Given that Shawn Smith, Alamedan and voice actor extraordinaire, plays Mattel’s Hot Wheels Monster Trucks’ Bone Shaker and Motosaurus, and the growling Supreme Commander Zeu in Akira Toriyama’s Sand Land series and video game, you’d think his tattoo collection might involve a skull or barbed wire, but no. His current ink is warm and artsy and his next tat is going to be a butterfly. Similarly deceptive is Shawn’s attire. Rather than travel to Julie’s to meet me on his chopper, sporting studded leather, Shawn strolled up wearing a plaid short-sleeved summer shirt—untucked! All of this came to make more sense as I sat and talked with him about his unique career as someone who plays many parts, has trained and continues to train his voice, and who, like all talented and earnest actors, spends most of his professional day auditioning in search of his next gig. He’s passionate about performing, works hard, and shares delight with each syllable he speaks. And now, he gives you his answers to 5Q4: Shawn Smith.
At what moment did you discover that you wanted to be an artist?
I honestly don’t recall a time when I didn’t want to be an artist. I have been a performer for as long as I can remember. I spent the best parts of my childhood singing, performing, acting, making home movies and doing funny skits at summer camp. I co-hosted my high school’s TV show, and I was the singer in various bands from middle school to college at Ohio University. While I was there, I hosted various music shows on the WOUB AM & FM stations in Athens, Ohio, and I first dabbled in voice over (VO) there. I recorded station tags and promos for the sports teams, and as a student employee, I had lots of time to hang out in the studio and fall in love with being on the mic.
I moved to San Francisco after graduating in 2005 with a degree in Audio Productions, and I decided definitively that I wanted to pursue voice acting as a career after doing my first radio spots in 2008. For me, voice acting is truly in a category of joy all on its own. It provides me the opportunity to use my voice, creativity, and my love of performing on a daily basis. I’m beyond grateful to be doing what I love and to be living my lifelong dream of working as an artist.
Who was the most influential person who helped you achieve your goal?
I feel fortunate that there have been many people who have helped me, supported me, and encouraged me along the way. My parents and my three siblings have always been there cheering me on. I can remember my mom coming to bars on the Ohio State campus with my older brother and sisters when I was in high school, to see my rock band play. My mom and dad always allowed me to find my own path—as long as I was on one! My wife, Taleen, is both a saint and a trooper for supporting me on this journey. I definitely wouldn’t be here without her love and belief in me.
Many friends have helped me over the years, but none have been as influential as my friend Andrew. About five years ago, Andrew surprised me by buying me a VO coaching session with a respected industry pro, and it completely changed the trajectory of my career. I was playing the role of Bone Shaker for Hot Wheels Monster Trucks at the time, so things weren’t completely dormant, but I was nowhere near where I wanted to be professionally. I didn’t have representation at the time, and I hadn’t buckled down to do the extensive VO training that I had always wanted to do. The coaching session that Andrew graciously bought me kicked me into gear. I began ongoing training at Voice One in San Francisco, which led to me cutting a new commercial demo and eventually signing with Stars the Agency in San Francisco. Andrew heard me go on and on about how much I loved VO for many years, but more significantly, he believed in me. He told me this is what I needed to be doing, and gave me a big push in the right direction to get me moving. Thank you, Andrew!
Tell about the best—or a best—experience you had as a performer.
It was a real honor and pleasure to play Supreme Commander Zeu in Akira Toriyama’s Sand Land anime on Hulu / Disney+ and the Sand Land video game by Bandai Namco. Our director, Wendee Lee, was incredible to work with. She pushed me in all the right ways to get the best performance out of me. I pushed myself too, and I worked hard to rise to the occasion of such a brilliant story that I love. The result is work that I’m really proud of in both projects.
My best experience as a performer was sitting on my couch a few months ago and watching Episode 6 of the Sand Land anime with a smile from ear to ear. Without spoiling it, Episode 6 is particularly epic for my character, and it was exhilarating to watch it for the first time. To have the opportunity to be in the show is one thing, but really loving it and being proud of my performance is another. It felt like the culmination of many years of dedication and hard work playing before my eyes in the comfort of my living room. Definitely a feeling I will always cherish.
Conversely, tell us about a pretty bad experience.
You know, I haven’t had any horrific experiences yet in VO (knock on wood). Rather, the amount of rejection and silence in this industry can be discouraging. I would say that the experience of constantly not knowing where you stand on potential projects is the most difficult part of the daily existence of a voice actor. Once you submit an audition, you don’t hear how you did on it unless you book the gig. I submit hundreds of auditions a year, and sometimes, when the stars align, I catch a fish. There are a lot of shots on goal for the few that go in. When it’s slow and you’re not booking, it can be really tough. I’m still working on thickening my skin and I expect that I always will be.
Any advice to folks out there hoping to pursue a life in the arts?
You know if you need to be an artist. If you have that intense love and passion to create and it’s what brings you the most joy, my best advice is to jump. Don’t look back with regret that you didn’t at least give it your best shot. With that said, I recognize that circumstances in this crazy world don’t always allow for people to chase their dreams, or chase them like they may want to. If that’s you, take baby steps. Flex your creative muscles any way you can. If it’s not through your work, flex it through your play. And get better at it. Keep learning, keep practicing, and don’t listen to the silence or the rejection. Take note of it, learn from it—but don’t let it convince you that you’re not supposed to be here. If you know that you’re supposed to be here, stay. Any way that you can. And keep going. Words for both you and me to live by.
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players, a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane.
