Meet Sean Michael Harrison of New York

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Michael Harrison.

Hi Sean Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At the barebones, I’m just a kid from Queens with dreams who was fortunate enough to keep following them. I’ve always been drawn to the arts. In my youth up until college I took dance classes, performed in school productions, and created one-person shows for myself at home and even in a youth attending summer camp. As an only child, I spent a lot of time using my imagination. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters but always wanted one. It was on my Christmas list for about 4 years but that gift never came packaged. I spent a lot of time talking to myself, creating characters and making believe I had siblings—can’t believe I’m admitting this haha! Looking back, that was probably some of my earliest acting training. It helped me discover not only my own voice, but all the different voices and perspectives that lived within me.

My first role was an ensemble Emerald City dancer in my elementary school’s production of The Wiz. Later, I performed throughout high school and started doing background work on professional sets in high school. Even as an extra, I loved being part of a group of people fusing their individual talents to tell a singular story.

There was a period after college when I stepped away from acting and worked as a bellman at a hotel. Around 2017, I came across an email for a commercial acting showcase in my spam folder, and I was making decent money so I said why not? That workshop eventually helped me sign with my first agent, shoutout Gina! From there, I began investing into classes, training, marketing materials, and most imperatively my craft.

Since then, I’ve continued to grow as an artist; being apart of award winning films and Emmy-nominated shows. Working on projects for companies like Disney, A24, Netflix, and Hulu still feels surreal understanding my origin. At the center of everything is my love for storytelling in its multitude of mediums, but performance allows me to explore truth, start conversations and reflect the life of humanity back to its audience. I’m still that imaginative big headed kid from the World’s Borough—I’ve just learned how to channel those voices and dreams into a professional career.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not in the slightest. There have been more than a couple moments wherein I’ve questioned my confidence and place within this industry. I’ve dealt with imposter syndrome along the way. Adjusting to the normalcy of rejection is already difficult enough, but when you aren’t always able to pinpoint why something didn’t happen, it leaves the door open for the question of “what could I have done differently?”

I once remember auditioning for this feature film eons ago. We were in the room and midway through my performance, I peep out of my peripheral one of the casting directors explicitly shaking her head left to right. Mind you I still had to finish the audition with whatever dignity I could conjure up, but I did finish. I thought I was the problem. It wasn’t that I was terrible but I just wasn’t her cup of tea and that’s alright. Moments like that can stay with you for quite some time. You remember the hurt, but that teaches you resilience. To stay persistent when the validation isn’t there.

Even with moments like that, the road in totality hasn’t necessarily been a bad one—it’s just been a very human one. I’m extremely blessed and grateful for the bumps in the road. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I’ve let life live through me and trust that what’s mean for me will be. You may be intentionally blocked from something that wasn’t suppose to serve you in the first place. It’s a thing, take note of the omens!

What’s helped tremendously is my community of artists I’ve connected with on this journey. Yes, there’s that friendly competitive nature, but there’s also so much love and an understanding that we’re all navigating various versions of the same yellow-brick road. Without the Wizard of Oz ensemble, Dorothy doesn’t seamlessly find her way to the wizard. Red heels aside, I’ve learned that success takes a lot of perseverance, intense passion, timing, and, most importantly, doing the work so you’re ready whenever opportunities meet you.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a professional actor and creator who has been performing for nearly 13 years. Over the past five or six years, my career has grown significantly across commercials, television and film. A lot of people may recognize me from my commercial work, but I’m equally committed to building a lasting career in film and television. I want to push my abilities to the penthouse level and leave behind a legacy of work that I’m genuinely proud of.

This industry comes with a great deal of uncertainty, so I’ve had to create my own rhythm—one that allows me to stay grounded, continue growing and not lose faith every time I don’t hear back from an audition. As a performer, I’m often told that my facial expressions are subtle yet expressive. That balance has helped me work across these different mediums. I’ve even found my way into music videos! Film requires more stillness and restraint, while commercials sometimes call for heightened energy and expression. Its fun finding the nuance that each format demands. What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily one credit. It’s that I’ve stayed with it. I’ve watched something that started as imagination in my childhood become something tangible, and I’ve continued finding new versions of myself within it.

What sets me apart is my willingness to make discoveries, even when that means making a lineup of “wrong” choices first. From when I first started building legos to solving crosswords, I approach most creative tasks like a puzzle to be solved. I do a healthy amount of research to gather better info and details—minor and scaled. I aim to get as specific as possible when it comes to telling a character’s truth. To lie is to disservice. Every artist has a different collection of experiences, instincts and tools. Learning how to combine mine into something honest, versatile, and cohesive is what makes my work uniquely mine.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Prayerfully, I’ll still have a job. I wish I were joking but I’m not. AI is already changing the entertainment industry, and it’s here to stay. It’s become a vital component within my union of SAG-AFTRA and has been addressed in our contracts since coming back from our recent line of strikes. It’s a must to remain vigilant and make sure there are protections in place for my image, voice, and work. Inevitably [it’s] going to be a vast part of the future generally speaking, and I believe there may be ways for technology and artists to coexist. What I don’t want is for one to completely replace the other. Human experiences, imperfections and perspectives are what make stories feel alive and real. Those things should continue to be valued.

Along with this, I foresee the line between more traditional entertainers and digital creators becoming much less defined. Streamers and online personalities are already hosting major events and are prominent in entertainment. Because of this, I’ve found that versatility isn’t much of an option for artists. It may no longer be enough to have only one lane. Artists will have to learn how to create, build their own audiences and reinvent themselves without losing what makes them authentic. I’ve been delving into this with content creation and writing my own tales. I intentionally aim to create roles I’m not commonly cast in cause this man has range!

What excites me most is the growing space for independent filmmakers and original stories. Audiences seem hungry for work that feels fresh, unorthodox and personal—not simply another remake or adaptation. This is one of the reasons why I love A24; they take chances on unconventional stories. Creators now have more ways to develop their own material and prove that it can connect with the masses before a major studio signs off on it.

I pray that shift creates more room for newer faces to shine instead of relying on the same familiar names. I’m convinced there’s so much undiscovered talent capable of carrying meaningful work. I welcome the idea to collaborate with more indie artists, helping bring unique stories to the forefront.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelharrison/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seanmichaelharrisonharrison
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7358687/