From Soldier to Storyteller: Shannan Wynn on Indie Filmmaking

In this episode of Best in Fest, filmmaker, educator, and Army veteran Shannan Wynn shares her extraordinary journey from serving in the armed forces and counseling at-risk youth to building her own production company, Winquest Entertainment. Shannan reveals how her life experiences inspired her debut thriller A Life of Sunshine—a female-driven, murder mystery now streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV—and how she navigated the challenges of self-funding, casting, and distribution

Shannan Wynn.

She also dives into her collaboration on the relationship documentary The Love Script, the importance of partnerships in indie filmmaking, and her future plans to adapt her children’s book The Tales of Chance and the Faithful Few (with a foreword by CeCe Winans) into an animated series

Shannan Wynn. Along the way, Shannan shares advice on building relationships, supporting other filmmakers, and why you should “never put a period where a comma belongs.”

Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker, a fan of thrillers and documentaries, or simply looking for inspiration to pivot careers, this conversation is a masterclass in creativity, resilience, and following your passion.