Actor interview with Samantha Cochran

If you're an actor trying to build a real working career in the industry, then you're in the right place. I'm Shannon Sturgis and I've worked as an actor for over 30 years and for the past 15 years I have coached some of the top working actors in the business. So I have seen this industry from both sides and I'm uniquely qualified I think to tell talk to you about how to get where you want and have a lasting career. Today I am joined by Samantha Cochran whose credits include The Perfect Girl and The Cure. And let's get into it. - Sam, I'm so excited to have you. Um, and I like that you're at the beginning of your career. So, some of these But you've been working a lot. How long have you been working? - Um, working working I guess. - I don't even know. Two commercials. - Three years. Yeah. - I've been on set for I want to say like three years now. - Yeah. - That's fun, isn't it? - No, it's amazing. I'm very grateful. I love it. - And uh so what do you think was the turning point for you? I feel like I still haven't had it to be honest. I feel like I'm constantly - not like looking for what's next, but I think every project that I do, I'm learning new things and growing in ways that I didn't know I was capable of. So, I feel like the turning point hasn't necessarily happened for me yet, but there's definitely been growth in like exposure therapy of being on set and each project has been better than the next and I'm grateful for that. - No, it's awesome. - Um, - I guess I should look at my questions, but I don't know. Um, - I've noticed that you get called in a lot by the same casting directors. - Yes. Do you know what they're saying about you? What they say when they - literally no idea. - I know they say they love you. - Well, I hope so. I hope so. I feel like most of the times um I think the times that I have gotten called back or gotten put on hold and then I don't end up booking it. It usually comes down to a look. That's kind of what I tell myself to to make myself feel better because I mean genuinely though, I think it is at the end of the day down to a look. Like it's out of your control at that point. But I never leave the audition feeling like I could have done it better. I feel like I always give it my all and then if it's not right for me, it's just not right for me. And I have to trust that that's what's right. - Yeah. You know, even if it's disappointing. - Exactly. It's like what else are you going to do? So - move on to the next one. - Move on to the next. Yeah. - Have you noticed anything different about auditions that you book versus auditions that you don't book? the auditions that I have booked, I actually hated them. - No, genuinely. So, I think all to say even if you don't feel your best after an audition, I think it I don't know. I think cuz literally in my experiences, the things that I have booked, I literally have hated every single one of them. - Do you ever think you've like bombed them? - Oh, absolutely. - Oh, all the time. No, but not like I'm just like I'm my biggest critic. You know this. - Yes, - I'm my biggest critic. But I think again I have to just trust that I did my homework and I did the character work and I like whatever happens happens. That's kind of my mindset of like - she works so hard. - You do. - No, I I try. Well, I think I have to because I think if I don't then like it's that's that's how I get there though is the character work. I think it's so important. - Yeah. - And uh Yeah. You're always so prepared for every audition. Yes. - Yeah. And um - is there any rituals that you have before you have a big audition? - Yeah. Before I even look at the sides or No. Okay. Well, I'll I'll read the sides, but then the first thing I do is the character work. I don't even do anything else. I will read the script if they give it to me and then I'll do all the character work and then I'll memorize the lines because I think for me as if I have the character already the lines will come you know if you understand the character that's what's most important like the lines are the last thing I'm worried about. I mean, to be honest, I'd be learning the lines literally the night before because to me, if I know the context of the scene and what's happening and what my character is feeling, that's what's most important, - you know, and the lines will come. - So, - and and they always do - and they always do. - And you've had some monster auditions, - literally. - But if you again, too, like if you you always say this, but like when you go up on a line, you're probably going up on a line because you're feeling it for a reason, right? And I think that's so important too. just I don't know I think the character work itself is very important. So when you say rituals sometimes too I usually the morning of for an audition I will spend it in silence and I will try and think especially like when I'm getting ready like what music would my character listen to? What how does she put on her makeup? Like what does she get dressed in the morning? Like what what kind of this is so random but like what kind of shirt would she wear? like, you know what I mean? Like little stuff like that. It - a typical day. - It helps. Yeah. - Your character lives all the time. This is one little moment in their life, - slice of their life. - Um, okay. So, let's dive into class then a little bit. What are some of the things that you've - loved or that you found? Let me What have you loved about me? Um, no, - a lot. Where's camera? A lot. - Um, what are some of the the things that you've learned in class? How has it been beneficial to you? Has it ever messed with you at all or - No, I love class. Get in class. No. Or else. No. Um but uh no, genuinely I think well I started class literally that was the first thing I did honestly. Um and I would do it again. No regrets. I mean I think class is so important. I know there's actors and obviously like to each their own. There's actors that think that, you know, they do better without class, which is great. And but for me, I'm the type of actor where I learn so much by watching. And I feel like even I've had this conversation with you. If I've had a busy week and I can't put up a scene, I still want to come to class. Literally just sit and watch because I think you can learn so much by just watching and listening and seeing how other actors and how they perform, what choices they make, techniques they use. I think it's so important and I feel like you you can't really learn that unless you're in a class environment for me anyway. So, I think class is super super super super important. - Yeah, it is fun. - And it's fun and you get to meet so many people that are all so passionate about what you do. Like, it's amazing. Listen, I grew up hating school. I didn't go to college. Like, I hate school. Acting class. I look forward to it genuinely. - And I so loved that you got partly the process of getting the perfect girl - literally through class. You never know who's in class. - Tell that story. - Was in class. Shout out Adeline Rudolph. But um yeah, uh I did a working actors workshop with Shannon and I ended up meeting my soon to be co-star Adeline Rudolph and she had recommended my name to one of the producers on Perfect Girl and yeah, she kind of just threw my name in the jar and things went off from there. But I I don't think I would have been in this position had I not been in that act. I No, that's a that's a fact. I wouldn't have been in this position of working on Perfect Girl had I not been in class. So, all to say, you never know - who's watching. You never know, - you know. So, I think moral of the story is class is just so important - and it's fun. So, just do it. Just do it. - Um, how did you get your first agent? And I think you're still with your first agent, are you? Yes. - Agent. - Um, - which is good. Maybe that'll forever be. I don't - Yeah. No. love Osbrank. They're the best. Um I I honestly I got really lucky. I I literally sent a hot girl email and I said, "Hey." Like and no, I was so honest and straight up. I had nothing. Literally, I had a headsh shot, a singular head shot and a dream. And I was very straightforward with them. I showed them my personality as much as I could. and I just said, "Hey, like basically wrote an email saying I would love for you to, you know, take the time to maybe consider me and like I would love to have a meeting if like you're interested." But I kind of just tried to sell myself as much as I could with literally nothing. Um, told them that I was taking classes and doing everything I can to basically show that I was dedicated to this and I wanted it even though I didn't have any experience. And I was fortunate enough that they did a Zoom call with me and then literally the next day they were like, "Hey, like and then we actually coached for the audition process because you have to audition to get the theatrical agent." But yeah, and then since then they've literally been great. They're amazing. - They really are. And I think you were even if it was just by luck - that they were the right agency for you. They started specializing young people. You were young. You still are a young person. - Yeah. No, I was baby though. Yeah. 18. Yeah. And then I actually got my manager through the cure and that was really cool because that um I worked with David and Alice Entertainment was his or still is his manager and he actually recommended me to them which was really cool. So they've been amazing and they work your your team works so hard. - My team works so hard. Like I love them down like they can do no wrong. They're the best. I love them. No, they're so sweet. Yeah. But you're a, you know, not to make this a love fest, but you're a, you're a great client to have. You Thanks. - You respond to the email. You get your auditions in on time. You are prepared. - Even if you've hated your audition. I don't think you've ever put in an audition that's bad. It might just be like where you're like, - I don't really Okay, I never really hate an audition, but Shannon loves to use the word shitty good. And I felt shitty good after a lot of our auditions, Shannon. But that's valid, though, because sometimes my auditions are whacka doodle doo. So they be leaving me feeling shitty good, but that's what I mean when I say I'm like, well, the character doesn't feel good, so obviously I don't feel good, - right? The perfect girl was super fun. - Oh my gosh. - All of the Do you think that there's anything that actors misunderstand about call backs or anything that you misunderstood when before you started getting I think not necessarily a call back, but I think being put on hold - I misunderstood because I think when I first started I thought that being I I didn't think that being I I honestly thought like oh being put on hold oh I booked it - right - got the job. Yeah. No, - no, no. But um it doesn't if anything though because I I hear people say like it's worse to get like podium but not get first place, right? Like it kind of hurts a little bit more. But I don't see it like that because I think to me I've won in so many ways. The casting director saw your face. The casting director - pinned you. Like I I think that at the end of the day, even though you didn't book the job, that's still such a big reward. And so I think it took kind of shifting that mindset a little bit when it started to happen. And I think since then I'm still actively, you know, figuring things out. But I think with that specifically at the very beginning, I thought that that was like, oh, you're not you haven't booked the job until the paperwork comes in, girl. Yeah. You know, like it's Yeah. Yeah. But - and also being put on hold is basically saying like you could have the job, - right? You know, - they do I feel like they do everything in their power to make you feel like you have it, but then you're like but like you don't have it though. But again though, it's still such a reward at the end of the day because you're getting recognized for your work, which is amazing. I mean, that's the most validation you're going to get. Yeah. Honestly, - and agents and managers, you know, they're thrilled with that, too. - Exactly. Yeah. - It's a win, honestly. Even if you don't get it, I think a call back or getting pinned, that's a huge deal - for me anyway. I treat it like a big deal because why not, right? - Yes, - it is. It is. I mean, that's like, wow. You know, it's like a secondary call back - for people who don't know getting pinned. - It actually comes from the idea that your picture is pinned up next to the rest of the cast. - But what you don't find out is sometimes they've pinned more than one person. - Yes. Most times. - Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. - So, you're not really pinned up there yet, - but it's still cool. - Yes. - And it's still awesome. - It really is. - Um, and almost all of your auditions have been self tapes, right? - Yeah. I've had - That's crazy. Yeah. I'm postco actor, so I'm self tape girl. But I I've done like Zoom auditions obviously, and then I've done literally one inerson audition and that's it. - And you didn't book it. - And I didn't book it. And I was scared. I was pooping my pants to be honest. But yeah. Isn't that crazy? - And you prefer self tapes, right? - Yeah. Because it's what you know and - for me. Sorry. But yeah. - Well, and I always say that you can take I think you can take bigger risks in a self tape. You don't have to send it in if you don't like it. And here's the thing, not it that but also for me like I I think when I went to my inerson audition and listen I know like a lot of actors prefer the in person but for me I feel like I'm not nervous when I'm doing self tapes. So I'm showing you my full like this is it you know like when I'm in an inerson audition they're great but like or even a Zoom call back like I'm like shaking in my boots lowkey. So, I feel like when I do a self tape, I get to explore more, take more risks, do something that might be stupid and then cut it after, you know, just like kind of play more, which I think is kind of cool. You know, I think that's a unique opportunity that a lot of actors didn't have, you know, back when self tapes weren't a thing, right? So, I think it's cool - if you took a risk in in the room and then it was like, oh, that was a bad - choice to make. Yeah. You can't unring that bell. - Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, but I think I I love self tapes, me personally. So, - do you think that there's something that actors might over complicate? - I think maybe I could sometimes get a little caught up in stage directions - sometimes. I think especially when it has to do with something emotional. I think sometimes I may over complicate and try to force myself. You I think you said these words, but ever since you've said like no one wants to watch someone try to cry. You want to watch someone try not to cry. I think that's where I was like that's so true because I think in the past as an actor I thought it says she starts balling crying. It's like you have to force yourself to cry at that exact queue. It's like no. I think I used to really complicate trying to like get there from like a you know athetic vibe rather than like literally just sitting back and whatever emotions happen happen. You know, you can't force it. If you've done the character work and like your character chooses not to cry in that moment, maybe she doesn't want to cry, you know, like you just have to trust it. - And if what they need are tears to fall, they can - Yeah. blow irritating crystals into your eyes. - Sure. Like I don't know. Like I think I'm so big on like I need something to motivate me. I can't just like I'm not one of those actors that can just cry on Q. I wish. But no, like I need something to motivate me, right? So whether that's doing a deeper dive in my character or doing a deeper dive in the scene or anything just but I think yeah in the past I've definitely complicated that. I don't know if that made sense. Probably didn't. - No, it made sense. Okay. - Yeah. And stage direction I think a lot of people over complicate. - I think so. - Lots of you know what does that mean? - Right. - Uh punctuation sometimes people will like oh - right? You know, it you can make it a question even if there's not a question mark or you can make it a statement even if they've written a question mark. - Yeah. I've even seen like I don't know I forget who what actor it was but I've seen like a video where she literally takes the script and like starts uh blocking out the stage directions and I'm like work. - Yeah. - Love that. - Yeah. Cuz Yeah. - Um I think it was Jean Hackman used to get scripts. - Yeah. - That were devoid of anything other than dialogue. - Oh. take everything else out. - Love that though because it it it leaves room for like to explore more, you know, and to play honestly like down, right? Yeah. Exactly. - Because scripts are written to be read and performed. I mean, you know, by by the network. So, sometimes stuff's in there that - it's not really about how to direct the actor or how they want the performance. - Do you have anything that you do before a big audition? Any Oh, you you're in silence. No, I did ask. Um, yeah. - And how about before a day on set? - Yes. Okay. Well, like what are you asking? Like are you saying like anything I do like ritual wise before? - Whatever you want to share. - Okay. Well, - because it sounds like that's a yes. - Because it is because I'm - And if you don't want to share, you don't have to. - Oh, no. Okay. - I'm an open book, please. Um I uh first of all I think before set I am so my biggest fear is being late. Um I think it's so important for us actors to get to places on time. I think if my call time will say 6:45 I'm a freak that gets there at 6:00 a.m. and sits in my car literally waiting. No, I'm not even kidding. Oh, I love that. No, that's me. - I am like I have slept through one audition in my whole life. Never again trauma. don't want to talk about it. Um, but yeah, I think in the morning, again, it's kind of similar to like my uh audition process, but I always wake up a lot earlier than I have to to just kind of, you know, take that beat, take that moment and think kind of what my character's thinking. Again, it's it's similar to my audition process, I guess. But I just really like to try and live the character a little bit before I go to set. I don't know. It really helps me. - How could it hurt? And also just like again doing whatever it is I need to do the night before. I like to do stuff the night before to be honest. Like whether that's write a diary entry as my character or again listen to the music. I just do like these little weird things that help me you know get into it. - I think to kind of take yourself out of your regular Sam life. - Exactly. - You know okay this is different makes it a little - makes it fun. I guess I kind of like romanticized it a little bit cuz even so for Jay like the uh the girl I just played in perfect girl I made like a Pinterest board for her and so I literally made like a playlist curated for her. I made a Pinterest board for her like got little things that like I thought reminded me of her like I don't know I got her her own journal so like I had a Journal and I don't know it just makes it fun you know it's kind of cute. You don't feel like you feel like you're actually doing something because so often as actors - we feel like we just got lucky. - Yeah. - And it's like no, I've got work. I'm putting work into it. And it can doesn't have to be like - coal mine work. It can be fun work, but it's still work. - Girl, I decorate my book with stickers. I said, "Oh my god, I'm so cute." No, literally like that's me. - All the little note takingaking, my highlighters, I'm like having a ball. So much fun. Oh, you're gonna have to save those. - Oh my gosh. I save all of them. - Oh, good. Yeah, good. Maybe they'll be in, you know. - Oh my gosh. - You can refer to them when you um I think - I write some crazy stuff in there. I won't lie. I don't think I think I Yeah, - I think it was for uh Mikey Madison when she was auditioning for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - like created like a journal as her character. love - like and like cut off a piece of her hair and put it in there and stuff. Right. - See, I love weird like that. Oh my god, I'm obsessed. Yes. Inspired. See, - and you know, she's she was a Manson follower in that. So, you know, she got to be a little weird. Yeah. - Oh, I love that. - Yeah. Amazing. - How do you handle nerves on set or do you get nerves on set? - I love this question. Um, I actually do not get nervous on set. However, - however, I get really nervous in the preparation of going to set and I I think for me - like in your trailer or - I think no I think it's like okay so for Perfect Girl for example um I think it's the uncertainty before I literally get to the project or get on site right I think it's I get really nervous like oh I get in my head like am I not good enough am I you know I start to second guess myself. But I think because I do so much of my own personal work that works for myself, by the time I get on set, I'm actually not nervous at all. And I'm grateful to myself for that cuz I feel like that's kind of like a gift in a way where like I'm so confident that I've done my homework that I'm like, I'm just going to have fun now. And I think that's why I'm so like I love love love the preparation and the work before you get to set. I think that's why I'm not nervous on set to be honest. - Then everything else can be easy - because then everything else can be easy and it's like you're literally just like living the life, right? You don't have to necessarily I don't know get nervous. And even if I and if I am nervous for a scene, I always think my character is probably nervous then. - Yes. - So - I love that. Yeah, there's that. - So, we we've talked about Perfect Girl a little bit. So, I kind of want to talk about maybe some of the differences between uh The Cure and The Perfect Girl or any of your other because - shooting out of the country, - such a highprofile uh you know, having to do the singing and the dancing and everything in Perfect Girl. What are some of the differences? Was there more stress? I mean your your role in the cure was really difficult as well. - Yes. - Um I think it was stress in different forms. I think for the cure I was I mean to be honest I think I was really stressed because I had no idea what I was doing. That's my that was my first project. I shot that three years ago now which is crazy. Um, but I think yeah, again it that was stressful because it was stressful but in a way kind of beautiful because it was more like I was so naive. I didn't know anything and all I was thinking like okay just show up and do your job. - Like that's all right. That's like literally all I knew what to do. So I think that the cure was definitely obviously a really hard character to take on especially for my first role. She Ally is crazy complex and she has a crazy story. But I think with the c uh with perfect girl, a lot of that stress was cater probably more towards like the dancing going to Thailand for two and a half months. Like I think that Yeah, I think that's kind of - Yeah, I think you were working so hard on that you didn't have a chance to - But again, right, like those K-pop trainies like I not to say that I'm method, but I do really lean more towards the not method, but like trying to put myself in my character shoes. - I think different people mean different things by method. And so I think method has gotten like a bad rap like but I think - I'm like scared to say that but I'm like no but - you're being methodical. You're not saying you have to call me by my character name but you're living as the character which I think is method. - I I think so cuz like when I was training for Perfect Girl like I was - literally training like 24/7. I'm not even kidding. Like I was doing like everything that I did from when I booked it to when I left for Thailand. It was to help my character and to help whatever was going to get me into that zone or I trained really hard. So, and but I loved every second of it and I do it again, you know, like it was amazing. I loved it. - Like what a cool opportunity to get to do things that you wouldn't normally do unless like - I mean I'm not a K-pop star, but like you know like it's how cool it is to become one, you know, a few months. - Exactly. Like it's so cool and it's such a unique experience. It's what's fun about acting. Yes. You get to play these things that you would never It's like I'm like a child. I'm like, I want to be this girl. - Yes. You get to live somebody else's life for a little bit and it's like, oh, she dresses differently and - Exactly. No, it's so fun. She talks differently. Oo. Yeah. It's It's fun. Love it. Is there ever anything that you feel your reps or other people reps in general do that might frustrate actors or you and anything that you know that actors or you might do that frustrate your representatives? - Um I mean in my experience my agents can do no wrong. They've been I mean genuinely they've been - I might agree - great. Yeah. No, literally. Um I think maybe like again this isn't even like their fault, but I think just for me what I've struggled with in the past, which is something that I've had to like get over is like the constant rejection and also like no feedback. - Yeah. - You know, cuz I think for me, right, I'm so like I love to put in all my all for every audition. So, I think there's been times where I've gotten drained and I'm like, I'm giving you all this work and my time and then I'm not hearing anything. Right. - Right. And that's hard. I mean, it gets, you know, but that's part of that's part of it. Yeah. - You know, it's it's and I think - no news is good news. - No news is good news. And I think it's just - if they don't like it, they'll tell you. - Exactly. I think it's just like shifting that mindset for me anyway. That was like my learning curve of like, okay, you know what? It's not about that. And I'm still going to put in - I'm frustrated for you. I'm like, - what are you talking about? I know there was nobody who did this character like Sam did. I know it. I'm like, - all right. - But then again, I'm like, you know what? It came down to a look. It's fine. Because again, like I I've never I guess I'm a hypocrite cuz I I've never really sent in an audition and thought I could have done it better. - So when you say, have you hated any of your auditions? like maybe, but like I never have regretted or thought that I could do it better than I did. - You know, it's interesting because I've asked other people the question about bombing and that always seems to be an in the room situation. - Yeah. You know, - oh, the one time I went in person, I I went up on my line and I was like, no, it was but it wasn't even bad. Like it was like obviously I was just really nervous but that's like my only like bombing experience I have cuz - So when you do a self tape you have so much more control than you do when you're in the room. - Exactly. - Yeah. - Um - but back to your question. Yes. - Um I think something that actors can do that might make your agents or reps upset um I think is sending in half ass work. - Yeah. I think when you don't do the work, or not even if you don't do the work, because every actor is different and their process is different, but I think if it comes off as like you're just sending it in to send it in, - it's like, you know, like why not give it your all? - You're wasting everybody's time, - right? It's like, why not give it your all? I I treat every listen I do not take any audition I get for granted because they're hard to come by. They're hard to come by, you know? Like I literally am so grateful for every opportunity I get. Point blank period. So I'm going to take that even if it's three lines. Even if it's one line, who cares? Like I'm still going to put in the work and I'm still going to make because like that's what's fun about you have to make it fun, you know? It's important. So, - have you ever turned down an audition? - I think like the only times I ever turned down an audition, and again, I'm so early in my career, like I - feel like I can't really turn down auditions at this point. I I'm willing to do whatever right now. - Um, but I think the only ones I have turned down were if I felt there was maybe unnecessary nudity or something that maybe I wasn't necessarily comfortable yet. M - doesn't mean I won't be in the future, but if I thought it didn't make sense, - I think I've like audition or like not auditioned twice. - But you are allowed to say no. - Of course you are allowed to say no. No, that's a choice that I make to be like, oh yeah, I could be down. Oh yeah, I'm down. - Sometimes you feel really bad to be actors will be like, oh well, you know, and and your agents will let you know if it's one that you shouldn't turn down. - Exactly. Right. They'll be like, - I think we can work something, you know, you should really read for this. - No. Yeah, you can absolutely say no. - And you've got that much trust with them to - I'm so comfortable with my agents like and when I told them no, I was like very confident about it. Yeah. No, not for me. But I'm here to try since I'm so early in my career. I'm here to try anything. Like I would love I feel like though I do get really good auditions. I feel like I haven't really gotten like - bad auditions, I guess. I feel like every audition there's something cool about it. I like the charact I like the characters I get. So, my agents do a great job. - They're awesome. - They do. - So, a lot of the work that you've done has to do with horror, psychological horror. Anything difficult about that more so than something else? - Yeah, I think especially with the VHS project I did, I think it's here's what I'll say. First of all, I think horror auditions are the hardest auditions I've ever received because you're having to create literally something horrifying. And I think what I learned a lot from VHS or The Cure or any of these projects is having to go from zero to 100 just like that. You know, that's that's hard. And that's actually not something that I had done in class prior to or just ever prior to the VHS film. Like I think having to really right, you talk a lot about like sense memory and how to channel different emotions, but I think fear is one that's really hard - and it it I'm still learning how to do it as we speak. But I I think that's like it was challenging - like in the cure the people who were I don't want to give anything away - but the people who are - causing the horror - Yeah. - the actors playing those were wonderful people that were really wonderful and nurturing to you. So then you've got to be terrified of that. - Exactly. Yeah. So it's definitely finding whatever technique works for you obviously. But yeah, no, it's it's really hard and it's not something that now that I've done it, I can say like, oh, I know what works for me. But I think it literally took me having to just get on set and figure it out. - And we've had some screams in some of your auditions. - That's what I'm saying. Like the horror auditions are so hard because it's like you really have to create. You have to use your imagination, but they're also really fun and I love horror and apparently people like to see me scared, so that's cool. You've got a great scream. - I got a great scream. - We try not to do it too much when neighbors. - Yeah. They're probably like, - "Do they know what's going on? Have you ever had anybody?" - No. Shocking though cuz guys I I like when I scream, I scream. Like, you know, like I'm honestly kind of offended that no one's come to check on me. - Whatever. It's fine. - Some people put notes on their front door. I'm an actor auditioning. Don't worry if you hear screaming. - Oh, that's smart. which is probably a really good thing for like a serial killer to do. - Yeah. - To put that on the - Yeah. Oh my gosh. Imagine. But like it's like what we filmed. - I I think we found your next role - maybe. Oh my gosh. Genius. - Genius. Yeah. Kind of offended that no one's ever been like, "Hey, you okay?" They probably came to do it like five times and like, "All right, - right. Just the same thing." - Yeah. She's fine. She's probably mad. Uh, it's funny because a lot of these questions that I have are for more seasoned actors, right? Like one of them is like, have you ever wanted to quit? - Right. - And I don't think so. - No. I mean, I don't see that happening for you either. - Yeah. - Even if there's a drought period, I don't see that. - I think I'm just like - I think I just love it so much. I think I've just always really loved it since I was literally little. So, it's like - But again, I'm still so young. I'm still so early into like who knows like right that's what they all say they're like oh I never thought I could quit and then it's like you've been doing it for so long it's like yeah I'm sure there are points where it gets hard but I think right now there's I mean obviously yeah no there's never been a even a possibility of me quitting that's never been on the table um doesn't mean that it doesn't get hard like - do you have any interest in directing or producing - oh yeah - oh - absolutely down the line when I'm more experienced, but like yeah, no, I think it would be - amazing. I love anything film related. I love I just love - the arts, whether it's through dance or acting or anything. I just love the creativeness and like the freedom. - How do you think dance has helped you with your acting? Oh, dance has helped me a lot because I think dance is just another form of expression and it's just another form of storytelling. And I think the way you move your body I feel like dance has just kind of allowed me to like even just like loosen up in scenes sometimes cuz I think actually before I was a dancer - I I had an acting coach tell me not you but another one tell me that I was really stiff and like I was like too grounded where they were like - it's okay to like move Sam and I was like - oh yeah right. Uh, but I think being a dancer, it's allowed me to be more comfortable in my own body and like kind of my choices that I make um, movement wise in a scene, if that kind of makes sense. - It absolutely makes sense. - Um, it's also helped me too a lot with like stunts. I've had to do some stunts. So, I feel like choreography, anything with choreography, I'm pretty quick about picking it up, which is a cool thing to have under my belt. And also you have some awareness of your body and how to protect your body and how it works and what you know because a lot of people aren't connected to their bodies. - Sure. Which is unfortunate. - Yeah. Which is fine. We'll figure it out. - Dance helps. Yeah. - No, dance absolutely helps. - And is there so in your relatively short career, what are some uh high points? I think definitely. Um, well, I think one traveling for the first time for work. Oh my gosh. I mean, I literally could not have asked for a better experience with that. I the people I met, the things I learned. It's I'm like baffled that I was given that opportunity to do something like that. Truly. And I I I mean, honestly, it not to be dramatic, but like it I think it changed my life. Like I think being somewhere like Thailand for two and a half months and working under the people that I got to work with, it's like I learned so much from everybody on that set. So I think honestly that's probably my and that was recent. So that's a high for me. I would - 100%. - Yeah. Okay. Any low moments? - Any low moments? I mean - uh No. I No, because I listen I'm just happy to be here, guys. I'm just no really like any opportunity I'm given I'm just happy to be here. Like I have like - I'm myself's biggest critic. So I'm like are you sure you want are you sure? You sure? But again I think also it's me finding that confidence too as I continue to do this and like - being like no like they chose you for a reason. But sometimes I really have to remind myself of that cuz I will get in my head and - they are really lucky to have you. - I hope so. But I I yeah, I think it's definitely like reminding myself at times like no, like they chose you. You are meant to be here - and you can be both - Yeah. - humble and yet confident. Exactly. You know, you know that it's it's - Yeah. - You're not thinking you're the greatest thing, but you know that you know what you're doing and you put your work in and that's if there's ever a moment where you're like uh you're like oh no. - Yeah. - Most other people don't that aren't working. You know, I think I think that's one of the big people who are working or putting the work in. So, - yay. - Highlights, low lightss. Okay. - There was a lot of questions. - I know. - I was like, whoa. - I'm skipping a lot of them, but or yeah, I don't know. Um, uh, see, but we kind of answered a lot of these like, how do you tell your what do you tell yourself when you don't book? You know, - different look, - down to a look, - right? in this - something wasn't for me, - right? - Something bigger and better is coming. - Okay. Do you feel uh do you feel legit yet? Do you feel like Okay, - Shannon, what kind of question is that? Never. I never will. Ever. Oh my god. - You might - maybe - there's there's those moments where it might be like, "Oh, okay. Now - my I've made it moment." Yeah. No, - not not I've made it, but there's another sort of plateau that you've reached or something like a series regular or something would be like, - right, - oh, okay, that this is this is new. - Yeah, - this is fun. - Yeah. No, I'm not there yet. But but I think I think if I keep doing what I'm doing, I think it'll happen eventually. - Absolutely. Yeah. - Sooner rather than later, I believe. Yeah. - I hope so. - Okay. People need to need your look all the time. But anyway, okay. Um Oh, okay. What was a turning point in your career? - Um - um is there anything that you wish that you'd started uh done or done earlier in your career? - I think I wish I just started earlier, period. But I think No, I think everything that I think I did everything in the right way. - Yeah. - And you started very young. - I started. - Yeah. - I mean, comparatively. - Yeah. Yeah. - Since in class I don't take anybody under 18. - Oh, really? - No. - I did not know that. Oh, that actually makes sense. - Think about some of the things. - I I literally just like I was like, why? That's why. Yeah, that that that makes sense. Um, - I I have some young people that I work with and I try to remember to like turn that plaque on my desk around. - Wait, what does it say? - Uh, no allowed, - right? That's like the least like that's like not even bad compared to Yeah, that's not even bad compared to what she was in the class. No, but it's great. Come. It's so much fun. - No, literally though. Um, but yeah, I feel like I literally got into class the second I knew I wanted to take it seriously. And I think for a lot of actors that is the right step, right? So, - what are you doing when you're not working or auditioning? - Um, taking class. - No, taking class. Um, also though, I've uh this is new, but I've been inspired to someone uh I learned this from a friend on set, but he was kind of talking about how, you know, acting's hard and - what's hard about it is the inconsistency of it. Like, yeah, there's times where I have 10 auditions, not literally, but like low key. Like, sometimes I'll have like four auditions in a week and then I'll go two months without auditioning. And it's like that constant like not knowing like what your dayto-day is going to look like. And I think what he said was like whenever I'm not auditioning or not working, I make it my life goal to find new hobbies, new things to put under my belt. So I think whether that be like so I started recently taking like martial arts classes cuz down the line I would love to do an action movie. So I'm learning Japanese down the line I would love to do some work in Japan and work overseas like you know it's just finding little things that I can add to my not my resume but add to my skill level that could build my craft literally taking singing lessons like anything you know. One of the most wonderful things about being an actor is that - anything that you take up - Yeah. It could probably be used. Yeah. You know, what makes you a better rounded person. It's true. And it's fun. - It's so rare that you'll actually play an actor, - right? - You're going to play somebody who has hobbies and other things. So, - Exactly. - Yeah. And neuroplastic - neuroplasticity is good for your brain - trying new things. So, anyway, that was good advice. That was very good advice. What do you think actors should stop spending money on? - Oh my god, that's a good question. - I know. - Because actors make this town run. It's their money, you know. - Um I don't think there's anything that I think everything that I've spent money on, I don't regret it. Like I I think I - I think I'm very fortunate to be able to, you know, get a private lesson or take an acting class. I mean, you know, I think it's like I don't take that for granted, but I don't regret spending money on that. - I don't think there really is anything. - Okay, I'll say this. - I I used to literally get like I used to try and get like the microphones for my self tape or like the backdrop and like the expensive lights. I don't do that anymore. I literally just you you know I this wall - camera and a tripod. Boom. Done. Easy. If you could see the way like my computer is set up so that you're my ey line, you would laugh. I have like a suitcase on top of my desk. Like you know, - you fell the other day. - I fell the other day. Like I died. Shannon had proof. It was crazy. But like that's what I mean. Like I think back when I first started I thought I literally needed like these types of lights and like all this expensive equipment. But no, I think it's - But see, that's great advice. - Yeah. I mean, I cuz I I spent my money on like the backdrop and everything, which is great, though, cuz sometimes I see other auditions with like the backdrop and the professional lighting and I'm like, damn, that looks really good. But like again, sometimes your acting is enough, you know? So, if you can't afford it, it's fine, you know? - Yeah. - Like simpler the better sometimes. So, these are not things that you've spent money on, but like I I would say to people like spending a lot of money creating a real. - I don't have one. - Yeah. - And I don't plan on having one because I don't think I - because you've got self tapes. - I think and honestly, I think my self tapes are the best work I've put up. - Yeah. - In my career thus far, which is very short, but no, really. - And some of those things you booked and then have been, you know. So, I I think - you could do so much with the self tape. And I think that's what I I say to people when they're like, "Oh, like how did you book an agent or how did you get an agent with no experience?" Like, and they kind of are like, "Oh, I'm not going to reach out to agents yet cuz I don't have a real or I don't have this XYZ." And I'm like, "Take a video in class and send that in." Like, I'm telling you like that. Cuz that's literally what I did. Like I just did a self tape with you and sent it in to my agent and they were like, - they just want proof that you can act, you know? That's all they're looking for - and how you look on on tape. - Exactly. They don't need a professional reel. I think Yeah. In my experience, I've never sent out a real. - But - yeah, - I think, you know, self tapes and literally my favorite pieces of work that I've done have been in class, honestly. So, I think even maybe just taking a video in class. - Yeah. - Like, I wish I filmed that monologue. - Me, too. - It's okay, though. - Yeah. - Fine. - Yeah. - It's fine. - Yeah. No, we all those of us who saw it, Sam did an - to say it was an amazing monologue is really uh underscore. It was epic and it was amazing and uh - left me feeling shitty good. - It was amazing. - You would have won every award that there is if if Anyway, um - see now I've got some a couple of fast ones, but I know the answers. But anyway, - do you - self tape or in person? - Self tape. Don't answer. I'm sorry. - Comedy or drama? - That I don't know the answer to. - Uh uh. Oh god. - Both. - Teddy tried for dramdy. - Both. Uh. Okay. I'm going to say drama. However, I Someone put me in comedy. I think I'm capable. Come on. Just give me a chance. - Oh my gosh. So - I only get drama. - Yeah, that's true. - Yeah. Or not that that's a bad thing, but like I I think I would do I think I would do great on like a comedy. - Like I think I'm funny. People don't, but it's fine. - I think I'm funny. That's what matters at the end of the day. - Network or indie lead? - A good script. - Ah, okay. Good answer. - Yeah. - I thought you were going to say network because you've done indie leads. - Yeah. But no, I think a good Listen, a good script. Best audition advice in five words risks listen present play. And this is too I can't I'm not going to cuss. Uh can I cuss? - I I think you can. You already have. - Oh, have I? - Yeah. And so have my other guests. - Okay, good. it. Just it. Like who? Like just go for it. Go for it. That's That's six words. Sorry. - That's okay. Those are all great words. They're good, right? Yeah. Yeah. - Advice that you wish you'd heard when you started. - Personal to me, but I I think that I have a voice in on set. I guess it's kind of random. - Just something I took from my last project - that I - I don't know. I learned a lot from Uh, I think also or no, let me let me answer like acting wise. Um, I think take more risks is something I wish I learned sooner. And I don't really actually know when I started to kind of like care less in a way, but I think when I first started, I was so fixated on making every audition like - so perfect or like so like I remember like - I would literally tape my auditions for I'm not even kidding like three hours and just do it over and over again because I'm like, "Oh no, I don't like it. Oh no, I said that word weird. No, I'm not even kidding." Like I was like, - "No, I I've - obsessed." And so I think the idea of like not not caring, that's not the word, but you know, kind of just like letting loose and just playing, having fun with it. I think if I think I wish someone told me to like have more fun, like stop trying to make it perfect. Stop trying to do it for someone else. Do it for yourself. - Yeah, - I think that's what - Oh, that's great advice. Yeah, - I think that's what I would say. - Couple of things. What do you get out of acting class? And why do you think people should be in an acting class? - Okay, here's what I get out of an acting class. I get to put up work that I'll probably never get to do in my career. I get to do things that are nominated for best screenplay. Like, and I'm that's, you know, it's it's fun to work with really good work. You know, it's fun to I don't know, maybe play a character that I'm again like not going to play. I don't know. It's just fun to experiment and it's a safe space to experiment. No one's judging you. No one's making fun of you. If anything, people are learning from you. People are getting inspired. And I think it's just a great way to to me it's like conditioning where it's like I'm just like maintaining my acting in class. I don't know if that makes sense, but like to me it's like I don't know. I just think class is like for me it's like super important. - Yeah. - For me. Everyone's different though. But - well, I think it has a lot of success with with translates to making you feel confident in what it is that you're doing. - 100%. I learned so much again how I was saying earlier, but like I learned so much by just watching truly like - and you know Adeline seeing you and wanting recommending you and - you know uh Will got that really big audition cuz somebody else in class recommended him for - I mean shout out to Will too but genuinely like when I first started class kind of what I was saying earlier about how someone told me I was really stiff. - Will is so good with the way he moves, right? He talk about risk. Yeah. - Will be taking all the risk, right? I genuinely learned that from him when I first started acting classes, funny enough. And I was like, oh my god. Like, this guy's crazy. Like, he's just doing whatever he wants, but it's like, whoa, it's so compelling, you know? So, it's finding little things and isms and techniques that other actors use, but you learn that from going to class and seeing how people put up their work. I think it's fun. - Yeah, - I love it. If any managers or agents are looking for new talent, will Okay, - serious. Oh my gosh. Seriously, guys, come on. - Thing in this conversation stood out to you. I want to hear what it was. So, I read and I appreciate all of your comments. And if you're serious about building an acting career and you're ready to do what you came here for, please subscribe and I'll see you next time.