DIRECTOR OF RIVER OF ANGELS
Shawn Welling – Director Filmography / Theatre
(All works below directed by Shawn Welling)
Produced and directed over 16 Off-Broadway shows.
Credited with more than 1,300 stage performances and 47 Off-Broadway productions throughout his dance/theatre career.
Founder of Planet Funk Academy (Houston, 1994) — a pioneering dance studio that launched careers and became a hub for innovative performance art.
Early Career Highlights
National TV appearances on Good Morning America (Diane Sawyer), Oprah Winfrey Show, BET (Les Twins Special), and CBS Great Day Houston.
Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion (collaborator / performer).
NFL & NHL halftime shows.
NBA Houston Rockets halftime shows during the World Championship era (1994).
Master Class Work
Produced and taught master classes with international stars including Les Twins, I.aM.mE Crew, Brian Friedman, Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil cast, and Darrin Henson.
Worked with casts of Disney’s The Lion King and Oliver! on professional workshops.
International Dance Ambassador
In 2009, selected by the Bilateral US-Arab Chamber of Commerce to represent the United States at the inauguration of the RasGas Facility in Qatar, performing and choreographing with Planet Funk Team USA.
Public Speaking
FEATURED AT MAJOR FILM FESTIVALS AND LITERARY CONVENTIONS, OFFERING INSIGHTS INTO BOTH THE ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF FILMMAKING.
SPEAKER AT UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY AND TEXAS A&M.
Documentary Features
2025 – RIVER OF ANGELS: THE JULY 4TH KERR COUNTY FLOOD – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (IN PRODUCTION)
2009 – THE MESSENGER: 360 DAYS OF BOLIVAR – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
2006 – HOUSE OF DREAMS – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Narrative Feature Films
2024–2025 – THE SOUND OF WILLOW (IN PRODUCTION)
2023 – MISSION FROM OUTER SPACE 2037
2022 – IF I COULD RIDE
2022 – THE SHIPMENT
2021 – NARCO SUB
2019 – THE LAST ASTRONAUT
2019 – AN AMERICAN GHOST TAIL
2018 – IF I COULD RUN
2017 – STRANGE BIRD
2016 – JEAN
2016 – THE BLIMP TRAP
2015 – TOXIN: 700 DAYS LEFT ON EARTH
2014 – IF I COULD TALK (120 MILLION DOWNLOADABLE VIEWS WORLDWIDE)
2014 – ADAMO (SCREENED AT SUNDANCE CINEMA)
2014 – THE LEGEND OF DARKHORSE COUNTY
2013 – THE WALK
2011 – PROJECT AETHER
ANNOUNCED / IN DEVELOPMENT: LINCOLN & KNOX, TEXAS GOLD, MONSTROUS: INTERVIEW WITH A KILLER, THE GREAT AMERICAN ACTION HERO, EL COCODRILLO, 2037
Short Films & Short Documentaries
2020 – THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD SILENT – SHORT
2020 – FLIGHT 483 – SHORT
2019 – DAYS OF RAIN – SHORT
2018 – THE LAST RIDE – SHORT
2017 – IF I COULD BARK – SHORT
2017 – A VISION OF LOVE – SHORT
2016 – LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS – SHORT
2016 – THE OCEAN – SHORT
2015 – THE MECHANIC – SHORT
2014 – BEYOND THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD – SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Theatre & Stage Productions (ELC Series)
2015 – ELC 19 MONSTERZ – HOBBY CENTER
2014 – ELC 18 PHANTOM – HOBBY CENTER
2013 – ELC 17 OZ – HOBBY CENTER
2012 – ELC 16 ALICE IN WONDERWORLD – HOBBY CENTER
2011 – ELC 15 THE LOST CARNIVALE – HOBBY CENTER
2010 – ELC 14 FIRE AND ICE – HOBBY CENTER
2010 – ELC 13 SPACE AGE WESTERN – WORTHAM
2009 – ELC 12 IROBOT – HOBBY CENTER
2009 – ELC 11 RELEPHANT – WORTHAM
2008 – ELC 10 RIP MAITLANDS – HOBBY CENTER
2008 – ELC 9 CRUNCH – HOBBY CENTER
2008 – ELC 8 CROSSING THE LINES – WORTHAM
2008 – ELC 7 GRINCH – WORTHAM
2007 – ELC 6 FIVE ELEMENTS – HOBBY CENTER
2006 – ELC 5 AMC – WORTHAM
2005 – ELC 4 SCROOGE – HOBBY CENTER
2004 – ELC 3 TRAGEDY – HOBBY CENTER
2003 – ELC 2 FOUR WIZARDS – HOBBY CENTER
2002 – ELC 1 LAND OF ZO – HOBBY CENTER
Notable Actors Directed by Shawn Welling
LEE MAJORS (THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, NARRATOR – RIVER OF ANGELS)
TOM SIZEMORE (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, HEAT)
WILLIAM FORSYTHE (THE ROCK, BOARDWALK EMPIRE)
MICHAEL BIEHN (THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS)
JAKE BUSEY (STARSHIP TROOPERS, CONTACT)
TERRY KISER (WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII)
LES TWINS (INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DANCE DUO)
PHILLIP “PACMAN” CHBEEB (SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, AXI)
Festival Awards & Recognition
MISSION FROM OUTER SPACE 2037 – BEST ACTRESS AWARD FOR EMMARAIN WELLING.
IF I COULD RIDE – BEST CAST ENSEMBLE (WORLDFEST HOUSTON); BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL); BEST FEATURE FILM (MULTIPLE CHILDREN & FAMILY FESTIVALS); AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARDS IN U.S. & EUROPE.
ALIVE: A TRUE STORY OF HOPE – BEST FEATURE FILM (WORLDFEST HOUSTON); BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM (CHRISTIAN FILM FESTIVAL); BEST DIRECTOR (CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL); BEST DRAMA FEATURE (PARIS INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS); OFFICIAL SELECTION (CANNES INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL); MULTIPLE AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS.
NARCO SUB – FINALIST (WORLDFEST HOUSTON); RECOGNIZED IN INTERNATIONAL ACTION/THRILLER COMPETITIONS.
IF I COULD TALK – BEST SHORT FILM (WORLDFEST HOUSTON); BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT (MULTIPLE FESTIVALS); 120 MILLION DOWNLOADABLE VIEWS WORLDWIDE.
ADAMO – SCREENED AT SUNDANCE CINEMA SHOWCASE.
THE MESSENGER: 360 DAYS OF BOLIVAR – BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (REGIONAL & NATIONAL FESTIVALS).
CAREER FESTIVAL WINS: OVER 150+ INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST FEATURE, BEST SHORT, BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST CAST ENSEMBLE, AUDIENCE CHOICE, AND JURY AWARDS ACROSS GLOBAL FESTIVALS (CANNES, ROME, PARIS, HOUSTON, AND MORE).
Best Actor / Actress Awards (Global Film Festivals)
EMMARAIN WELLING – MISSION FROM OUTER SPACE 2037 – BEST ACTRESS AWARD (WORLDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL).
LEE MAJORS – MISSION FROM OUTER SPACE 2037 – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (WORLDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL).
ALEXIS ARNOLD – IF I COULD RIDE – BEST ACTRESS AWARD (ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL).
TOM VERA – THE LAST ASTRONAUT & NARCO SUB – BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE (WORLDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL; MULTIPLE U.S. FESTIVAL CIRCUITS).
PHILLIP “PACMAN” CHBEEB – AXI PROJECTS – BEST ACTOR IN A SHORT FILM (WORLDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL).
CAST ENSEMBLES – IF I COULD TALK, ADAMO, IF I COULD RIDE – BEST ENSEMBLE CAST AWARDS (WORLDFEST HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, PARIS INTERNATIONAL FILM AWARDS, AND OTHER U.S./EUROPEAN FESTIVALS).
Media Appearances
FEATURED ABC7 CHICAGO.
FOX NEWS (23 APPEARANCES)
FEATURED ON FOX 26 NEWS HOUSTON.
CO-HOST DEBRA DUNCAN SHOW (ABC 13 ).
APPEARANCES ON NBC LOCAL AFFILIATES.
CBS GREAT DAY HOUSTON (2011–2015).
BET (LES TWINS SPECIAL).
CNN 24 SPECIAL INTEREST FEATURE.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA (DIANE SAWYER).
TELEMUNDO T47 – BUENOS DIAS HOUSTON.
ADDITIONAL NATIONAL AND REGIONAL OUTLETS.
740 TALK RADIO.
OWN NETWORK.
INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
AMBASSADOR TO PANORAMA CHINA AWARD – PRESENTED AT THE U.S.–CHINA FILM SUMMIT (WORLDFEST HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, 2017/2018). WELLING WAS HONORED WITH THIS AWARD AND SELECTED AS ONE OF THE PRIMARY SPEAKERS AT THE SUMMIT.
NBC WORLD OF DANCE (2015) – BEST DIRECTOR FOR AXI: THE AVENGERS OF EXTREME ILLUSIONS. THIS AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO WELLING AT AVALON HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CA.
FILM 2020 -2025
Film 2000-2020
Dance and Theatre
