Rev Up Your Engines! Days Heads to Motor City!
A native Michigander (he was born in Grand Rapids), Shawn Christian was delighted to be asked to take part in the upcoming talent search and fan contest in Detroit, scheduled for November 13 and 14, 2009, at the MGM Grand. "They asked me if I wanted to go to Michigan and do this event. First of all, we're going to go to Michigan, so hell yeah!" Shawn told us, the excitement clearly evident. "Certainly I want to support and promote Days," he continued. "Get the word out and get people watching this quality show. That's my first priority. Secondly, I'm from Michigan, so that's exciting. I'm digging that. Then, I'm kind of excited that we're actually going to audition people. It's kind of cool!"
Shawn has never taken part in any kind of talent search – the closest he has gotten is screen tests and improv, as well as working with acting students – but the earliest stages of any actors life can certainly resemble a contest. "There was one point that I think I waited five hours for an audition," he told us. "I think it was a publicity cattle call. When you watch these things like American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance, it wasn't that chaotic, but they sort of remind me of that time when you're like, you know what? I will do whatever it takes. I will wait in the rain; I will wait in the snow. I will wait in a tornado! If I have to, to get this opportunity. But," he continued, "I actually ended up getting a screen test out of that." So, think about that when you line up to audition for your spot on Days of our Lives. It might be a lot of effort; it may take a lot of time. But, are you serious? Do you really want to make it as an actor? Sometimes, waiting in long lines is the price you pay.
Okay. So you know what you can get out of this. Your big break in Hollywood. But what does a guy like Shawn, who's clearly already made it, get out of a big event like this? He is reminded that his work means something; people are out there watching. "One of the things that I quite often forget when I'm on set; I get lost in that world. I'm done with that moment and you work on the next moment, you're on to the next scene, the next experience, and then you sort of let it go, but you're reminded when you go to these towns, these people were moved by this or had a connection to that. They were moved in some way. I have to say that's really fulfilling, because you forget. We did that months ago. They'll tell me, remember when you guys did this thing? And it reminded them of whatever experience they'd had. There's some sort of connection. I have to say that's really fulfilling. You don't get that on set. You just go to work. So that's part of the joy, that connection with people."
And this is true, in case you were wondering, even for actors who play characters that not everyone is completely in love with. "They're like, I hate you. I really hate you. Would you sign this?!" Shawn laughed. "I get a wide range, because Daniel at some points appears to be morally ambiguous. People do have very strong opinions about this character and certainly about the relationship with Chloe. Good and bad, which are both fascinating to me. I find it absolutely fascinating."
As a former struggling actor, who cut his teeth in Chicago, Shawn has plenty of advice for those of you would like to follow in his now nonstruggling actor footsteps. For one thing, it's what he at least is looking for November 13 and 14 at the MGM Grand in Detroit. "You hope that someone comes there and has their own personality that they bring to it. It'll come through. We'll see how far it takes them." He continued, talking about his own auditions, his attempts to land that next role. "I've had plenty where it's just down to two people and it's just not about you anymore. It's just a matter of taste. You learn to get a little thicker skin and not to take it personally. You just bring your best efforts and see what happens. There are so many variables. It isn't all about you, the person. There are so many variables that need to be taken into consideration. All you need to do is bring your work."
Remember that. Bring your work. And, of course, "have fun. Relax. Be honest. Be truthful. Don't try to overdo it!"
In closing, Shawn had a final piece of advice that we think applies across the board, to life in general, not just for trying to make it as an actor. "Almost nothing will go as planned," Shawn commented. "Something will clearly, invariably, go wrong. Not as you planned. How you recover tells me more than what you've actually brought. Because things always go wrong on a set. Things always change; there's someone making noise. The light falls. People will talk; people will be eating. In all of the madness that surrounds you, you still need to remain focused and in the moment. How you recover will tell me a lot. We're running on a schedule. If you actually lose it and can't recover, if it's going to take thirty minutes for you to find yourself within a scene, well, we don't have time. Certainly not in daytime! How you recover is huge. Things will go wrong; go with it!"
Take those little words of wisdom as you head to the MGM Grand in Detroit, Michigan, on November 13 and 14. For more information, please click here . 
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