Flipkart TV Ad Acting Coach, Shaun Williams on becoming an Entrepreneur and making it in Showbiz !!!

Most of us have seen the humorous Flipkart TV ads depicting children as adults. Shaun Williams is the man behind the stellar acting of those kids. 

Tell us about yourself.
I like to call myself an artist, an entertainer, a producer. Also, a wannabe healer of the world.

Which project are you currently working on these days?
Currently, I’m looking into expanding the scope of The Cellar Door’s activities. I’m spending my time pondering questions like, “Which projects will be fun? What can generate revenue? What kind of workshops can I design?”
“How much should I charge?” Haha.
Followed by a lot more time working on the answers! That’s the exciting bit. While I’m doing this, I juggle acting assignments, auditions and teaching children drama in two schools, that’s something I truly love. The latter is through a company called Theatre Professionals to which I owe a lot to.

What was the last project that you were active with?
I just got done with producing and directing a small skit for the release of the recent TinTin feature film. As with all my projects, I learnt a lot! This time more about myself as a producer / employer and about cementing ideas and philosophies by which this company will operate and treat its partners. Work not by rules, but by conscience and common sense
I learnt a lot about how I can be as a producer and genuinely look out for the care and comfort of my team on the road. Once in while, even with a decent budget, one is tempted to scrounge and cut corners to the detriment of one’s production and partners. But I can say that I didn’t. I was tempted often though, on the littlest things, but people remember the littlest things as they are what bother us all.

You had a regular job, right? So, why did you change lanes?
I’ve had several jobs working with event management companies, call centres and what not. A gentleman from Orange (now Vodafone) once told me “I think you’re great at getting a job but not good at staying in one.” He then hired me.
My last job was with a Hollywood Studio. I stayed there the longest. I started off as a theatre checker whose duty was to visit multiplexes and check whether they were playing our trailers and if posters were up. In time, the studio let me go beyond this profile and I ended up running the PR machinery for the country. The job was so satisfying that I was on my way to “settle” in life and had pretty much decided to kiss the theatre and performing arts goodbye.
Unfortunately, due to several reasons, my relationships within the company started to sour. When the relationship became very toxic I decided to tender in my resignation. The hard work and the victories suddenly seemed meaningless.
Why am i bringing this up? To come clear about the fact that I didn’t, as some people think, “Take a brave decision to quit the corporate world and try out a new venture.” I was just severely frustrated! That’s when I decided to delve back into the things that i loved. Anything related to entertainment and the performing arts. Anything that could pay my bills.

How did everybody around you react to your decision? What made you stick to your chose path?
Stubbornness and pride, mostly. Everyone around knew I was more suited for the performing arts. Almost everyone was encouraging. Even my parents, understandably worried, accepted that the life I had chosen was best suited to my personality.

Since then, you have come a long way. How has the journey been?
Like a crazy roller coaster ride. Ups and downs. A series of well deserved blows to my ego. A most important realignment with God.
The biggest thing affecting my progress was my ego, my lack of negotiation skills and my laziness. I really didn’t do anything to find work. I waited for it to fall in my lap. Eventually though, I was in another city every weekend, working for months at a stretch with no holidays. And then recession came! Since I was doing so well, I didn’t think it would affect me. I even made large part payments for a home loan. I had several  cheques waiting to come and I ended up just waiting.
My savings depleted. I went bankrupt. For almost a year, I was without work and pending cheques didn’t come. Once, in one week, I lost two lucrative writing assignments after having worked on them for a month and after having refused other work so that i could focus on them. I was on a film set for an assignment at the time, and almost cried when i got the news. But i had to get back on set for a shot. Damn recession didn’t let me cry either. The turning point took place when I did an acting workshop that year. Ironically, when I had the money, I didn’t have time for it. The same company asked me to join them as a drama teacher and two years later, I’m here with my own company.
I have since then stopped taking on writing assignments. I continue to train myself in acting and teaching via workshops and sometimes have to forgo lucrative assignments for the same. It hurts but the long term benefits are great.

You are associated with many theatre and other artistic groups.
Yes. I was born on stage with QTP, spent my adolescent years with Akvarious productions and matured as an actor and drama practioner in Theatre Professionals.

And the person who has made the biggest impact in your life?
My mother. We fight a lot. And jesus, with whom I have fought the most.

Shaun Williams with the Flipkart TV ads kids

How did the theme for the Flipkart ads strike in?
Well the credit for that goes to the copywriters and the production house, Foot Candles. I only came in to workshop the kids. The main idea being to remove all typical cutesy-pie “TV Ad acting” from the kids and make them more grown up.

Tell us about a few other names and projects you have worked with.
I was contracted by the agency Engage4more to produce and direct a skit for their client Pernod Ricard. The employees wanted to act in a play dedicated to their outgoing CEO. I went in and trained and directed them for about six days and did the sound cues on the final day of the show. It was great to see even senior management getting their hands dirty with this theatre exercises and acting business. This assignment was so much fun.

Which project has brought you the most satisfaction?
I’d say, the Flipkart assignment. I got to work with great kids. For the first time, I was behind the camera. The experience gave me newfound respect for directors. We never rested. As an actor i could go back to my vanity van between shots but as come-on behind the camera, we were on set 99% of the time

You even have a few movies to brag about?
Yes. Since I don’t believe in a mass market, I have acted in films which no one sees, haha. Drona, Guzaarish, Turning 30 and Jashnn, to name some. Just before the interval of Ghajini you will see a young guy with long hair being booed off stage. That was me. So I did have a part to play in one of India’s biggest hits, sucks that my friend says it was one because I walked off the stage.
My most satisfying acting assignment would have to be the Imperial blue “Men Will Be Men” TVC. In film, it would have to be an as yet unreleased horror film called “Missing Persons Report “.

We heard you had bigger plans for the future. Tell us more about that.
The plan is to surprise the average theatre patron with productions that they thought were never possible. Not in scale but in depth, quality of acting and things like that. I plan to get into short film projects and live events showcasing various talents from musicians to painters to anyone with a skill. I have a children’s book which I’d like to get published as well.
What do you wish to achieve with ‘The Cellar Door’
The plan is to make The Cellar Door a powerful brand. The goal is to be the big guy without an attitude. To have, what I perceive to be the dignity and humility of Mr. Ratan Tata but still retain the insanity of Mr. Richard Branson. I want The Cellar Door to be known as a great employer. A company that cares for its people.

How will it be different?
I’m not as concerned about being different as a I am about being awesome. The mundane and everyday thing, if attacked with sincerity, hard work and honesty will be different.  You can make any old script exciting. I’m hoping I can be that guy who can make people sit up and take notice of something that is not different.