We recently connected with Savannah Schoenecker and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Savannah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
Creativity is in my bones. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I’ve always pursued it. I’ve been a larger than life spirit since I can remember. When I was 5 years old, on multiple occasions, I’d dress up in a hot pink turtle neck, pull the neck line down to my shoulders and invite the neighborhood boys to come watch me lip sync Whitney Houston’s, “I’ve Got the Stuff that You Want” from The Bodyguard.
That said, the moment I first knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was my freshmen year of high school. I signed up for drama class because I’d seen my older sister in A Comedy of Errors the year before and it looked like so much fun! But I didn’t take it seriously until the day my acting teacher asked me why I ‘didn’t show up to audition’ for the school play, Our Town. Even though I didn’t know what an audition was, he encouraged me to come to callbacks. I was a completely aloof 14 year old at the time, but realize now, he had a plan for me. That night I read for the main character, Emily Webb, for hours. The next morning, he posted the cast list and there it was, the Character of Emily Webb to be played by… Savannah Schoenecker. I was shocked and excited, but also a little scared I might upset some of the seniors. But thankfully, I had support from most of the kids in drama class. The next couple months of rehearsal changed my life forever. Rehearsal was intense, scary, fun, emotional & enlightening. On opening night I was terrified, but as soon as I saw the audience, calm washed over me and thought, ‘I hope they feel something. Whatever they need to feel, even if they hate my character or love her. I hope they realize something about themselves… I hope they feel something.’ A that was that. I knew I wanted to move people through story telling for the rest of my life.
Savannah , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I first came into the Hollywood industry after graduating from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. And let me tell you! College taught me the DISCIPLINE of the craft and how much dedication, work and vulnerability goes into developing a character. I am forever grateful – shout out to Theresa Hayes and the many wonderful teachers who changes my life!
In the years after college I studied with various teachers and techniques including Adele Cabot in Linklater Technique, Commedia Del Arte with Tim Robbins and improv with Steve Pinto at LA Connection. My heart ultimately landed with Murisa Harba at About the Work Actors Studio where I’ve studied for over 10 years. I’m also in my 5th year teaching at the studio! We offer tried and true acting techniques called the Chakra Approach and The Macro Method. These techniques have helped me learn to break down a scene in less than 5 min, understand what the director/show runner is looking for, get out of my head and into my characters energy centers to create moment to moment nuance(no more trauma recall)!
About the Work is a unique acting studio because we focus on the wellness of every artist, there are no gurus, everyone cheers each other on(no competition) and our techniques are repeatable and actionable, plus you can’t find it anywhere else! Someone once told me I would find my tribe and little did I know, almost 11 years ago, it would be my artistic fam at About the Work.
If you’re an actor in need of a safe space to hone your craft, whether in person or online, we’re here for you. Try a free audit at [email protected].
If you’re an industry member and would like to audition me for your next project, reach out to my manager Mike at [email protected] and he’ll put us in touch!
Beyond teaching acting at About the Work and pursuing my acting career, I’m a martial artist and co-owner of Kung Fu Moves, a mobile martial arts business teaching street smarts and social and emotional learning to kids all over LA. I studied Wing Chun Kung Fu with Todd Shawn Tei (now retired) for 8 years at the American Academy of Martial Arts as well jujitsu at Legacy with the legendary, Alberto Crane. Kung Fu Moves is different from most martial arts programs in that we put the emotional wellness of our students first. We teach them vital life skills like mindfulness, compassion and empathy along with life saving street safety tools to protect them in emergencies. If you’re looking for a fantastic program that deviates from the traditional ‘toughen up’ stereotype of martial arts classes, contact us at [email protected] and we’ll bring a free demo to your school or contact us for private lessons!
Lastly, and oddly thanks to the pandemic, I own small business called Spirit Wreath Boutique where I custom design and create one of a kind, deeply meaningful wreaths for my clients.
During lockdown, my heart craved an outlet and in October 2020, during a walk in Franklin Canyon, I felt the call from Spirit. I noticed parks and rec cut back the overgrowth of several small trees along the trail. I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the branches strung across my path and felt inspired to give them new life. I laid out the cut branches in a circle – a wreath- so that other hikers could enjoy the beauty I saw in the brush that day. It felt symbolic of the season change- life, death and rebirth. Before leaving, I scooped up the brush I could fit in my backpack and used it to craft my first proper wreath for my door in honor of the Samhain season.
I shared my story on social media and that same day a friend ordered 3 for her family as a gifts. I nervously said ‘Yes’ (with no idea how I’d pull it off!) and with some diligent research and trusting my creativity, I managed to make 30 wreaths for clients all over LA at the end of 2020!
I pull inspiration from my clients intentions, whether they’re calling in good luck for pregnancy, protection for their home, abundance for their family, festive joy for the holidays, etc. Every wreath is crafted specifically for each person in mind, heart and spirit. If you desire a living or long lasting piece of art that holds spiritual meaning to you, let’s work together. Contact me through my Insta handle @savannahschoenecker.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative artist for me is knowing how much its helping my longevity and well being. I feel a deep sense of purpose when I create. I also experience constant growth and overcome challenges while getting to inspire others with my art the way they inspire me. Storytelling, working with nature, dancing, singing, you name it, all help me feel whole and healed. Creativity is therapeutic and I’m so excited to share that science is finally proving it!
While most of us intuitively feel how important creativity is to our health, evidence based research books like, ‘Your Brain on Art’ by Susan Magsamen; & “The Source” by Dr. Tara Swart, present the science behind why. They are mind blowing in the best way and I hope you get a chance to read them!
So many times in my life I allowed for people to make me feel guilty for being an artist, but something bigger than me, non corporeal, always brought me back to the creative arts. About 4 years ago, I uncovered my ‘Why’, a process, developed by Simon Sinek for finding your purpose. Through it, I discoverd the truest expression of what scares and drives every day, and its this: “I am worthy, I am enough, and I am deserving of good things. When I feel connected, safe and whole, I allow myself to share my gifts with the world and in turn inspire others to do the same.”
I hope this inspires you to create more in your life!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Codependency is my unlearned lesson. I learned it in childhood and it persisted, unbeknownst to me, up until last year. Codependency is the belief that love is conditional and therefore you have to DO something to get it. This could not be farther from the truth. We all inherently have value, but it took me DECADES of pain, mistreatment from partners and industry members, years of low self esteem and a difficult divorce to finally reach my breaking point. But instead of breaking apart, I broke OPEN. For years thought I had to prove to toxic people that I was worthy of love. Recently my codependency therapist recently mic dropped me(which she often does!) with… ‘Unacceptable behavior is practiced where unacceptable behavior is accepted.’ BOOM. My codependent behaviors were so pervasive, they had their hand in every area of my life, including my career where I constantly sought approval. In an industry full of rejection, this style of coping led me to constant let downs, comparison to others, heartbreak and the vulnerability to be taken advantage of.
Thankfully codependency is not a death sentence. Its a mal adaptive coping mechanism that can be unlearned with insight and new behaviors. I am doing an incredible amount of work to see myself as a fully fledged individual with my own needs, wants and values. I’m learning to have and set boundaries and non negotiables while protecting them. That all of this is necessary for my survival and to thrive. AND it DOESN’T make me a selfish or a bad person. I’m allowed(we are all allowed) and even compelled to have and protect all these things. I’m learning to ask myself what I really think about something rather than just deferring to others, to be comfortable upsetting someone because we disagree, and to see everyone as my equal. Status, wealth, success, are made up by society and have nothing to do with the fact that I’m am not above you and you are not above me.
This is a pivotal shift for me on my healing journey as a whole artist, whole human really. I am so grateful that UNlearning these behaviors is already helping me treat myself with grace and compassion, remind myself of my value, take risks, enjoy the journey.
I hope you know your matter too. Your life, dreams, hopes and feelings are valid. You are valuable just because you exist and you deserve to be happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: about-the-work.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savannahschoenecker/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kungfumoves
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahschoenecker/
- Other: imdb.me/savannahschoenecker vimeo.com/savannahschoenecker kungfumoves.com https://www.instagram.com/kungfumoves https://www.instagram.com/aboutthework/
Image Credits
JennyChoiPhoto for Last Summer of Nathan Lee L.A. Premiere