Today we’d like to introduce you to Shea Allen.
Hi Shea, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a Nevisian-American born in St. Thomas, USVI, and raised in Nevis, WI. I have been performing, mostly on stage, my entire life, but I was pretty well-rounded, being just as invested in academics, sports, and community work. While back home, I am mostly known for academics, I was fortunate enough to attend a high school in New York with a stellar performing arts program where I studied theatre acting as a concentration. While in this program, my love for acting and my ‘natural ability’ to bring characters to life blossomed. I was also fortunate to study Shakespeare during this time which culminated in my receipt of the ‘Best Actress’ award while competing with my acting class at Hofstra University’s Hofstra Shakespeare Festival. My teachers, classmates, and even friends thought that would push me to study the arts in college, but I was determined to study law/business, and so that is what I pursued.
I eventually gave up on law and returned home (Nevis), where I unintentionally got into teaching at the primary level. I taught the core subjects with a focus on Social Studies and Health & Wellness for the better part of three years. While at home, I was granted the opportunity to relive my theatre days in a local adaptation of the life of Alexander Hamilton, and I quickly realized that acting was “my thing.” It was the missing piece of the puzzle I was working diligently to complete.
In early 2021, I moved to Atlanta and pursue acting. By April of that year, working as a background actor was my main source of income. I’ve worked on sets being directed by Tyler Perry, Tasha Smith and have had the opportunity to meet and watch some of our favorites work in real time. When I decided to give up background acting, I began training virtually, mostly with McKinnon Acting Studio out of Maryland, and have taken several in-person classes here in Atlanta as well.
Since January 2022, I have been fortunate to book lead and support roles in independent short films and two book commercials for one of my favorite authors, James Patterson. While my 9-5 side job is in accounting, I make time to work behind the camera, often as a production assistant and more frequently as a producer on the hit web series ‘Post Grad’, which currently streams on YouTube. I look forward to continuing to grow in this space and hopefully begin directing in the near future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I grew up in a Caribbean household where only ‘practical jobs’ were acceptable, even if you weren’t necessarily passionate about it. I have been pursuing acting for years and it is still sometimes a struggle to convince members of my family that it’s not a pipe dream and returning home, though safer, will not allow me to fulfill my purpose. This world is so far removed from what they are used to that it seems almost whimsical.
When non-actors find out about my career choice, they most often think that we just submit on a website and then get called to be on set. I always let them know that, for starters, acting is not for the weak and that rejection is one of the biggest parts of the job. Being able to accept that rejection can make or break you. You can apply for 50 jobs and get about 20 auditions and maybe get a callback for one or none at all. Then you must be constantly honing your craft which means acquiring new skills, taking classes, getting yourself on tape often, attending workshops and etc. This life is not cheap either.
In my early acting days, I did not have a car which meant I had to Uber or use public transportation a lot. Most often, I would go to set because I needed the money, and if we ran too late, it would take me hours to get home. Not having a car also meant not being able to quickly sneak away to get tested or to do fittings, so I would have to take the whole day off just for that one task.
The most difficult part for me at the moment is having to work around my 9-5. While I am grateful to have it, I understand why most of my counterparts take on gig jobs for the schedule flexibility, which allows them to submit to more jobs and take more in-person classes and workshops.
Socially, I’ve had to miss out on celebrations, trips, and hanging out with friends to prepare for or to be onset. While I don’t regret any of it, I do often wish I could do it all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
While working behind the camera, I am often blessed to be a producer and/ or script supervisor. I take myself out of the head of one particular character and I reimagine myself as the audience. What I mean is, I’ll watch a take and I am immediately looking for the truths and the lies within the scene. As an audience member, do I believe that the world being conveyed to me truly exists? Are the words, feelings and actions of the characters authentic and believable? Am I convinced? If that last question isn’t a definite yes, I’ll think of ways to get there without undoing the actor’s or director’s process. I am also looking for inconsistencies and changes throughout the take that can ruin continuity and possibly distract from the actual scene.
Each job requires attention to detail but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in world. I love it all.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people may not know that I do most of my general acting training just people-watching. I’ve learned that acting is about telling the truth. Even if your character is not based off of one specific person, their words, emotions, actions, thoughts should still appear as though that character truly exists. There’s a perspective of authenticity that I am able to explore just watching and interacting with different people experiencing any number of emotions while in particular situations and environments. I pay attention to their mannerisms, their changes in vocal tone, eye movements, and even their choice of words or lack thereof. It may sound strange, but I learned a lot about acting by simply people-watching.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lifeintheshead
- Youtube: Post Grad: https://youtu.be/2Y_PkhYuK9w?si=iZf8KwHEXvkHctWY Podcast: https://youtu.be/AuWcASrBXF4?si=ucz4QkIF44Vrf-nU
Image Credits
2201 Productions, Ashley Payton, Jasmine Hunt, SlingshotsATL