finalists for FOX's new reality show, "On The Lot."Shawna and co-writer David Chester have just polished their spec script, "Goodbye, Eloise!" a one-hour dramedy about Christine Sanz, a personal assistant by day, guerilla filmmaker by night, and are currently writing a romantic comedy feature. She is currently working on a feature film project with writer/producer Teryl Warren about a Latina woman who was killed maliciously in an unforgettable domestic violence case.
