Who didn’t simply adore the Hallmark movie that premiered earlier this year entitled Love To the Rescue?! I mean it had EVERYTHING! Including Nikki DeLoach, Michael Rady, a delightful dog, adorable kids, and a new Hallmark star named Shanda Lee Munson. Now even though we fans may not have been previously aware of Shanda’s obvious talent, she has been a Hallmark fan for most of her life…one of the many things I learned about her in our recent interview that I am sharing with the fans today!
RH: How/why did you decide to become an actress and what kind of training have you had to prepare you for this career? What was your first professional job in the business and what are your memories of that job?
SLM: My love of acting began on the stages of my local community theaters from a very young age. Professionally, it began shortly after graduation from college. I responded to an open casting call for a film in Atlanta and jumped at the chance to be an extra. Not realizing it was a “big” film, and one that still is a fan favorite to this day, Remember the Titans. I recall hundreds of wannabe extras lined up, a true cattle call. When my turn came I wasn’t selected. But instead of leaving, I hopped in the line of the “chosen” ones and began my work the very next day. While I wouldn’t recommend this necessarily, it worked well for me. I was then pulled from a scene by the director, asked to read some lines for a part that wasn’t cast yet (Kate Bosworth’s best friend), and earned my SAG eligibility on my first film. I lived in Savannah at the time and drove to Atlanta several days a week for acting classes as well.
I’ve continued to train in the decades since, wherever we’ve lived (which has been 36 cities). I personally enjoy private instruction because I can focus on specific auditions I have coming up or jobs I’ve been hired for. Two of my favorite instructors have been Risa Bramon Garcia (Master’s Class) and Marci Liroff (Audition Bootcamp).
Please tell us about your experience and involvement in Remember the Titans.
In addition to how I was hired, I recall my first day on set as a day player. I had my first trailer, which was a pretty big deal to me at the time. It didn’t matter that it was smaller than my closet; it was all mine and really did have a star on the door. I walked outside to take a picture of the door, and standing there was none other than Denzel Washington. He kinda chuckled at me taking a picture, so I said to him, “This may happen to you every day, but it doesn’t to me.” He smiled.
I also remember how kind the director, Boaz Yakin, was to me. He commented that he didn’t love my lines in the scene and it was likely they wouldn’t make it into the final cut (and they didn’t), but he was going to let me say them anyway so that I would get my SAG card. I didn’t realize at the time how difficult it was to get one. But now long after, I realized that it was a gift that helped start my career in a way that might have taken much longer had he not been so generous.
I notice something called Ghostbreakers in your credits as well. Please tell us about this series and your involvement in it.
Ghostbreakers was a television series (aired most recently on the Family Channel) that we filmed in Louisiana. Think of it as a parody of the ghost hunting shows most of us have heard of. I played a psychic who wasn’t very good at her job, much like my ghost hunting teammates. What I loved most about this project, besides the lifelong friends I made on the series, was that we didn’t have scripts. We had a story to tell each episode, and it was up to us, as actors, to improv our way through it. We shot out of sequence per usual, but doing so without a script adds an extra challenge that forced us to keep our acting tools sharp at all times. It was one of the best experiences of my career.
I have not seen Magic Mike XXL, but I see you were a part of that film too. Please tell us about that experience.
I had the opportunity to assist one of my dear friends, Chad Darnell, in extras casting on that film. In fact, Chad Darnell was the one from casting that had me read the lines for “Emma’s friend” on Remember the Titans decades before. As a producer and actress, I am always fascinated with the casting process and help on projects whenever I can. I think there is something to be said for understanding an actors process and needs, and looking outside the box to find someone who is really special, regardless of their notoriety. On the one hand, this project was a challenge for casting due to the large numbers needed for scenes. But on the other hand, the ladies were anxious to be cast to watch those dance numbers.
Recently we saw you in your first Hallmark film Love To the Rescue. What did you know about the network before joining the cast of that film?
The truth is, I have been watching Hallmark movies for as long as I can remember. My mom introduced me to them when I was young, and they have become a weekly tradition for me ever since. I often joke that I have 96 Hallmark movies on my DVR, but I actually do. I’ve counted them and would have more if I had the space. Ha!
What I love most about Hallmark, and why I wanted to work on their films, is the spirit in which they are made. I’m attracted to projects that celebrate the good in people, realistic challenges they may face, and let’s face it, happy endings. It has been such a pleasure to watch their storylines evolve, Love to the Rescue being a great recent example of that. It’s my hope that I will have an opportunity to act in more and possibly even write and produce some films for them.
Please tell us what you enjoyed about your character Susan and any special memories from filming Love to the Rescue.
In late 2018 I said out loud that my goal for 2019 was to be in my first Hallmark movie. I knew it wasn’t likely realistic that it would be a large role, but that didn’t matter to me. So when I was sent sides for five roles to audition for, I eagerly started preparing. I was immediately drawn to the character of Susan because she is like many moms I know in real life, but not exactly like me. An eager PTA mom who volunteers for everything. I get exhausted imagining everything Susan has on her plate. Ha!
When I got the call that I had gotten the part, it truthfully was one of the most exciting times in my career. I may have even cried a little. My friends who know how I feel about Hallmark were just as excited for me as I was. I knew the part would be a challenge because she doesn’t say a whole lot, so I focused on my expressions doing the talking for me in those moments.
Filming was everything I imagined it would be and more. Everyone was so kind, including stars Nikki DeLoach and Michael Rady, who I shared my three scenes with. During the filming of one PTA meeting scenes in particular, another “PTA mom” and I were supposed to be discussing Nikki’s character in not such a flattering way. Think gossipy moms. When she delivered her line to me, the director, Steven Monroe, came over and said something to the effect of “try it this way because Hallmark only likes happy people.” And THAT is what I love about Hallmark.
Any other upcoming films/shows you can mention?
I currently own an acting studio, the SCENE studio, in Dubuque, Iowa where I live and have been prepping for my summer “Let’s Make A Movie Camp.” Each summer I help a group of our area youth create a film from pre-production, production and post-production in a short amount of time. Just recently, last summer’s film Come Play With Me made its film festival debut at JDIFF {Julien Dubuque International Film Festival}.
I notice your executive producer/director credits in addition to acting. What do you enjoy about being involved in other roles in the industry? Do you have plans to continue to expand into other roles in the industry? Feel free to elaborate.
I love so many different facets of the industry. Being behind and front of the camera. I truly love developing projects from inception to completion. I also have a background professionally in Business, Marketing and Public Relations, so I feel like those lend themselves well to multiple aspects of film making.
As a creative, I see everything as a story that can be told. The trick is finding the right niche and people to back your vision. My dream is to expand into a partnership with a network like Hallmark.
Since your Hallmark movie was a “spring movie,” let me ask you–what do you enjoy about spring? What are your favorite activities to do during that time of year?
I love spring because it means I can spend time outside after a long winter in Iowa with my family and friends. My son, Solen, who is fourteen, plays baseball in the spring and summer and that is my favorite sport to watch. And my daughter, Soraya, who is ten, loves to play outside with her friends. We love to barbeque outside as a family and go on the river when we aren’t at a ballpark.
How can we not embrace a true professional like Shanda who has such overwhelming affection for the Hallmark network? It would seem rather obvious that Shanda and Hallmark have formed an informal mutual admiration society, and we fans are the beneficiaries of this relationship. Judging by the incredible experience Shanda had on set in addition to the amazing reception this movie had, I would venture to say that future collaborations between Shanda and Hallmark make perfect sense to me, and I can only hope this idea manifests itself into future movies with the same kind of warmth, joy, heart, and soul. Shanda is such a talented woman, and her natural effervescence and joie de vivre are consistently displayed on and off the screen. If you have not seen Love To the Rescue, the Hallmark Channel will be showing this movie again on August 6th (be sure to check local times). In addition to this, be sure to visit all of Shanda’s links below and consider following her via social media where applicable. I greatly anticipate the next time I see Shanda on Hallmark or elsewhere, and I am grateful to have connected with such an exceptional, gifted woman who never ceases to bring her best to every project with which she is involved.
FOLLOW SHANDA
