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Shawn Welling's career is a captivating blend of artistry, innovation, and relentless passion, spanning across dance, film, and visual storytelling. From his early days as a dancer to becoming a celebrated film director, Welling has carved out a unique space in the entertainment world, earning accolades and recognition both in the U.S. and internationally.
His journey into the world of entertainment began in dance, with early success choreographing and performing for major events such as the NBA Championship Games for the Houston Rockets in 1994, as well as NFL and NHL halftime shows. Welling's choreography and performances extended to prominent global platforms, including Cirque du Soleil's Dralion, Good Morning America, and more. In 1994, he opened Planet Funk Academy in Houston, Texas, a dance studio that quickly became renowned for its innovative approach to movement, with Good Morning America host Diane Sawyer even calling it "legendary."
Between 2007 and 2024, Welling transitioned from dance to film, directing over 13 feature films, 30 short films, and two television web series. His work has garnered over 150 festival wins and amassed over 150 million downloadable views globally. Throughout his career, Welling has directed an impressive array of actors, including Michael Biehn, Lee Majors, William Forsythe, Jake Busey, Les Twins, and Terry Kiser, among others.
His early films garnered attention for their unique storytelling and bold artistic choices, with his first feature, House of Dreams, winning Gold and Platinum Remi Awards at the WorldFest International Film Festival, and his second film, The Messenger: 360 Days of Bolivar, earning Best Feature Film of 2009 by Houston Press. That film, which documented the devastation of Hurricane Ike, also marked the beginning of Welling's deep connection to documentary work.
In 2011, Project Aether earned critical acclaim, winning several awards including Best Feature, Best Actor, and Best Overall World Premier. The film was praised for its mix of sci-fi, horror, and conspiracy theory genres. That same year, Welling premiered AXI: Avengers of Xtreme Illusions, a web series featuring famous dancers performing in surreal environments with a Twilight Zone-esque narrative style. AXI went on to have a six-season run and earned the Grand Remi for Best Web Series in 2012 and 2013.
Beyond his film career, Welling's influence as a choreographer and dance ambassador has spanned the globe. In 2009, he was selected by the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce to represent the United States at the inauguration of the RasGas Facility in Qatar, where he performed and choreographed alongside his dance team, Planet Funk Team USA. Welling also worked as a dance consultant for productions such as Disney's The Lion King and the Broadway hit Oliver!, and directed films with dance stars like Phillip Cheebeb, Brian Friedman, Les Twins, and I.AM.ME. As a visual artist, Welling's photography was featured on the cover of Photoshop User Magazine in 2011 and in Sony Music's promotional material, with his photographic work continuing to be widely published and respected.
Welling's expertise and dynamic stage presence have made him a sought-after public speaker. He has spoken at numerous prestigious universities, including Texas A&M and California Polytechnic State University, and was a featured panelist at the International Wizard of Oz Club OzCon in 2015 for his docudrama Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. He has also spoken at major film festivals and literary conventions, offering insight into both the artistic and technical aspects of filmmaking.
In 2015, Welling's short film If I Could Talk became his most widely recognized and successful project, resonating with audiences worldwide due to its emotional and universally relatable story of a dog's perspective on life. With over 130 million downloads and multiple awards, the film was followed by two successful sequels, If I Could Run (2018) and If I Could Bark (2016). If I Could Run earned numerous accolades, including Best Feature and Best Actress awards. Welling's feature films The Last Astronaut (2019) and Strange Bird (2017) further established him as a versatile filmmaker, with Strange Bird earning acting recognition for its star, Preslee Tucker. In 2015, Welling received the prestigious World of Dance Industry Award for Best Film Work in Dance at Avalon Hollywood Theatre, cementing his reputation within the dance and film communities.
As of 2021, Welling's career continues to flourish, with notable releases including the dark comedy The Great American Action Hero, starring Lee Majors and Jake Busey, as well as If I Could Ride, a coming-of-age film that has won over 60 festival awards. His production company, Welling Films, has grown in stature, with releases such as the action thriller Narco Sub and Mission from Outer Space 2037 (2022), starring Lee Majors and his daughter, Emmarain Welling. The latter film marked Tom Sizemore's final role before his passing.
In 2024-25, Welling completed the remarkable documentary Alive: A True Story of Hope, which he is currently expanding into a multi-part series as well as adapting into a live-action feature film. The project has already received numerous festival honors, including Best Documentary Feature, Audience Choice Award, and Most Inspirational Film, cementing it as one of Welling's most celebrated works to date. That same year, he began work on The Sound of Willow, an epic and faith-inspired drama based on the true story of a child overcoming a brain tumor. In parallel, Welling returned to his documentary roots with River of Angels, chronicling the devastating floods in Kerr County, Texas. The film builds on the legacy of his earlier landmark documentary, The Messenger (2009), creating a powerful through-line in his career: telling stories of survival, resilience, and hope in the face of natural disaster.
In 2015, Welling married Michelle Simmons, a talented Houston-based photographer, and together they have two daughters: EmmaRain (born 2018) and LillySky (born 2021). Emmarain has already begun following in her father's footsteps, appearing in films such as Mission from Outer Space, where she won Best Actress at just five years old.
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