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Faculty
Faculty

Shom Shamapande (He/Him)

Lecturer

shomwa.shamapande@howard.edu

Department/Office

  • Media, Journalism, Film & Communication

School/College

  • School of Communications

Biography

Mr. Shom Shamapande is an award-winning producer, writer, creative director and storyteller. Currently, he is a full-time lecturer at Howard University’s Film and Television program and previously was a clinical instructor at Harvard University, adjunct lecturer at Columbia University and Chairperson of the Cinematic Arts and Media Production Department at the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Mr. Shamapande has a BA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Masters Degree (MPA) from Columbia University. 

Shom Shamapande served as a producer on projects that have been nominated for 7 Emmy Awards and have won 4 Emmy Awards. These projects were directed and executive produced by fellow Howard University faculty member, Jami Ramberan. Other projects he has produced have been featured at film festivals including, the Cannes International Short Film Festival, Oscar Micheaux Film Festival, Brooklyn Science Fiction Film Festival and the Pan African Film Festival. On the lighter side, Mr. Shamapande is an accomplished stand-up comedian who has performed at some of the nation's top clubs including Caroline’s Comedy Club, Greenwich Village Comedy Club, and the Broadway Comedy Club in New York City. 

He has written and sold feature scripts to major Hollywood production companies including Sony Pictures. Earlier in his career, he developed marketing and communication campaigns for organizations like Pepsi Cola, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, the ASPCA, Democratic National Committee, AfriCare and Mastercard. And in 2008, Shom served as the chief spokesperson, speechwriter and communications advisor to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s UNDP Commission on the Legal Empowerment of the Poor. 

Education & Expertise

Education

MPA

Managment & Communications
Columbia University

BA


University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Expertise

Film & Television Writing

Film & Television Producing

Storytelling and creative writing for film and television

Comedy writing

Speechwriting

Copywriting for advertising

Communications/ PR Executive

 

Academics

Academics

MJFC 340 : Scriptwriting

This course serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of film, radio and television script writing. The course will focus on character development, story outlines, treatments and narrative script formats for the web, film, television and radio as well as commercials for radio and television. Students will finish the course with a short film script, webisode or 30 pages of a television pilot. 

I think this class is really introduction to storytelling. I spend the first month exploring stories. Why do we love stories? What makes a good story? How do you – the student – learn to tell good stories?  What is the 3 act structure?

MJFC 347 : Producing for TV & Film

What is a Producer?

Introduction to the nuts and bolts of physical production, line producing, budgeting, scheduling, and a producer's breakdown of a script. Learn the logistics of hiring cast and crew, securing locations, equipment, insurance, etc. Focuses on securing a property, through getting it green-lit, to the marketing and distribution aspects of the producer's job.

This class explores the art form and business profession of being a producer in film and TV. Students learn key aspects of producing in the film and TV industry, from pitch and development to script breakdowns and call sheets. We explore strategies for securing distribution and developing a film festival strategy.

You learn what a producer does.

Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Co-Producer: My Asian (Three Emmy Awards)

"My Asian" is a poetic film, highlighting the horrific miscarriages of justice that Asian-Americans and Asians in America are - and have historically been subjected to: from day-to-day micro-aggressions to actual acts of violence and terror against members of their community.

  • Outstanding Performance Piece/Experimental Film, Micheaux Film Festival,  2022
  • Pan African Film Festival 2023
  • 6 Emmy Award Nominations and 3 Emmy Awards (2023)

"VOTE" (Producer) - Winner of a 2021 EMMY AWARD

Set in our nation’s capital after the death of George Floyd, "Vote" is a visual call to arms, highlighting the devastating contradictions that so many in America are experiencing right now, and paying homage to the countless individuals that have sacrificed and are sacrificing so that we may have the right to vote, and have our vote count.

  • Outstanding PSA Single Spot, Emmy Award, 2021
  • Best of Festival Award, Broadcast Education Association 2020

Directer and Executive Producer: Jami Ramberan, Associate Professor at Howard University

Cinematographer: Srikanth Nandigama, Assistant Professor at Howard University

Everlasting (Producer)

Short Film. In a world of social media obsession, a tech-savvy boyfriend tries to plan the perfect birthday for his girlfriend in spite of her sister's objections.

  • Audience Choice Award, Cannes Short Film Festival
  • Official Selection, Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival
  • Official Selection, Miami International Sci-Fi Film Festival