“My advice for finding success it to really just keep submitting to projects, do all the auditions that come your way, and be positive! What’s meant for you will come, big or small. … One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my career so far is to never give up. If you really want this, you’ll keep going.”
Shayna Brill, Actor
Photo Source: Headshots by Scott
Shayna Brill has carved out an acting career one project at a time. Her list of credits have stacked up to include numerous lead and supporting roles in theater, TV, student and short films, and online productions—from an online Valentine’s Day spot for the Museum of Ice Cream to a recent episode of Investigation Discovery’s “The Playboy Murders”.
Her strategy for success is straightforward: be persistent, stay positive. “Just keep submitting to projects, do all the auditions that come your way, and be positive! What’s meant for you will come, big or small,” she explained. “You’ve just got to keep going!”
Early love for the stage
Brill surrendered her heart to the stage in early childhood. She was a 7-year-old when she appeared in her first school play and became obsessed with the production and the experience she has since spent her life chasing. “I loved it so much,” she recalled. “I would read the script over and over until I eventually had the whole play memorized.”
This childhood fascination evolved into a lifelong passion. “Whenever I went to the theater or saw a movie, I got what I call ‘the magical feeling.’ I wanted to do what they were doing,” she said. “My passion only grew as the years went on.”
Photo credit: Tony Gale
Laying the groundwork
For Brill, getting experience in as many different ways as she could was her path to growth and the next opportunity. For those just entering the entertainment world, she recommended making the most of tools and resources like Backstage.
Know how to promote and showcase your best self where casting professionals can find you, as by ensuring your Backstage profile is as complete as possible and using professional headshots—not selfies—to make a strong first impression, she advised. “I’ve even been cast just off my picture before,” she added.
“Through Backstage I found my first agent, my current acting coach, and the photographer that I’ve used twice for my headshots,” she explained. “You never know what connections you’ll end up making.” And, as a member since 2019, she said she keeps coming back to Backstage because of constant new opportunities and the simplicity of the platform’s tools to connect her to what she wants.
Seizing opportunity
Brill’s career strategy has also included embracing every opportunity to improve her skills, get to know the industry, and make valuable connections. “My advice is to gain experience,” she said. “Definitely take acting classes, you’ll learn so much and become a better actor! Do background work to get experience on big sets and see how it all really works. Do student films to make connections and build up your resume.”
For talent with less experience, she suggested filming a monologue or scene for your reel and submitting to every suitable role, emphasizing that even minor and unpaid roles often pave the way to more significant opportunities.
“Submit to EVERYTHING that fits you, even if it’s unpaid. Most working actors got their start doing unpaid work and student films. That’s how you gain experience on sets, meet other creatives, and grow as an actor!”
Prepping like a pro
Preparing for auditions is a crucial part of Brill’s routine. She ensures she’s thoroughly memorized her lines, allowing her to freely engage with the material during auditions. “Being off-book lets you play around with the character more naturally,” she noted. Depending on the role, she might also work with a coach to perfect her delivery.
Being professional, punctual, and well-prepared are her keys to building lasting relationships in the industry and laying the foundation for future opportunities. “I make sure I’m always early to sets or auditions because you don’t want to be the one that makes things run late. I’m always friendly and prepared with my lines. You want to leave a good impression because you might just end up working together again!”
“The industry is small in many ways,” she pointed out. “Today’s co-star or director could be tomorrow’s collaborator on another project.”
And finding community in the industry can be a key to staying motivated. “It’s not just about finding jobs,” she explained, “but about building relationships and a community that supports your growth.”
Lessons from the journey
Reflecting on her career, Brill acknowledges the rollercoaster of emotions that come with the territory, from the highs of booking a role to the lows of facing rejection. A particularly tough moment came when she considered quitting after not getting a particular part.
“I started questioning if I was even good enough,” she admitted. But then she booked her first paid gig a week later. “That was the sign I needed. I overcame this by not getting down on myself or thinking I’m a bad actor when faced with rejection.”
She emphasized resilience as her practiced response to not being chosen for a role. “Rejection happens to everyone, and many times there are a lot of other factors at play that have nothing to do with your talent or ability. I just try not to think about it now and continue on to the next thing!”
Photo credit: Headshots by Scott
Staying the course
Living in New York City, she acknowledged the challenges of vying for work in a very competitive market but encouraged continuous auditions, persistence, and maintaining a positive outlook.
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my career so far is to never give up. If you really want this, you’ll keep going,” she explained. “I look back on when I first started and how I hoped one day I would get a lead role in a film or my first IMDb credit or book my first TV gig. I kept going and because of that, I’ve done what I had once hoped to and more!”
“Now, I have bigger goals that I want to accomplish and hopefully one day I look back and get to say that I did them too!”
