who is shazer llanera?
shazer llanera is a toronto-based visual storyteller who makes photographs and short films of ordinary life. his work, which he calls the mundane, is about the small, unstaged moments most people walk past: a crosswalk light changing, 6pm sun on brick, people at work. he is also the founder of studio propel, a toronto creative studio making story-first brand films and original series like all creatives.
the mundane
shazer’s personal work focuses on the in-between: a crossing guard holding the street, steam off a griddle in koreatown, the same corner looking a little different every day. he films mostly in toronto, plus some of the cities he passes through.
nothing is staged. he doesn’t direct anyone or set anything up. he shows up, waits, and watches.
the work lives in a few places:
- films and series on instagram and youtube: visual notes, moving postcards, the art of _, humans of toronto
- the postcard club: five postcards a month for $12, each one a still from a film, mailed to your door
- prints of toronto, 11 × 14 in
studio propel
by day, shazer runs studio propel, the creative studio he founded in toronto. the mundane is the work he makes for himself. studio propel is where he tells stories for brands.
the studio is built on one belief: the strongest ideas begin with story first. every project starts by finding the story that’s already there, then filming it so it feels human, cinematic, and memorable.
the studio has two lines of work:
- brand films: commissioned and concept films for brands, from story-driven pieces to pure mood films. clients include ünda movement, cadillac fairview and rakuten kobo, plus concept films for aesop and fifa.
- originals: the studio’s own series and short films. the biggest is all creatives, a documentary series built on the idea that everyone is a creative. there’s also first day.
the two sides share the same eye. the studio also publishes field notes, short pieces on the thinking behind its work. brands can reach it at studiopropel.ca or hello@studiopropel.ca.
where is shazer llanera based?
toronto, ontario.
how do you contact him?
hello@shazerllanera.com for personal work and the postcard club, or studiopropel.ca for brand work.