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AOF MEGAFest Magazine
Featuring Dr. Robert Goldman and Shannon Murray
SUSSEX POST
WAVES OF RAVE REVIEWS
BY GLENN ROLFE
As a child and in her school days at Sussex Central High School, Shannon Murray says she was always somewhat starry eyed about acting, stage production and martial arts.
“Growing up I did Kung Fu and karate. My mom is a black belt in karate. She knew it was important to have that discipline for us,” Ms. Murray said. “I have two older brothers. We were a rowdy bunch.”
“I had a sports injury during track season my ninth grade year. My 10th grade year I couldn’t play field hockey. So, it was like, ‘Well, what am I going to do with my time?” So, I went out for the school play,” said Ms. Murray, a 2003 Sussex Central graduate “I love acting; I already was in acting classes. The way the school had it set up they had theater as a major. I tried out for the play. I ended up with supporting role as the nurse, which is the role I wanted. I really got the bug, and I turned to my mom (Wanda Murray), and I was like ‘This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’” Turn the clock ahead about two decades.
These days, Shannon Murray finds herself in the Hollywood glitz of Los Angeles, an award-winning actress, actor, stunt performer and producer of ‘Rag Doll,’ a film that has drawn rave reviews and earned scores of kudos in the film festival circuit last year.
In Rag Doll, she has the lead role as Nora, a woman with plenty on her plate who makes a leap of faith by entering a martial arts tournament to help her sick mother.
“She is doing anything she can to provide for herself, provide for her family and in that she has had to make a lot of self-sacrificing decisions to provide for herself, her mom who is not well, and she makes a leap of faith and decides to enter this tournament, so that way she can help her mom the proper medication and the proper medical care that she needs,” Ms. Murray said.
In quest of a completed script, she found some good luck online at InkTip.com, a resource that offers features, films, music videos and projects for producers.
“I found Rag Doll. I contacted the writer, and let him know, ‘OK, I really like it,” she said.
Her interest came with with a request, to change the script from boxing to Muay Thai, a combat sport of Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is known as the “art of eight limbs.”
“A security guard introduced me to it and fell in love with Muay Thai. I love striking. I love hitting the heavy bag. In Muay Thai you get to use your hands, elbows, knees and feet, full body workout.,” Ms. Murray said.
The writer agreed.
“When this whole journey started three years ago, I was looking for a script to produce for myself as the lead to use as a launching pad for my acting career,” said Ms. Murray. “I grew up in martial arts and realized that if I could find a good dramatic fight script, that I’dbe able to showcase not only my acting but my physical capabilities as well. I really enjoy the fight community -whatever art form you study there’s a beautiful camaraderie between you
and what were once strangers. The timing of the film couldn’t have been more perfect. With the rise of female MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and the rise in awareness of mental health issues in our society - ‘Rag Doll’ was the perfect mix I was looking for.”
“It’s been so nice to show the film in different communities and get the response that we have from people who have been in a very similar situations as our lead Nora or have lost someone very dear to them and they understand the mental toll depression and anxiety can take on you that not many people talk about or properly prepare you for. You sometimes feel you’re in the fight all alone and that’s tough waters to navigate. So, I think a film like this is very important to show that you’re not alone, we’re all going through something and there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
New Orleans and the Cinema On the Bayou Film Festival was first stop on the 2019 festival trail, in which “Rag Doll,” its cast and production/ direction crew garnered 18 awards.
(CONTINUED ON SUSSEX POST)
VOYAGE LA
Shannon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My mom bought a video camera to film my brothers and I play sports. I would spend endless hours watching my favorite movies over and over wearing out the VHS tapes, and then when I was actually allowed to have friends over – we would act in remakes of these movies that we would film around the house or we would make up dances as though we were in music videos of the top radio hits at the time.
Other than that, my story is quite the same as every other actor. I acted in church and school plays, got “the bug” and I’ve been chasing my dreams all over the country ever since. I’m originally from Delaware, I studied in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia before moving to New York City for four and a half years. I’ve now been in Los Angeles for eleven years, while also sharing residency in New Orleans and Atlanta over the last three years.
I have a problem with sitting still and waiting for a phone call, so I’ve always worked a lot behind the camera working as Producer, Coordinator, Production Manager, 1st and 2nd Assistant Director, and for the last six years, I’ve worked as the General Manager of a film and TV studio called Calvert Studios.
Two years ago, I decided to take my career in my own hands and find a script that would best showcase my abilities as an actor and that’s how I found the feature film ‘Rag Doll’ that I am currently taking around on the film festival circuit. The lead character ‘Nora’ is a very raw relatable young woman who makes daily self-sacrificing decisions to provide for her family. The film has been doing very well on the circuit – we’ve won (3) best pictures, (2) best director, (3) best actress, (3) best-supporting actress, (1) best ensemble and (1) best screenplay. Rag Doll also stars Dante Basco, Dot-Marie Jones, and Stephanie Erb. We will be qualifying the film for The Independent Spirit Awards and see where it will go from there. In between promoting Rag Doll at the festivals, I’ll be auditioning and working at the studio.
It’s been quite the adventure so far – and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My road has had many bumps and many forks.
Some artists have a path that makes them seem like they have all the luck in the world. But you have to remind yourself that not everyone’s paths look the same and there’s no one way to go about a career in entertainment.
The forks along my path would always leave me wondering if I was making the right decision, but I’d trust my instincts and have faith that in the end, I’d reach my ultimate goal. I’ve taken jobs that barely refill my gas tank just to get a credit or to meet other industry folks. I’ve bunked in bunk beds with a friend so I could pay for my film and so that she could pay for her pilot. Chasing your dreams is a constant sacrifice. Leaving your home and family and starting over in a new city is exciting – but over time not getting to grow with your family, for me, is one of the hardest things. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes to not just chase your dreams, but run them down and tackle them. It’s YOUR career that is in YOUR hands – do not depend on anyone else or live on hopes that someone, ie your agent or manager, is doing work for you. Never stop hustling. We all need to work some sort of job to pay bills but don’t let your day end there. After or Before your ‘day job’ work at least 1-2 hours a day on your career by sending emails to industry contacts, doing social media, submitting for jobs on self submittal sites, updating your website, etc.
My best advice is to learn as much as you can in the field that you want to go into but also learn as much as you can about other departments and how things work as a whole. Take classes as often as you can and learn new skills. My best advice for women starting in this industry… you can do anything and everything you put your mind to. Don’t let stereotypes hold you back. Support other females in your field, you’re not in competition with one another. You’ll have your time to shine – help the women around you shine because ultimately, it’ll make you shine as well.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am an actor. Not a super successful one… yet… but I’m working very hard to get there! I have been in numerous commercials and indie films. The most known role I’ve had, thus far, is in ‘Oz the Great & Powerful’ and I’ve just produced and starred in the feature film “Rag Doll’ which is what I am most proud of thus far.
Getting to work with Sam Raimi on ‘Oz…’ was an amazing experience. My last day of filming Sam had taken my hand and said, “Don’t give up! You have such goodness inside of you, something will happen for you just keep at it!” That left me on a career-high for years!
Now, my biggest high that I’m on is the ‘Rag Doll’ wave. It’s been so incredibly hard but so fulfilling. I’ve gotten to travel the country and show so many old friends, family, ex co-workers, other filmmakers and complete strangers my artwork. It’s been so nice to be seen as not ‘just’ an actor but as a filmmaker. I’ll admit – earlier in my career I became somewhat ashamed to tell people that I was an actor. So many people I would meet would make me feel low and embarrassed that I was (eye roll) another actor! But knowing that acting was my true passion, I refused to let anyone belittle my career choice.
I feel my drive and hustle is what sets me apart. It’s show ‘business’ and you have to really treat it like a business. Getting to do your art form is the fun part and sometimes the fun doesn’t last as long as we would like but as soon as the fun ends – the real work begins.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
My best advice for women starting in this industry… you can do anything and everything you put your mind to. Don’t let stereotypes hold you back. Support other females in your field, you’re not in competition with one another. You’ll have your time to shine – help the women around you shine because ultimately, it’ll make you shine as well. TEAMWORK, TEAMWORK and more TEAMWORK!
CAPE GAZETTE
Sussex Central grad shines in 'Oz The Great and Powerful'
By Rob Rector
March 17, 2013
Shannon Murray with director Sam Raimi.
Actress Shannon Murray was featured in one of the pivotal opening scenes of the new James Franco flick, “Oz the Great and Powerful.”
While “Oz” might be far away from Kansas, it was home for one Sussex County native, actress Shannon Murray, who was featured in one of the pivotal opening scenes of the new James Franco flick, “Oz the Great and Powerful.” Murray, who has been working in the industry since graduating from Sussex Central, was excited to be a part of such an epic production, one that opened up at the top of the box office this week.
Murray first ventured to New York City, where she worked as an actress in commercials and several off-Broadway productions before making her big move in 2008 to Los Angeles, where she has served as an assistant director for both television and film.
In front of the camera, Murray has starred in a number of short and independent films, but perhaps one of the more notorious titles is “Titanic II,” a tongue-in-cheek “mockbuster” created by a famously fast production studio called The Asylum for the SyFy network.
“A friend called me the morning they were to start shooting and asked me if I wanted to work on a film that called for a sexy redhead,” she said with a smile. A reluctant Murray agreed, and the result has garnered her quite a large following among the Asian community. “I’m really big in Japan,” she laughed.
But it was a short film from fellow Delawarean Jody Fedele's Wopbopper Productions where Murray made the connection that led to her role in “Oz.” Serving as assistant director, Murray’s charm, talent and personality led Fedele to suggest her to audition for a role in “Oz” directed by the legendary Sam Raimi. Fedele had worked as a visual effects artist with the director since 1990’s “Darkman.”
After landing the part, Murray said, she struck up a good rapport with the director. “My first time meeting him, I was so nervous,” she recalled.
“On the first day, he pulls up an apple box and said ‘Here, let’s talk.’ He really cared about what I thought and what my process was. It was refreshing that he really wanted to collaborate ideas.”
On the last day of Murray’s shoot, she said Raimi called out to her, “I’m going to miss you most, scarecrow.”
“I was speechless, and I went back to my dressing room and started crying like a child,” she said.
Murray is keeping her sights on that next big project while basking in the glow of having the No. 1 film in the country at the moment.
“It’s just such an amazing feeling to have been a part of it,” she said graciously.
Despite the glamor of Hollywood, Murray said she still keeps close to her friends and family in lower Delaware. Just like Dorothy, Murray also realizes there’s no place like home.
