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Shannon Vick of Austell on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Shannon Vick and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been really into Zumba lately! I take a super fun class at my local LA Fitness, and the ladies there have become like family. I go 2–3 times a week, so I basically know all the dances by heart at this point. It’s the perfect way to move my body, blow off steam, and be around positive energy. Our instructor even lets us choreograph songs, and if she loves it, she adds it to the playlist and lets us lead. I choreographed a dance a few months ago, and getting to lead when my song plays is so gratifying! Zumba’s officially part of my weekly routine now.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
This tall glass of bubbles always knew she wanted to be an actress. I honed my craft through community theater and school productions before earning a Film & Digital Media degree from Baylor University in 2017. After graduating, I moved to NYC to work in film production and casting. But by summer 2018, I decided to make the move to Atlanta.

Since moving, I’ve been blessed with roles on ABC’s Will Trent, CBS’s Beyond the Gates, and numerous short films and commercial work. Represented by Privilege Talent Agency and RBJ Management/Artists Media Group, I currently train under Angela Davis at ActHer Studios and Racquel Germany of Racquel Germany Studios. I also study Improv and work as a self-tape reader at Get Taped – an amazing audition taping service here in ATL!

When I’m not acting, I work as a travel consultant at Val Vick Luxury Travel – where I focus primarily on marketing, building websites and landing pages, and social media content.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe communication can make or break our relationships. A lack of clear communication has caused the downfall of several bonds I’ve had. Too often, we don’t express what we need, words get misconstrued, or assumptions replace honest questions. I once lost one of my dearest friends over a simple misunderstanding…a situation I’m not proud of, but one that taught us all a valuable lesson.

Thankfully, we were able to rebuild our friendship through open, healthy communication and clear boundaries. That experience empowered me to speak up for myself – to be clearer about my thoughts, expectations, boundaries, and goals. I’m no longer afraid to admit when I’m wrong, to ask questions, or to say no when needed.

Sometimes, caring enough to say what you mean and seeking genuine clarity is all it takes.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
To literally answer this question, I decided to change my MINDSET about my life and acting career about a year and a half ago. For years, I kept my dreams small to avoid disappointment and often compared my journey to others. But I believe in a boundless God who has already finished creation, and that everything I desire is possible if I live as though it’s already mine.

After attending a mindset conference with my mom in May 2024, I began focusing on gratitude, positivity, and alignment with what I want. I believe that our words and thoughts have immense power, and if we aren’t using them for positive results, then we’re doing ourselves a great disservice. It’s been challenging to build that daily habit, but it grows easier with time.

Despite distractions, I’ve found more joy and peace by letting go and letting God. Trusting Him and nurturing my mindset has carried me this far. And it’s only going to get better.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Honesty means a lot to me – it’s tightly connected to trust, reliability, authenticity, and a good reputation. It’s at the core of who I am, and without it, I wouldn’t be recognizable. I’m proud of the strong relationships I’ve built with the people in my life because they know they can always count on me to follow through and show up when it matters.

One of my favorite things about working as a reader at Get Taped is that I’m never afraid to be my goofy self around customers. That usually helps them relax and feel confident enough to give their best on camera. At the end of the day, everyone leaves with a smile and a great audition tape.

Because of my honesty, I’m able to show up as my true self on and off screen. In the entertainment industry especially, it’s clear that audiences want to see raw, human stories – something that’s difficult to achieve if actors aren’t authentic in their performances.

So I’ve learned that being honest is always worth it. Anything less feels like a waste of precious time.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing? 
Not truly living. A lot of people, especially in my profession, allow themselves to get so wrapped up in their careers that it becomes tied to their identity. Yes, I am an actress. But I’m also a friend, daughter, honorary auntie, world traveller, adventure junkie, dance party enthusiast, professional eater and sleeper, etc. Plus, it’s hard to be a storyteller when you don’t have a variety of life experiences to pull from.

There’s ebbs and flows to everything. No matter the state of the film industry, life will go on. And I don’t want to regret not taking advantage of the slow, quiet moments. At one point, I found myself not wanting to go on international trips with my family because I wanted to be available for potential acting opportunities. But I had to remind myself that what’s for me will NEVER miss me – and the industry isn’t going anywhere. I’ll always be okay, and I would hate to look back and wish that I had said “yes” to that trip.

Life if full of colorful gems. While acting is a huge one for me, all of the others shine just a bright – if not brighter.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
– Leah Huebner (Huebner Headshots)
– American Broadcasting Company
– Paramount Global
– Chris Evans (Clearly Focused Media Works)

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