Hire actors in Baltimore

Biography — Lannie Adam Shanks (Adam Shanks) Lannie Adam Shanks, professionally known as Adam Shanks, is a multidisciplinary artist, filmmaker, writer, photographer, and creative entrepreneur born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Named in honor of both grandfathers—Lannie on his father’s side and Adam on his mother’s—Shanks carries legacy and intention in his name. While close friends and family affectionately know him as “L.A.” or “Bam-Bam,” he chooses to work publicly under Adam Shanks as a tribute to his maternal grandfather and as a reflection of personal and professional maturity. From an early age, Shanks displayed a deep curiosity for what he calls “Pure Art”—a holistic expression encompassing film, music, writing, photography, and visual storytelling. Though he explored dreams of becoming a businessman like Reginald F. Lewis, a professional athlete, and other ambitions encouraged as “practical” alternatives, none resonated with him as powerfully as art. Despite repeated warnings to treat creativity as a backup plan, Shanks remained internally convinced that art—if pursued with discipline—could become his life’s work. At the age of five, Shanks underwent surgery for a hearing impairment in one ear. During recovery, writing and sound became essential tools in regaining auditory clarity. This experience fundamentally shaped his creative path. Subtitles, music, dialogue, and visual cues became gateways to understanding emotion and story. Film, in particular, became both refuge and teacher—an art form where sound, image, and text converge. Shanks immersed himself in film history, studying early cinema from its origins in 1895 Paris through the silent era. He researched pioneers such as Charlie Chaplin, Georges Méliès, and especially Oscar Micheaux, whose independent vision and ownership deeply influenced Shanks’ understanding of representation, authorship, and cultural responsibility. As a youth, he wrote original stories and imagined himself within cinematic worlds alongside actors such as Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Robin Williams, and Jamie Foxx—not as escapism, but as rehearsal for possibility. Throughout middle school, high school, and beyond, Shanks relentlessly studied writing, screenplays, directing, and production. Struggling with speech confidence due to hearing loss, he nonetheless pushed himself through reading, writing, and critique, learning resilience through discomfort. Over time, he shifted from self-proving to self-mastery—embracing humility, growth, and collaboration. Understanding the importance of versatility, Shanks intentionally learned multiple disciplines within filmmaking—writing, directing, producing, cinematography, editing—rather than relying on a single role. Living in Baltimore with limited resources presented challenges, but also sharpened his strategy: to stay involved, elevate his craft, and align with collaborators who recognize his value. To further develop professionally, Shanks trained at John Casablancas, gaining acting and modeling experience, and later refined his visual eye as a fashion photographer. He continued balancing patience with risk, learning humility through rejection and perseverance through instability. After high school and early college studies in business administration, management, and accounting, Shanks ultimately acknowledged that while business intrigued him, art remained his calling. A pivotal mentor at Morgan State University encouraged him to pursue his creative gifts after witnessing his work. Soon after, life shifted again when Shanks became a father and took full custody of his daughter—an experience that deepened his sense of purpose, responsibility, and discipline. Shanks later studied at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, gaining formal training in production, writing, and directing. His professional journey expanded through internships in New York, Toronto, Detroit, and Chicago, and through meetings in Atlanta—including an opportunity to learn from Tyler Perry about independent filmmaking and theatrical production. In 2019, Shanks performed the roles of Toussaint Jones and Beau Willie Brown in For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, appeared in multiple music videos, and worked as an extra in the feature film Harriet. Alongside his creative work, he laid the foundation for his own production platform—merging artistic integrity with business structure. Shanks is guided by a personal mantra: “I am very serious and dedicated to the profession of my future.” He approaches art with reverence, discipline, and respect—valuing both the space in front of and behind the camera. His experience spans directing, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, editing, photography, and music-driven storytelling. Known for his strong work ethic and collaborative mindset, Shanks brings a “can-attitude,” technical proficiency in Adobe tools and Final Draft, leadership skills, and the resilience to work under pressure toward long-term vision. Adam Shanks continues to build with intention—committed to meaningful storytelling, creative ownership, and leaving a lasting cultural imprint through film and visual art.