We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Dee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
There are two quotes I always resort back to when I question my career choice. Jim Carrey said at the commencement speech in 2014 at Maharishi International University: “You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

Comedian Bill Burr has a quote with a similar sentiment: “Realize that sleeping on a futon when you’re 30 is not the worst thing. You know what’s worse, sleeping in a king bed next to a wife you’re not really in love with but for some reason you married, and you got a couple kids, and you got a job you hate. You’ll be laying there, fantasizing about sleeping on a futon. There’s no risk when you go after a dream. There’s a tremendous amount to risk to playing it safe.”

I, like many other artists, often question my decision to pursue a career that has no guaranteed success. I sometimes yearn for the alternate universe where I stayed in my small hometown, got a stable job with good benefits, bought a house, and spent more time with my family. All of that sounds so appealing after an 8 hour waitressing shift when I’m eating the leftover shrimp off of the plates of my customers (This was pre-pandemic, of course!!! You won’t catch me dead doing that again). But I know I would never be fully satisfied with that life. I know that if I didn’t follow my dreams, I would live to regret it. These quotes put into perspective how I could just as easily fail at that fictional life. All we can do is try our hardest to make an even better life doing exactly what we love. And it will make it that much more worth it in the end.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always dreamed of being on a sitcom. I adore all kinds of acting, but there’s just something different about performing in front of a live studio audience. To me, it brings film and theatre together in the perfect combination. You get the best of both worlds.

Not only do I want to act in a comedy, but I also want to create one. I put those wheels into motion and wrote, directed, and produced my own 8 episode sci-fi/comedy series called Not From Around Here. We’ve been official selections at 16 festivals and won three awards including Best Web Series at the Austin Comedy Film Festival.

I’m so thankful to my cast and crew who stepped up and made the series even better than I ever imagined. I didn’t realize how huge of an undertaking it would be. It was way more expensive and took much longer than projected, but thanks to my dear friends, the experience was much more enjoyable. If I could give one piece of advice it would be to make sure you surround yourself with loyal, talented, and hard-working friends who will help you achieve your dreams (and do the same for them)! To quote Snoop Doggy Dogg: “It ain’t no fun, if the homies can’t have none!”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For beautiful sites, I would go to Griffith Park to get a whole view of the city, a beach in Malibu, and a hike in Topanga Canyon. For fun nights out, I’d go to an improv show at The Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade or a stand up show at The Comedy Store or The Laugh Factory. I’d also recommend rollerblading on the Venice boardwalk where you’ll get in some primetime people watching. Of course, you can’t forget to eat! Some of my favorite spots are Wabi on Rose and Gjelina in Venice, Tacos Tu Madre in West Hollywood, BADMAASH in downtown LA, and if you’re not from the west coast, we’d obviously have to hit up In-N-Out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Horace Gold, a true friend who is always so supportive and gasses me up every chance he gets, and Kenneth Rosendo, an amazing collaborator and even better friend.

Website: www.helloshannondee.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lookatmeimshannondee

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-dee-17a95831

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.lewis2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI812BMscEjR5eXq4carG1A/videos

Other: “Not From Around Here” Web Series – www.notfromaroundhereseries.com

Image Credits
Poster from web series ‘Not From Around Here’ Headshot by Brandin Photography Photo from ‘Fake Famous’ on HBO Max Still from web series ‘Not From Around Here’ Still from pilot presentation ‘Space Juice’ Still from ‘Hacks’ on HBO Max Still from ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’ on CBS Still from ‘Good Girls’ on NBC

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