Episode 613 | Shannon Gisela | M.I.A | Etta Tiger Jonze

[00:00:07] Perfect. How are you? I'm doing well. Nice to meet you. I love this setup you have here. It's taken me a while, but yeah, I'm glad. I try to make my guests happy with their setup. You giving me your time, the least I can do is make you comfortable, so I appreciate that. Oh, no, of course. Thanks for having me. Yeah, so there's a bunch of things I want to ask you. I couldn't make the first half of Press Day, which is why I couldn't, but you made it up to me, and I really want to thank you again for doing this. Yeah, so I've been watching a few of your interviews, and you're really well-spoken.

[00:00:37] And the way you treat the people interviewing you is really just sweet and kind and respectful, and you don't always see that from people. So I just wanted to say that to you as well. So I'm starting it off with a bit of glazing, but that's good. Oh, my God. I got what I needed out of this interview, so I think I'm going to go. So one of your interviews, you said you worked on a golf course, right? What did you do?

[00:00:58] Yeah. I worked as an employee engagement specialist, which is kind of a fancy term for being the morale person. I was responsible for making sure people were happy at work. How did you like that? You know, it was a journey. I got there, and I thought I was selling out because I was working corporate, and I wanted to do the struggling actor, being a bartender thing. And then, honestly, I grew to love it because it put me in a position to focus on other people,

[00:01:27] and I learned really great leadership skills from the people around me. And, yeah, it was a welcome distraction from, like, is my career going to work out or not? Because I was just focused on doing a good job at work. Yeah, yeah, that's a great answer. You know, many of the characters that we see in MIA, right, could be really – you could use your degree in psychology from UCF to diagnose or dissect some of these people, right? Because these are some crazy characters we see, Shannon, right?

[00:01:56] They are, and you did your research. You know how I'm a psych major? Look at you. Yeah, yeah. That's impressive, though. Like, I mean, the fact that you are, like, an established person with this entire, like, life that you could have gone down many roads with, and you chose acting, it's kind of – it's eclectic, one. But, two, it just shows that, you know, you have a – you don't always kind of put all your eggs in one basket, which is a good thing, I think. Thank you. That's a really beautiful way of putting that. Thank you. Yeah. So I have to say, some people are throwing out female John Wick.

[00:02:26] Some people are saying Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor. How do you describe your character? Where do you put her? You know, I had my media training, and I was like, she's just a girl. And they're like, hmm. And so I feel like that's what my knee-jerk reaction is to say about Etta.

[00:02:49] But, you know, I think what's special about her is she is about revenge, but she also wants to live life and is a young woman. So I think she's kind of in her own bucket to me for that reason, because we see her have this mission, but we also see her make new friends after grief and make mistakes and then want to learn from them. And so it's kind of like she's also becoming as well. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, she's evolving.

[00:03:19] I mean, you can clearly see from – we'll get into episode one in a second. But, like, I'm not – like, I'm only going to talk about stuff in episode one because I don't want to ruin it for anybody. I'm a little further along. I haven't finished it yet. But I have to say it's just – it's been fun watching her evolve. Is that something you've enjoyed doing as an actor or did enjoy doing as an actor? Absolutely. It was very organic, too. It was all in the writing. I really was carried by the writing of the show.

[00:03:43] But, yeah, I really enjoyed, you know, taking liberties where I could to show her refinement as she progresses, you know, especially with how she does her thing the first time. And then in episode seven we see her do it a second time but in a different way. And it's her using her intellect rather than brawn. Right. So I tried to do what I could to reinforce that from a performance standpoint. At Press Day, I think I said this to Bill and Karen.

[00:04:13] I said one of my favorite scenes that was totally unexpected was episode one is when you asked David Denman, your dad – Dan, I think it is, right? Yes. In the show. So he says – you say, can I get a beer? He's like, not on the clock. So one second goes by two seconds and then these drugs pop to the surface. I just thought that was really a dark humor, dark comedy. I just – I love that part of it. Yeah. Yeah. That's Bill for you.

[00:04:38] And, honestly, it carries throughout the season where, again, you have this duality where it's like – it feels very casual. You feel like you're just kind of watching somebody live life but then it flips on a dime. And that's our show. So we see young kids form relationships and have a party and do drugs and, like, figure that whole dynamic out and figure out Miami. But then there's this whole other side of the story. It's so kick-ass to me.

[00:05:05] Excuse my lack of English here but how freaking great is David Denman? How freaking great is that man? He's, like, such a great person. He's been on twice. Like, he's just a good human being. Yeah. He is such a good egg. Like, I – one of my favorite memories with him is – so we shot that first episode and he comes back later in the season. And I hadn't seen him for a couple months. And my van pulls up and I just see him. And I couldn't help myself. Like, the van door flew open and I was like, papa.

[00:05:33] Like, it was like – that's why he's just such a – has such a warmth and is also such a natural, incredible actor. Like, I learned so much from just watching him. And I was craving more time with him just to kind of absorb his work. Yeah. But, like, grounded. Like, he has every right in the world to be arrogant, cocky. He's none of those things. You know, it's just – it's just – it's fun to see. He's kind of a breath of fresh air. I know I like him a lot. He's always been kind to me.

[00:06:02] And obviously, he's been kind to you. So, I certainly had to just bring his name up. Yeah, no. We have to. Shout out David. Yeah. Yeah. So, outside of this being your first, like, awesome role, like, how about the fact that you're a major part of this poster? Like, has that – like, did anybody bring it up to you on press day? I'm like, okay, forget the role. Like, this is an awesome – like, if this was me, I had that poster all over my house if I was starting a role. I'd be like – like, do you – like, this is – like, how do you deal with that, right?

[00:06:32] So, we'll talk how you get the role. That's fine. But when you find out you're going to be the primary image in this cool, kick-ass photo, like, this is like a cool poster. How do you describe that when you find that out? You know, I didn't realize that it was just going to be me. Because we had had, like, a whole marketing shoot day at the end of the shoot with a wonderful photographer, Brendan Meadows. And we shot so many different kinds of posters. I think we were still figuring out, like, what we wanted it to look like in terms of a marketing standpoint.

[00:07:01] And so, we shot stuff with Brittany, with Dylan, and there were all these different ideas. And so, I had no idea what the final product was going to look like. But until it was – until I saw it. And I was like, oh, wait a minute. That's different. So, yeah, it's very surreal. You had to be – first of all, you get the part, which is, like, great. But then you find out this. I just feel like that had to be, like, a double – like, it just keeps getting better for you in this role, right?

[00:07:29] No, it's – I feel very, very lucky. Very lucky. And seeing, like, the billboards around town. Like, I just – I'm like, are we sure, guys? Like, really? No, it's been really wonderful. And people have been texting me and just – they're like, that's your face. And there it is again. And there it is again. And I'm like, man. Oh, my God. But it's got vibes of – you know that National Geographic photo with that woman with, like, really blue eyes? And it's kind of got those kind of vibes. Yeah, it's cool.

[00:07:58] It's a great – I mean, that's a great poster. You should be so happy. And I'm sure you are. Thank you. I am going to put it up in everybody's house. So be ready. You know, and I have to say – one of Etta's, like, things that I really like about her. But it also shocked me because she's so brave. But that scene with the sheriff, Jack, where she gets, like – it's not a spoiler, I guess. But when he stabs her, I was like, what?

[00:08:22] Like, it's one of those moments, like, you are not ready for because this poor girl has been tormented and betrayed by everybody. And you're like, okay, this is a safe space. Oops. No, it's not. So, Shannon, whatever you wanted to say about that. Yeah, you know, well, first of all, Billy Burke is such an awesome dude. He's so grounded as well and has such a rock star energy to him. And, yeah, that moment – this is the worst day ever.

[00:08:51] Like, and it just keeps getting worse. And so I was grateful to be working with Billy specifically because he just has such a grounding energy to him as well. And he has a healthy dose of, you know, give it your best, but it's also don't take it too seriously. And so there's still a level of play there. And when we shot the first take of that scene where Eda runs to him, we yelled cut. And afterwards, he's like, so what was that?

[00:09:20] Because I was, like, snotting and, like, crying in his shirt. He was like, I was not expecting you to go so hard. But, um, so it was lovely to get that kind of validation from someone who's been doing it for so long and who I really respect. Yeah. Yeah. So that first episode, you do – I mean, you're carrying a lot of the load in that heavy lifting in that episode. I mean, I know there's other people involved. I'm not saying it's all about you, but you're clearly doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Can you feel that as an actor during that episode?

[00:09:47] Did you feel like I'm going to lengths in this role in this episode that I've never done before? Can you feel that? I definitely felt like I was being stretched and that this was my opportunity to rise to an occasion. Right, right. But, you know, I think what was really carrying me was the level of gratitude that I have for the team who decided to let me come on board. You know, I have no credits. Well, I have credits, but it's my first TV job.

[00:10:15] And so for someone – for a whole network to take a chance on me, I felt I owed it to the team, to the people around me, to my fellow actors, to the crew who was standing in really long, hot days and doing overnights. I was like, I owe it to everybody here to do this like I mean it. And so I felt more of an obligation to be of service more than any – more than I felt like, oh, this is about me and I need to do a good job. You know, I was like I really just want to do it for them and have these people be proud of the choices that they've made.

[00:10:45] Yeah, that's a great answer. Shannon, did they ever tell you why you were the one for the role, why they really wanted you? I'm not going to have you go through the whole – I'm sure you've been asked this a million times. But did they ever tell you bluntly like this is why we really like you for it for Etta? There, you know, it was a two and a half month audition process and it was like I think like 20 pages of script by the time the test came around. But I think what did it – and Karen Campbell, our showrunner, calls me when I found out I got the part. She called me to welcome me to the team and just to say that she's really excited to work together.

[00:11:14] And then she said, you know, the thing that set me apart in her eyes was that on the day of the test there was a little technical issue that happened after having done, you know, five scenes, all very emotional, all very high stakes. And I had to – I basically left the audition and then came back and reshot all my scenes.

[00:11:35] And so she called me and said, hey, the way that you handled that, you know, of course there are many people who are talented but the fact that you handled a misstep with Grace and were willing to come and dive back in tells me that you're going to be able to handle when things go wrong on set. And so I think that's what maybe set – maybe I got very lucky with that technical issue so that she could see that I was down and that I was there to really commit. Yeah, that's awesome.

[00:12:03] I mean, you know, everyone talks about how great of a writer Bill is and he's certainly that. But can we just make sure Karen gets the same kudos for her work in Dexter? Like Karen is no joke, you know. She's a – she really made – she's a big reason why Dexter was as great as it was. Yeah, yeah. No, she is tremendous. And the thing is about her is she is such an example of being wildly talented and incredibly intelligent and being a boss but not at the expense of kindness and not at the expense of respect.

[00:12:33] And that was – that was just like broke my brain to witness, especially from a woman. And so she really set the example on set. Yeah, yeah. That's another great answer. Let me ask you this. So we catch at probably what, 18 years old at the first episode? Roughly 17? I suppose she's 21. Was she – okay. Because I thought she said she was going to University of Miami. Maybe I've got the time's off. No, no. It's okay. Don't worry about it. How long do you think she's been at this game?

[00:13:02] At what age do you think she came into this at – to this family business of drugs? How old do you think she was? You know, I think with Etta, I think she's always had an inkling that her family was up to something other than what they were up to on April. But, you know, in that first episode, that's the first time that she's really let in on it. She has been the one out mostly because Leah wants to protect her and wants to keep her.

[00:13:32] She's like the golden child of like, you know, you have wild intelligence. You have potential. And I want you to use it in a way that's constructive and legitimize the family essentially. And so I don't think she was really let in on it properly. And then she wasn't until that first episode. So is that first episode the very first time she's actually helping dad get the drugs in the boat? Totally. I know it was a little bit of – okay, okay. Let me ask you this. So nothing is justifiable to what happens to Etta.

[00:14:00] But is part of the life that she lives and her family lives, is part of it like making a deal with the devil? You never know what the consequences can be. And like, I mean, listen, what happened is over the top. It's, you know, there's no justifying it. But when you get involved in drugs like that, when you get involved in that game, when you make a deal with the devil, there's no – sometimes the outcome is completely unpredictable and awful, right? Yeah. I mean, look, I can't speak to what it's like in real life. No, no, no. I know that. Or can I? I'm just kidding.

[00:14:28] No, but I do think it's one of those things where, you know, Etta has this knee jerk for justice and to write what she thinks is wrong. And I think in that first episode we learn – or she learns, rather, that no matter what her intentions are, her actions have consequences.

[00:14:47] I do think that, like, had she seen maybe at some point the consequences of what drug running ultimately does to someone who's addicted, I think if she had seen that, she might have a different opinion. But for her, it's all, like, cool until it's not. So, yeah. So then – but, I mean, she's down because clearly, you know, at the end of the second episode and then the rest of the series, she's like, I'm going to figure this out. And, yeah, it's that conviction that carries her. So I don't know if that answers your question, but that's –

[00:15:16] No, it definitely does. Yeah, it definitely does. When you are giving – this is – I'm going to test your memory here. When you are doing the tour right in the beginning, you said something about Hartford, Connecticut. Do you remember what the fact was? Oh, my gosh. Hartford, Connecticut, where Doc Holliday coughed his lungs out? Oh, you're close. No, that was the first city to hang a witch. That was really up there. Yeah, yeah. But I was like, that's got to be Salem. And I fact-checked it, and I'm terribly wrong in that. How about the physical part in this role?

[00:15:46] Did you – was there a physical aspect to this that other – we talked about – you know, talk about that. I'm sorry. Yeah, no, please, please. I was just going to say, yeah, there's definitely a physical element. And Karen asked me during the test. She was like, so how do you feel about, like, pull-ups? And how do you feel about being in water and boating? And so she definitely vetted me as far as my ability. And I'm thankful in that I grew up very sporty. And I've – yeah, that's just, like, been my whole life.

[00:16:13] So it wasn't anything that felt out of the realm of what I was kind of already equipped to do. But it was new in that, you know, stunt choreography is – you have to have a massive awareness of where your body is. It's very – it's like dancing. And so that was new territory for me because I'm used to, like, catching a ball or kicking it or – and having an awareness in that sense. But, like, dancing in relation to another person in a very particular way was new.

[00:16:43] So that was the part that I was grateful that I had some time to get. And I was getting fist bumps from the stunt guys. And it was, like, I really felt like I made it when that happened. I was, like, I think I'm cool now. I think I'm a cool gal. Yeah. You certainly are. And those stunt people are such wonderful people. Like, they're so grounded. And they're so – they're always actor first. And they're so wonderful. Yeah. And they are truly, like, badass. I don't know. Sorry if I can't curse.

[00:17:12] No, that's accurate. Yeah. Badass. I mean, they don't complain no matter what the circumstances are. That's, like, their code. They're there to commit fully. And I respect that. It's cool. Yeah. Is there any part of Etta that Shannon is jealous of? Like, in other words, if you look at your character, is any part of her that you're jealous of? Yes, her memory. I was just talking about this earlier where, you know, I'm really great at remembering faces and names and details about people.

[00:17:41] But if you tell me, like, Shane, remember that time that we did that thing, like, five years ago and we had a great time? I'd be like, uh, do you have a picture? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, I think, I think I'm jealous of her, of her memory and, and a lot of other things, you know, like she is very, uh, opinionated and isn't afraid to express herself.

[00:18:01] And I think that that's still something that I'm shedding as a person is, um, an awareness that people have opinions about me potentially, uh, interpersonally or now publicly. But, uh, just being like standing on my, on my own two feet and be like, this is who I am. And I'm, I'm okay with that, you know? And so I really admire that, uh, out of her. Uh, I feel like you've already answered this, but maybe you haven't. So, so let me ask you, um, is there any part of her personality that was foreign to you?

[00:18:30] I mean, you mentioned the memory stuff and other things that you had to bridge that was difficult to like, I got to get this down. This is kind of tough for me. Uh, you mentioned memory, you mentioned other things. Is there anything that, that, that I left out of there? Um, that was difficult. I think, I think, you know, aside from the very, just the journey that she decides to go on, I, I, I can't, I found that difficult to tap into.

[00:18:53] But the way in for me, in terms of like justifying in my brain from an entertainment perspective, you know, killing people like in my brain, as Shannon, as a person can't really get there. Right. What, what, what took me there was, um, the core of it being the love that she has for the, for her family, the, um, yeah, like they hurt everything. And so that was my way in was like remembering her why and empathizing with her why.

[00:19:20] Um, and so, so yeah, so that was, that was my way into that little, that, that bridge between reality and, and entertainment. Yeah. Shannon, a few more questions. Thank you for all this time. I really appreciate it. Of course. So shooting schedules, you mentioned how some of it can get really physical, really active. And then some, sure. There's some days where you're just doing dialogue. Is it hard to get used to that? Like, okay. Say today, Monday we're doing, you know, Shannon, you're doing this, this, and this Tuesday. It's going to be, you know, just kind of straight up dialogue. Is that hard to get used to in a role like this?

[00:19:50] You know, for me, it was, I welcomed it. Like it felt like each day was a challenge in a different way. I was stretching as an actor. I was, um, I was, I was being asked to, again, rise to an occasion each day. And, um, yeah, the schedules were tight sometimes. And, you know, I, but for me, it was important to just be as prepared as possible so that it would afford the camera crew sometime to figure out, you know, what would be the best lighting instead of feeling like they have to rush. Cause I'm not getting my lines down or something.

[00:20:18] And, um, and so, yeah, for me, it was just being prepared and, and that was the thing that carried me. And so some days, yeah, it was very physical other days. It was more dialogue, but, um, even in the dialogue, it was most of the time emotional. And, um, so there was, I was being pulled, uh, and I, I, I was like, let's bring it on. Yeah. Yeah. The first episode, you did a wonderful job. I don't want to say carrying it, but like, it's just, if somebody's looking to get into a show, that's the, that's the episode to watch.

[00:20:48] Like that's the kind of shit. So moving forward, what's around the corner for you, Shannon, whether it's this show, whether it's like have auditions opened up for you. Do you feel like doors have been open now for you, Shannon? Talk about that. Yeah. You know, it's been, it's been a week now since it's come out and, and really for me, I've just been really reveling in, in the fact that people who have loved me, uh, well before this experience and will love me well after have been really proud. And it's been wonderful to share that with them.

[00:21:13] Um, and then from, from a career perspective, I'm really just, I'm really just trying to ride the wave and stay present. I, I, I'm trusting that this opportunity came, um, without me like trying to make it happen. And I'm, and I'm hopeful that the next one will be something similar. Um, but yeah, I just, I'm just looking for things that challenge me, that motivate me. I'm also, I love comedy too. So I'd love to just kind of like hop around and just be like, guess what? I'm here too.

[00:21:43] You know, like, yeah. I'm glad you said that Shannon on your IMDB. It says you won an award. It was the, um, upright citizens, citizens of the grade, which I feel like it's been like a common theme of some of the guests I've had recently. And then the SNL, what was that? Is it, it was an award. What was that Shannon? That was a scholarship. Um, it was, I had opened up, uh, through UCB and you had to like come up with a couple characters, send it in, uh, write an essay, you know, write your experience, all that stuff.

[00:22:09] And I sent it in an hour before it was due because I felt such immense imposter syndrome that I was like, no, they would never, why would I even bother? And then I just was like, shut up, just do it and send it in. What's the worst that could happen? And I got very lucky. So I got to take, uh, classes at UCB for free and learn and learn from their curriculum. And, um, the whole point is like at the end you can, you can, you can make a package to audition to SNL and they'll help you craft that. And I, I haven't gotten to that part yet.

[00:22:38] The night is young though. Yeah. Yeah. I'll end with this. Tell me some comedies or actors that, that are comedy related that you absolutely love. Jim Carrey. No question. I, I grew up, I grew up watching the mask and, uh, Ace Ventura specifically when nature calls, which I haven't seen in a long time, but that was watching him just be unabashed and commit wholly to whatever the moment called for. I just felt like it gave me such permission to be silly.

[00:23:07] And, uh, yeah, it was those, those films were very formative for me as a kid, but yeah, Jim Carrey is, is my North star comedically. I love him so much. Shannon, what is it about like Jim Carrey? Somebody, so you can make the argument. His best work is the Truman show. Adam Sandler is known for his comedies, but if you break down his serious work, uh, um, uh, uh, uh, rain out rain over me, um, there's, there's a ton. What is it? Is it, what is it about these comedians that can, cause I feel like in reverse, when you have dramatic actors try to do comedy, it's not as successful.

[00:23:36] It's my opinion. I'll, I'll, I'll, Shannon, I'll end with that. I think for, for comedians, it's, it's the, the bigness that you commit to. My, my take is that comedy is so hard. It's so precise. It's music also. It's, it's, it's, uh, it's, it, there's, there's so much to, I think it's the harder genre that like my mom, for example, when I was learning how to drive a car, she was like, Hey, I want you to learn in this big Toyota four runner so that when you go to

[00:24:05] the, when you go to the tiny Prius, you'll know how to drive it. Not saying that drama is easy by any stretch, but I do think that comedy requires, um, an extra something. Uh, and, and I think it makes it so that you can do both a little easier, but I've seen definitely some dramatic actors who segue into comedy and, and do it beautifully. So it's, who am I to say, who am I to really talk on it? But yeah, that's, that's a great answer. Shannon, you rock. Thank you for this time. And I'm looking forward to seeing what you do in the future. Thank you for this.

[00:24:35] Thank you. Thanks for having me, Derek. Nice to meet you. Bye.