Next Act with Jeff Ornstein
A designer exploring a new path in acting and Hollywood. Join Jeff Ornstein as he shares personal experiences, lessons learned, and conversations with others making big career shifts in the entertainment industry. Practical insights, honest stories, no fluff, just the journey of breaking into a new world.
Next Act with Jeff Ornstein
Shannon K. Dunn – President & Executive Producer, Brigid Media, LLC
On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, we sit down with Shannon K. Dunn, a multi-talented actor, writer, and producer with over 35 years in the entertainment industry. From performing in classic films and TV shows like Back to School and Married With Children to creating her own feature films and innovative vertical micro dramas, Shannon shares her journey through comedy, drama, and storytelling.
We dive into her early days in standup comedy, how writing scripts transformed her acting, and her experiences producing unique stories such as Christmas Romance at the Roanoke Ranch. Shannon also shares insights on the creative challenges of Hollywood, building meaningful collaborations, and advice for aspiring actors who want to break in without compromising their authenticity.
Whether you’re an aspiring performer, writer, or simply a fan of compelling storytelling, this episode is packed with wisdom, humor, and inspiration from someone who’s truly done it all.
00:00:00 – 00:00:28
Jeff Ornstein:
Sharon Caden is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer with over 35 years in the entertainment industry… So in essence, she is the whole package.
Shannon Dunn:
Well, I’d like to think.
Jeff Ornstein:
Welcome to the show, Shannon. Thanks so much for joining us.
00:00:34 – 00:01:12
Jeff Ornstein:
Sounds like maybe in your early beginnings you did standup for a while… How did that help you in auditions? Or what’s the genesis of that?
Shannon Dunn:
I’ve always been a funny kid… I started performing in the Belly Room…
00:03:00 – 00:03:21
Jeff Ornstein:
Was your standup some comedians tell a story or their character through the thing, or were you hitting them with one-liners? What was your style?
Shannon Dunn:
My take was always about stories…
00:04:55 – 00:05:05
Jeff Ornstein:
Did your standup lead you to say, “I should be a writer”? How did that transition?
Shannon Dunn:
I’ve always been a writer… My first script was called Dumped.
00:07:21 – 00:07:38
Jeff Ornstein:
Has anything you’ve written been produced?
Shannon Dunn:
Yes! I co-wrote Christmas Romance at the Roanoke Ranch…
00:10:35 – 00:10:38
Jeff Ornstein:
Were you happy with the final product of your films? Did it stay true to your vision?
Shannon Dunn:
I’m always disappointed when people take creative liberties…
00:14:49 – 00:15:23
Jeff Ornstein:
Has writing scripts impacted how you audition for roles?
Shannon Dunn:
Absolutely… I read the characters as the writer wrote them…
00:17:34 – 00:17:57
Jeff Ornstein:
You have a comedy DNA, but it says you’ve done more dramatic work… why?
Shannon Dunn:
I am an actor first… comedy is my forte, but my recent roles have been drama.
00:20:13 – 00:20:49
Jeff Ornstein:
Can you share a moment where creating a partnership completely changed a project?
Shannon Dunn:
Yes… I found a producing partner and our strengths and weaknesses complemented each other perfectly…
00:22:44 – 00:23:16
Jeff Ornstein:
What advice would you give a young actor or writer breaking into Hollywood without compromising who they are?
Shannon Dunn:
Acting is not a choice, you either have to do it or be miserable… Train, train, train…
00:24:00 – 00:25:08
Jeff Ornstein:
Thank you so much for joining us. Any final words?
Shannon Dunn:
Thank you so much. And you as well.
