Shawn’s love affair with storytelling began as a little boy when he would picture himself as one of the characters in the “Clue” books based on the popular board game (he even wrote his own “Clue” stories) and pretending to reenact the crimes in old reruns of “Murder, She Wrote.”
Shawn’s parents, Charles and Lisa, strongly encouraged him to follow his dreams. Although Shawn’s path was not a linear one into the film industry (he previously worked in both the hospitality industry and attained an education degree), it was during a brief period in his professional life that he decided to see if he had what it took to make it as an actor.
Shawn’s first on-set experience was as a background actor on the NBC show “Do No Harm.” Immediately, Shawn knew he was hooked and began networking with like-minded individuals and absorbing as much knowledge as he could about the industry.
It was also around the same time, Shawn completed his first novel, “You Never Know…” In the now ten plus years since, Shawn has published two more novels, two short stories, become the host of a television show on PhillyCAM (“Shawn, LaShawn & Friends), acted in well over a dozen films in addition to countless appearances in various short films, television specials, and web series.
Shawn was cast as one of the leading characters in one of the top-rated web series in the world “Herrings,” in which his likeness was incorporated into a comic character, portraying a Nazi in the short film, “Kaddish,” which was viewed by actual Holocaust survivors, and portraying one of the Pope’s right hand men in CNN’s “Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History.”
FMM: When did your love affair with storytelling begin?
I have been imaginative for as long as I can remember. I was always telling stories and imagining myself in all kinds of scenarios as a little boy (I am an only child), but it became more formal, and I started consciously acting out the stories and writing them out when I was probably around nine years old. That is around the age of being a professional entertainer and storyteller first entered my mind. The books and films that specifically stand out in my mind as making me want to become a storyteller are “Clue,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Grease,” and the second “Brady Bunch Movie.” (I realize how random that last one seems, but it lit a spark in me at the time).
FMM: Not only are you an actor, but you are a successful author. Share your work.
I have published 3 books, “You Never Know…,” “Finding Perfection in Life’s Imperfections: It’s All a Matter of Perspective,” and “Growing Towards the Future.” I also published two short stories, “Jake’s Window” and “Earthlings Are Not Alone.” They are all available through Amazon and for Kindle. For my acting resume, I’d actually have to look over my resume. I’m not one for watching myself. I have a tendency of looking forward and thinking “what’s next?”
FMM: Tell us about “Herrings,” in which your likeness was incorporated into a comic character.
Well, it’s interesting when you shoot a publicity photo for a project. The photographer takes a series of shots, both individually and as a group. I remember we shot the cover for season 2 in a loft in front of a white screen. I remember being impressed with us being digitally imposed in front of the city landscape. That was my first experience with something like that. Then, I forget exactly how long afterwards, our director, Keith Chamberlain, shared with us that the likeness from that poster had been turned into a comic from a very talented artist. It was interesting seeing how square they made my jaw.
FMM: What was it like to switch gears and to play the Pope’s right hand man in CNN’s “Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History?”
I consider myself a character actor, so anytime I get to switch roles and show a different side of my personality is very interesting. I don’t like to be pigeonholed into one particular type of character to play. Working on “Pope” was a great experience for a few different reasons. I got to play opposite Kenneth McGregor who is a brilliant actor and teacher. I really enjoyed watching his technique and approach to channeling a character. For me too, as a Catholic, I was learning some background of my faith that I was not necessarily aware of prior to being cast in the project. It was quite interesting too that we filmed my scenes in the same location, the Elkins Park Estate, as where we filmed the scene I worked on in “Creed.” It is so beautiful with a rich history and it helps lend itself to “getting into the zone” so to speak creatively.
FMM: Do you have a favorite role?
I think so far, I have 2 favorite roles: Mark in “Sagacity” (which is available to stream on TubiTV) and Mr. Korniki in “ElemenTory,” which is yet to be released.
FMM: Who would you like to work with?
I would LOVE to work with Denzel Washington, either as an actor, director, or both. Clint Eastwood also comes to mind as well as Jamie Lee Curtis and Amy Adams. I’m also a big fan of “Law and Order: SVU” and “The Good Doctor.” Part of me would love to work on either show, but then there is the other part of me that thinks if I were to work on either one (or both), I wouldn’t be able to just take them at face value as entertainment anymore because I would keep thinking about what it is like behind the scenes.
FMM: Where can we see you next?
I have 3 feature length films still either in production or post-production: “ElemenTory,” “Magic in the Maze,” and “Baby Gurl.” “Slaughter Beach,” another film I worked on, is scheduled for blu ray release later this year. I co host a show, “Shawn, Lashawn & Friends,” which can be viewed on PhillyCAM on Thursdays at 5:30 pm. I’m also working on recording a song and writing another book, plus recording audio versions of the ones I already have published.
www.imdb.com/name/nm5226857/