00:00:04:03 - 00:00:30:23
Speaker 1
Welcome to The Vermillion Podcast, a free audio library of business strategies, creative inspiration and industry knowledge for actors, filmmakers, writers and anyone looking to activate their creative potential. I'm Nisha Calver, a writer director who helps artists build the careers that they dream of. I really hope that this podcast inspires you in some way. Thanks for tuning in.
00:00:31:01 - 00:01:04:00
Speaker 2
My guest tonight is an incredible friend. Friend is the first category that I'm gonna put you in. No, and that's maybe the thing I'm most proud of. But, Shannon, Gisella, you're also an actor and you're an improviser. And you're a writer. And your. Well may I say very quickly becoming a celebrity. Oh just like I see it.
00:01:04:02 - 00:01:27:21
Speaker 2
Yeah. I was thrilled when you wanted to chat on the show. And of course we love go getters. We love self responsibility. We love women who are just absolutely crushing in their careers. Just for context, everyone. Shannon is the star of a show coming out called Mia. When you listen to this, it's probably either about to come out or it's already come out.
00:01:27:21 - 00:01:52:18
Speaker 2
And from what I know, Shannon is extremely good in this show and it's just like this amazing showcase of your talents and your your energy and everything. So I think I'm most curious about what you did both externally and internally, to lead to that kind of life changing moment. When you got the show.
00:01:52:19 - 00:01:54:09
Speaker 1
00:01:56:01 - 00:02:16:02
Speaker 3
you know it's, it's great because you were also part of that process and that evolution for me, I mean yes. This is very special to get to be talking to you about it and, and to open up about it, I mean I, I struggled a lot and still do with like confidence and with who I am.
00:02:16:02 - 00:02:50:01
Speaker 3
And what that means for opportunities that come my way and opportunities that I miss. And, and I think I had gotten kind of to a low point that it sparked a real need for change, not for any career reason if and more so, just to, like, enjoy my life. so I think I, I think what really shifted for me was, was deciding that, like, my life was mine to enjoy and that it was my responsibility to enjoy it.
00:02:50:03 - 00:03:12:18
Speaker 3
and so I, it kind of in that liberty, it freed me up in so many other ways creatively to of like, wait, I'm not supposed to wait until I get a job to have a good time on this planet? Like, my creativity is mine to express, and no one can take that for me. And I can enjoy every step of this process, despite what I might get in return or might not get in return.
00:03:12:18 - 00:03:32:05
Speaker 3
And, I think that mindset freed me up a lot, in every regard, because it trickled elsewhere, too, of like how I show up in my relationship and how I show up in my friendships and how I show up in all of these different, kind of facets of life, I think. I think that was the biggest change for me.
00:03:32:07 - 00:03:59:20
Speaker 3
internally. And then it it then led to an external change of how I, how I was able to actually even accept opportunities, because I stopped feeling like I wasn't deserving of them. And I started just deciding, like, my time will come, and when it is, it's, it'll be something that I'm going to meet halfway with just who I am, and that I don't have to be anything else other than who I am to to get it.
00:03:59:22 - 00:04:05:20
Speaker 3
so I hope that answers your question. I think. I think that was the biggest kind of paradigm shift for me so far.
00:04:05:22 - 00:04:30:17
Speaker 2
Yeah, there's so many, I would say micro shifts in that macro shift and just the the heavy lifting that you did mentally, emotionally, spiritually to be able to understand the task before you, and then take the self responsibility to do that work on yourself. It's really, really awesome to hear you said one thing about meeting the universe halfway or meeting an opportunity halfway.
00:04:30:19 - 00:04:57:12
Speaker 2
I love that because it's like I myself don't need to do all the lifting on this. The opportunity is going to do part of the lift and carry me, and it's like it feels like coming into a relationship, like a romantic relationship where suddenly you realize, wait, I also bring something to the table. Yeah. And I need to expect that other person to bring something to the table.
00:04:57:14 - 00:05:01:02
Speaker 2
so it's not a 9010 in either direction?
00:05:01:04 - 00:05:25:14
Speaker 3
No, I mean, I, you know, it's it's so funny. I feel like as I get older, you know, how your parents have, like, maybe corny phrases. Really? Okay. You know, everything happens for a reason or whatever that is. And then I find myself now saying phrases like that, and one of the ones that I, to get more specific that I remember hearing, even with acting, was like, you know, casting is like you're the you're the solution to their problem.
00:05:25:16 - 00:05:50:18
Speaker 3
And I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, okay. But really that's the truth. That's the truth. And and that is you know, once essence, one's creativity, one's expression is filling a hole that, project needs. If we're talking about actors, if you're a writer, it's like your specific viewpoint on the world is missing something. Like, there's something missing that you were filling with just being who you are.
00:05:50:18 - 00:06:13:08
Speaker 3
And, and so I think that meeting it, that's what meeting it halfway is, is just like really accepting what you bring to the table and that it is enough and that it is, it's it's like fitting, filling a piece of the puzzle that has been missing, and that it's a valuable piece of the puzzle, even though the rest of the puzzle might be so big and have a lot of other pieces that feel bigger than you or whatever.
00:06:13:08 - 00:06:18:18
Speaker 3
But it's like, know that you you needed to plug that specific piece for it to feel complete.
00:06:18:20 - 00:06:28:09
Speaker 2
So when you were auditioning for Mia, how did it become clear to you that you were solving their problem and how did you solve their problem?
00:06:28:11 - 00:06:29:10
Speaker 1
00:06:30:04 - 00:06:32:12
Speaker 2
whatever you're at liberty to speak about.
00:06:32:14 - 00:06:52:20
Speaker 3
Yeah. I mean, I don't know how much, I'm able to share about the specific process, but, like, I think for me, it started with the self-tape. And, like, I think it's really great. in that, I don't know, I, you know, we could argue both ways on, like, how much, how valuable it is to be in the room versus how valuable it is to do a self-tape.
00:06:52:20 - 00:07:11:19
Speaker 3
But like, for me, the I, I do my best to see is the glass always half full. And so when it came to that self-tape, it was in that mind of like, okay, I have so many choices I get to make. I get to set up the lights. This way I get to, you know, be dynamic in the space a certain way.
00:07:11:19 - 00:07:39:05
Speaker 3
I get to speak a certain like there's so many tiny little choices that I took agency in that I don't think I had before. And I think before I was kind of maybe framing it of like, what do I think that they want? Or like, what do I think I'm supposed to do? And that was one of the first tapes that I had had that where I really was like, what I'm going to do is either going to be right or it's going to be wrong, and and it's not.
00:07:39:07 - 00:07:59:21
Speaker 3
And it's even saying, even saying right or wrong is not even the the right way to put it. It's like it's either going to be right for this or it's not for this. And so I removed the stakes and and so in that it was in the self-tape where I just felt like, you know, my partner was helping me and he was directing me, and we were kind of having this, like, real collaborative creative experience.
00:07:59:21 - 00:08:27:05
Speaker 3
And it was like born out of that kind of nucleus, that all the other stuff started happening. And I think that people really respond to, to making bold choices and to owning something. And it even if it's kind of a big swing, it's like it's your swing. And I think that, I think that, you know, the powers that be really just really respond to people who are, energetically in that place.
00:08:27:05 - 00:08:58:22
Speaker 3
I think it's magnetic whether whether it's creative or whether it's just in life. I think that opportunities are attracted to, people and, and moments when they're being authentic and just being them and like, owning that and that, that's kind of sexy. so I think that that it was, it was born out of the self-tape and then, you know, being in the room and then also being yourself in the room and like, going from there and, and again, all that entire time being like, I am who I am.
00:08:58:22 - 00:09:19:20
Speaker 3
And like, I cannot try to fit some mold or like, shape shift into something that I'm not because I think that that's what they want. Like a can't like that's just not mentally healthy for me. and so I, I just approached it like, as, as authentically as I could. And I was like, trusting that it's enough.
00:09:19:20 - 00:09:40:10
Speaker 3
And, it sounds hokey and it sounds, Yeah. Just kind of like maybe not total. It's a little abstract, I guess, but, yeah, I am so much more of a believer in that now that I've kind of I'm so lucky to have lived an experience that, like, proved it. so I hope to get to do more of that.
00:09:40:12 - 00:10:26:14
Speaker 2
Yeah, yeah. You and I have spoken for many hours about confidence and about authenticity in the past, and I'm wondering, I mean, I know that you've been working on your inner world and your inner relationship to self for years. it's no surprise to me that you were able to land an opportunity like this. I'm wondering on that yearslong journey, what are some things that you've done that maybe if you somebody listening to this might be, like, feeling kind of low and they listen to something that you tried and they try it themselves and it might pick them up out of a little spot.
00:10:26:16 - 00:10:30:16
Speaker 1
00:10:31:02 - 00:10:53:12
Speaker 3
I what were some of the things I started doing. I think the biggest thing was I started challenging my thoughts. because my mind stopped being a, my mind was a place that I, I felt myself kind of wither in and and I sort of just being like a two year old and asking why. And, you know, two year olds are like, the sky is blue.
00:10:53:12 - 00:11:21:03
Speaker 3
Why? And when you have an answer, then they're like, okay, but why? And then, so, you know, I would be mean to myself and then I'd be like, why am I being mean myself? Why do I think this? And then I'd go further and I'd have an answer and then I'd be like, but why? Why that then and then, and then I'd get to the root and it would be because I was afraid, and because I have conditioned myself to believe a certain thing about myself or several different things about myself.
00:11:21:03 - 00:11:48:13
Speaker 3
And, and I just started getting really curious about it, and it wasn't from a place of judgment. It wasn't from a place of shame. It was just a place of accepting that that was where I was at and and getting really curious about how I got there. And, kind of like letting letting the little monster inside the car and, and but I'm driving and I'm driving now, and you're coming on, and you have something to say clearly.
00:11:48:15 - 00:12:11:09
Speaker 3
but I have the GPS, and I have the wheel, and we're going to go where I want to go, and, you're going to come along for the ride. And so I think for me, it was about getting really, really curious and being really patient. And I think the thing that makes the monster a little louder is the idea that we're maybe missing out or like, don't have time.
00:12:11:11 - 00:12:36:21
Speaker 3
but, you know, it's like, just throw that, gotta throw that out because that's not something I can control. I can't control when things come my way. I can't control when it happens. I can't control any of that stuff. And so getting really patient about where I am in this moment and accepting this is where I am in this moment, and this is the moment I'm going to be in until the next moment and then until the next one after that.
00:12:36:23 - 00:12:56:16
Speaker 3
removing just like the expectation that I needed to get out of that place, made it so that it was more of a like a playground for me to explore versus like this, like, shitty thing. Sorry if I can't curse. you can say like, okay, great. yeah. If it was, like, this shitty sludge that I like, need to get out of, it's like, no, I'm gonna get out of it.
00:12:56:16 - 00:13:06:00
Speaker 3
But, like, for now, I'm going to kind of play with it and see what's going on and be like, well, how did I get here? yeah, that was a really big, big thing for me.
00:13:06:02 - 00:13:16:21
Speaker 2
Curiosity. So great. because that also removes judgment and shame automatically. it's hard to be judgmental and curious at the same time.
00:13:16:23 - 00:13:17:22
Speaker 1
00:13:18:00 - 00:13:32:16
Speaker 2
Or curious and curiosity and condemnation. It's hard for those to coexist, I agree. so now that you have shot the full season one as the lead of the show.
00:13:32:18 - 00:13:35:11
Speaker 3
Which is not,
00:13:35:13 - 00:13:46:07
Speaker 2
I want to ask about what are some of the amazing things that have happened or are happening and what is it like? Is it weird,
00:13:46:09 - 00:14:32:14
Speaker 3
Amazing things that have happened is that I get to say that I'm a full time creative as of right now, you know, and that's that's amazing, you know? And, I'm a full time artist. Like, that's what, and, you know, there have been things like changes in different relationships and like, I also feel like I've, I've grown so much, like, leadership and grown in agency and, and it's now it's like kind of having conversations that I didn't expect to have, like about, I don't know, like publicists and like what PR looks like and what does, you know, what about a stylist or like, what do you want to what do you want
00:14:32:14 - 00:14:50:09
Speaker 3
to be publicly and like? Those are questions that I, I, I'm now asking myself. And at the end of the day, it's like, I just want to be who I am. Like, that's it. But, but having even just like the space to even think about something like that is, is kind of amazing to me. And so, honestly, everything that's happened since then has been amazing.
00:14:50:09 - 00:15:10:11
Speaker 3
But I guess if I were to get specific, I'm trying to think, I don't know, my life is kind of unrecognizable. And it's also the same to, like, I'm have my apartment, I have my blankie, I have my my snacks. I enjoy, you know, like there's so much that's also the same. And I find comfort in that too.
00:15:10:11 - 00:15:11:05
Speaker 3
But and.
00:15:11:05 - 00:15:13:00
Speaker 2
Your partner. My friend.
00:15:13:02 - 00:15:32:16
Speaker 3
Absolutely. And my partner. And, you know, we still goof around and, like, just kind of make each other giggle and like, none of that's like the fundamental of my life. Haven't changed. My priorities haven't changed. in terms of, like, what I want out of life. but like, how it looks on a day to day has changed.
00:15:32:16 - 00:15:41:17
Speaker 3
You know, I get to I get to just have more creative conversations now. more so than I'm the more so then I'm doing admin work like I was before.
00:15:41:18 - 00:15:45:09
Speaker 2
So, yeah, maybe less job seeking.
00:15:45:11 - 00:15:51:15
Speaker 3
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, less job seeking. At least in, you know, knocking on wood.
00:15:51:17 - 00:15:53:14
Speaker 2
This this phase of things.
00:15:53:16 - 00:16:09:10
Speaker 3
Yeah. This phase of things is less less seeking more kind of just like sitting and welcoming and being patient and like in a place of, like, I don't know, I feel like I'm incubating a little bit, yeah. And then there was a second part to your question. What was it you said changes.
00:16:09:10 - 00:16:19:10
Speaker 2
Are any of the new things weird. So like, I imagining new representation? Is that weird? New, like red carpet stuff? Is that weird?
00:16:19:12 - 00:16:39:15
Speaker 3
Red carpet stuff? I went to one event and it was, I don't know. I think any time I'm going to, anytime I'm in a new environment, I get very like, like, what's going on? and so that that event was, was a lot of that. I felt like a new kid at school. Like to know where to sit kind of thing.
00:16:39:15 - 00:17:02:00
Speaker 3
They got. I was like, assigned seats and stuff, but, Yeah, it is. It is weird. It is weird to be kind of like, oh, I'm amongst kind of my peers, like the these are my peers and we're all like, creative in some way, and we all kind of love the same stuff and like, that's really cool. And so I think some of it was weird in that I, I couldn't believe that I was there.
00:17:02:00 - 00:17:26:22
Speaker 3
And, and yeah, weird. And that the imposter syndrome kicks in still and like, you know, that's something that I, I would imagine it will continue to be, you know, you hear people at all levels talk about how they're uppercut ING imposter syndrome constantly and no matter what they do. Yeah, fully. Just like so, but, but yeah, it is it is weird to.
00:17:27:00 - 00:17:51:11
Speaker 3
And it also can feel very like kind of self-aggrandizing at the same time too, of like, what do I want to wear? Who would like all of this stuff to think about? And thinking about myself that much just does not feel, it feels like counter intuitive to, like the creative process, I guess. But, but it's part of it, and it's, I'm free reframing it and getting really excited about it and, and and.
00:17:51:11 - 00:18:02:22
Speaker 3
Yeah, so it is, but it is weird to be like talking about yourself. and thinking about, like, how you present and like, how you want to present and like, all of that kind of stuff. That stuff is weird.
00:18:03:00 - 00:18:07:07
Speaker 2
So you're still auditioning, is that correct?
00:18:07:09 - 00:18:08:12
Speaker 3
For sure.
00:18:08:13 - 00:18:21:00
Speaker 2
How have your auditions changed or how has your approach to auditioning changed? since your, since this, you know, number one on the call sheet experience.
00:18:21:02 - 00:18:45:01
Speaker 3
I think I'm leaning into that mindset more of like doing what I want and being okay with like my flavor of stuff. I'm definitely leaning into that a lot more. but I do have, like a strong sense of perfectionism, and I'm very hard on myself. And I would imagine, you know, most creatives are because it is so kind of like subjective that there's no rules, really.
00:18:45:01 - 00:19:08:05
Speaker 3
And so it can be really hard to be like, I have to get this right. And, so I definitely struggle even now with being okay with something, just being a taste of what I would want it to be and, and it not having to be. It's like absolutely from start to finish, perfect in my eyes. I'm constantly reaching for just that, feeling free from any expectation, but just the feeling of like, oh, of expressing myself.
00:19:08:07 - 00:19:36:14
Speaker 3
And I enjoy what I just did and I enjoyed the process and, I felt challenged and like, I'm always leaning in to challenge, like I want to. I think my mission in this life is to, like, just grow and be the best version of myself that I can and and affect and leave an impact on other people by virtue of being who I am, and doing art and good art and, and so, with that is the, passion for like, where can I grow?
00:19:36:14 - 00:19:50:07
Speaker 3
Where am I falling short? Where can I, like, challenge myself and, and get better and, in every way, but, but yeah. So I think I'm constantly seeking, like, how to just challenge myself a little bit more now when it comes to my tapes.
00:19:50:09 - 00:20:22:02
Speaker 2
That is such a healthy approach and hopefully inspiring to everyone that is listening to this, that it's like, if you are not interested in challenge and in facing hard things with courage and energy, what are we doing here? Is not like life is an easy like, you know, the thing is with people who before they've broken through, so to speak, and they're hoping it with the auditions and, you know, the job seeking and the emailing, it's like, yeah, it feels hard.
00:20:22:04 - 00:20:23:22
Speaker 2
It's not like it gets easier.
00:20:24:00 - 00:20:24:10
Speaker 3
Right?
00:20:24:11 - 00:20:35:19
Speaker 2
When you break through. You know, some things get easier. But I imagine you have like a lot of decisions, like big decisions and big responsibilities. The further up you go.
00:20:35:21 - 00:20:37:11
Speaker 1
00:20:37:13 - 00:20:53:02
Speaker 3
Yeah that's true. I mean I would imagine you know I'm at the very kind of beginning of all of this and I personally like I don't do well when the stakes feel really high and I have to like remove all of that stuff and be okay. What's the what's the core of this. What is the core of what I'm trying to do.
00:20:53:03 - 00:21:10:22
Speaker 3
Yeah. And for me, I because I am a collector of information and I can, I can like again it's that perfectionist thing of like I can only make a decision when I have every single bit of information that I can gather. And that's the mindset that I get into when I feel the stakes are high, versus when I like, neutralize them.
00:21:11:00 - 00:21:29:16
Speaker 3
I can really lean into, like, how does this feel? Like, where does this feel my body and what is am I excited by this? Yeah. Am I does it feel like in alignment with who I am is, you know, like then I can make kind of, like, more personal decisions, I guess, where it feels right with me, but, yeah, the stakes.
00:21:29:16 - 00:21:35:06
Speaker 3
Yeah, the stakes is can be very easy to be like, this is a big do. Yeah.
00:21:35:08 - 00:21:43:03
Speaker 2
speaking of stakes, it's very high stakes to follow Shannon on social media. So could you please drop your handle? Where do we find you on social?
00:21:43:06 - 00:21:57:01
Speaker 3
You invite me at? It's underscore. Shannon G. Hello? Yep, that's my username. Nobody's ever called me that. and then where else could you find me? Pretty much just Instagram. yeah.
00:21:57:03 - 00:21:59:23
Speaker 2
In your animated series. What does that call.
00:21:59:23 - 00:22:23:21
Speaker 3
Yeah. Oh my God. that one is called strip la. I'm so sorry. La strip law. Okay. And it's on Netflix on February 20th. I play Irene Gumm, who is a 16 year old bodybuilder who is also a private investigator. Wow. yeah, it's really awesome. It's it's a show about a lawyer who works on the Vegas Strip, and he, like, befriends a street magician.
00:22:23:21 - 00:22:35:01
Speaker 3
And they go on these, like, wacky, zany, adventures together. And, Yeah, I had a I had an absolute blast working on that. That was like a I can't even believe that happened. But,
00:22:35:03 - 00:22:50:19
Speaker 2
So everyone watch Triple-A on Netflix starring Shannon Zella, and be sure to check out more on Peacock. I am so happy for you and thrilled for you. And happy to know you.
00:22:50:21 - 00:23:13:17
Speaker 3
the feeling is so mutual information. Thank you. So grateful to know you and so grateful that I have, I've been so inspired by you in so many ways. And you, and having conversations with you, I definitely feel like I have grown as a person and, and. Yeah, and you've, you've you've kind of, catalyzed a lot of that thinking and those changes for me.
00:23:13:17 - 00:23:16:00
Speaker 3
So thanks for being part of my journey to.
00:23:16:01 - 00:23:28:18
Speaker 2
My utter joy and honor. And, I'm going to let you get back to I'm sure you have like a million things to do today. So, short, sweet, powerful. I thank you for the call today, Shannon.
00:23:29:00 - 00:23:30:05
Speaker 3
Of course, of course.
00:23:30:06 - 00:23:36:11
Speaker 2
Love you. I love you, too. Yeah. I'll talk to you soon. I'll call you soon. Okay. Bye, honey. Bye.
00:23:36:13 - 00:23:56:21
Speaker 1
The Vermillion Podcast is sponsored by Vermillion, a home for artists. We offer classes, coaching, and community for creatives and innovators in the arts. If you're ready to find your voice and build the life of your dreams, we are here to support you every step of the way. Check out Club vermillion.com and schedule a free call today.
