Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Stoner.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shawn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I had a moment watching TV one day at home when I was about 10 or 11 where it popped into my head, “I’m going to be an actor.” The rest is history. I didn’t start pursuing it right away though. I began getting “serious” about acting my sophomore year in high school. I took Drama 1 and fell in love with Theatre. My teacher, Bob Blue, who later became my mentor and a best friend, had a passion for theatre and acting that somehow has transferred to me. He saw it as life, as art, as beauty. It wasn’t about just getting up there and reciting lines in a selfish “look what I can do way”, it was about taking people on a journey either away from their lives to give them an escape or deeper into their lives to make them think and question and wonder why. After High School, I went to Appalachian State University in the mountains of North Carolina and I earned a BA in Theatre Arts. After that, I vowed to never go back to school. I moved back to my hometown, Sanford, NC. I commuted to Raleigh where I found a lovely theatre company and worked with them for about a year. From there, I moved to Chicago to continue my pursuit of acting and theatre. I only lasted six months in Chicago. It was a tough time for me. I then moved to Charleston, SC, where I found another theatre community and performed there for about two years. Finally, I made my way to LA. I’ve been here for six years now and wow…I’m so happy I’ve come here. LA has truly opened me up in ways I never thought possible. I’m a much better artist and creator because I’ve lived here.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it certainly has not been a smooth road. We’re told all our lives through books and movies and fairytales and teachers and parents and role models and friends and family that we can chase our dreams no matter what they are. We can pursue any career we’d like…until we decide to pursue a career in the arts. Suddenly, everyone begins to question you. They tell you to get a real job and to be realistic. When you proudly tell someone you’re an actor they stop taking you seriously…sometimes even other creators and artists do this. I doubt myself. I doubt if I’m good enough or smart enough or if I have the endurance for this. Being thousands of miles away from family is hard. People get sick and some die and you can’t be there and you feel bad for not being there before they were sick. Babies are born and you don’t meet them right away. Money is a constant challenge. Unless you’re making the big bucks, it’s hard to survive as a freelance artist. Paying rent and feeding yourself get expensive. So you work as many jobs as you can to make ends meet and because of this, your art takes a back seat often. This is one of the hardest balancing acts. Surviving and making art. Motivation is also a constant struggle. How can I walk into another audition room and hear another “no” or do another live performance to a crowd of four people? Rejection is something I’ve grown to accept. It’s a part of it, but it takes a while to understand that it most likely has nothing to do with me. I often ask myself if I’m on the right path. And I’m one of the lucky ones. My family and friends couldn’t be more supportive right now. It took a while for me to get my parents on board, but they now understand this is it for me. There is no backup plan. Somehow this works out for me. Sometimes it feels like there’s a million hoops to jump through to simply live a passion. It’s hard to not get down about that or about myself, but like many artists, I persevere. We keep going because we must…because this is the thing we must do. It is our calling, the way we help. I love it. All the challenges ever could be thrown at me and I’d still choose the path I’m on now.
Tell us more about the business.
I mean, my business is me. I’m an actor and creator and sometimes a writer and director. Right now, I’m known for comedy. I do a mix of clown and improv and I love it. I’ve created a solo show called ‘Bear, A Dog’ and it is a coming of age story about me and the dog I grew up with. It’s one of my most proud achievements. I’ll be putting it up again sometime soon. Some of my favorite things in the world right now:
I’m a member of a group called Deep Squeeze and we’re a “rambunctious alt-comedy group featuring physical feats, in-your-face poetic nonsense, and a love for making sense of the world”.
In a group called Ssssnake that is a “hip-hop, funk, and gospel infected soul project with a wild, joyous vibe.” Ssssnake’s creator and front man is Noah Tabakin and he’s incredible.
I help give notes at an indie improv workshop called Catsby and led by Chad Damiani. I also co-lead a workshop with my best friend Joel Axelrod.
I’ve also done some music videos that I adore and I’m trying my hand at writing a few features. I want to eventually produce and star in one or two of these movies. I’m working on putting my solo show up again and creating a small theatre company with a dear friend. Producing my own work is where my heart is right now. It is so much fun and such a challenge. I’m still into acting in other people’s projects as well of course. I want to do it all! Hahaha.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Hmmm…This is tough. I feel like the entertainment industry as a whole is on the cusp of big change. Streaming sites are changing the game for everyone. I’m not sure how this will change the way actors are treated or paid, but hopefully it gets better for actors who aren’t super famous. Lots of us don’t get paid what we deserve or earn. From my research, I’ve found that 70% of actors in SAG-AFTRA make less than $16,000 a year and $16,000 is what you must make to qualify for the union health insurance. It seems crazy to me that the majority of members in the union are not making enough money at their chosen profession to afford insurance. Hopefully, this will change. I do feel a big shift in diversity coming and its long over due. It’s starting to happen already and I cannot wait until it fully takes hold. The playing field should be as level as possible. This will only make everyone better at what they do. It is a goal of mine to support and lift up where I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shawnstoner.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @shawn_stoner
Image Credit:
Peter Rosati, Abby Kammeraad-Campbell, Chase McNeill, Joe Mitchell, Isaac Kessler, Loni Paone
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