Madison Shamoun is preparing for her silver screen renaissance.
The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television alumnus was recently cast alongside Lauren Graham in the upcoming television series “The Z-Suite.” Tubi’s upcoming workplace comedy follows the unraveling of a New York advertising agency and intergenerational clashes between Gen Z and established C-suite employees. Reflecting on her audition process, which began in March, Shamoun said she felt confident in her character Kriska and the show from the initial script.
“Throughout this whole process, I felt like I really knew who Kriska was, and I didn’t feel nervous,” Shamoun said. “Sometimes you do when you go into auditions and callbacks and screen tests, but with this project, I was like, ‘No, I feel like I know who she is,’ and it’s so much fun.”
Shamoun said she gravitated to her “The Z-Suite” character’s unassuming nature and undermined leadership capabilities. After formerly working on TV series such as “The Lake,” “All American” and “Black-ish,” Shamoun said “The Z-Suite” represents a new era of television for her, with the characters spanning multiple generations and providing on-screen representation for various identities.
For Tubi’s original casting manager and fellow TFT alumnus Isabella Bolognini, Shamoun’s unwavering confidence and inherent understanding of the show gave her certainty that she would be a perfect fit alongside co-star Graham. Shamoun said her screen test majorly relied on her ability to draw upon improvisation skills and generate on-screen chemistry.
“I think it’ll be really fun to see her do this type of comedy,” Bolognini said. “I feel like maybe people haven’t seen that from her before, and hopefully, I think it’s the start of a really beautiful and long career for her.”
Drawing upon her former theater training at UCLA, Shamoun said she still uses lessons from her time in the TFT department in her present career. Emphasizing the impact of acting professor Judith Moreland, Shamoun said she played a significant role in recognizing her unique individual approach to each character. She added that Moreland stressed the importance of Uta Hagen’s technique, an intellectual tool used to ground actors in their character by asking a set of primary questions, which she found herself using to navigate her part in “The Z-Suite.”
[Related: ‘Shenanigans’ film written by UCLA alumnus explores family, societal expectations]
Interested in exploring beyond comedy, Shamoun said she is excited to dive into more deep and dark genres in the future. She said her training in traditional theater involving works from William Shakespeare, Molière and Eugène Ionesco fueled her love of drama early on. Her passion for acting carries over into all of her work, she added, finding depth in her comedic work as well.
Talent manager and fellow TFT alumnus Kimberly Kottwitz said Shamoun’s devotion to the program became an unexpected tool later on. Kottwitz, who joined the program two years earlier than Shamoun and a year after Bolognini, expressed her admiration for fellow TFT students and excitement for Madion’s upcoming role in “The Z-Suite.”
“The program was so small, everyone really did know each other in every single grade,” Kottwitz said. “We’re all kind of connected with this invisible string, which I think is really, really cool because now, all these years later, we have worked together and have had many successes together.”
Understanding the challenges that come with working in the film industry, Shamoun shared advice for current TFT students wanting to follow in her footsteps. She said teaching oneself the ins and outs of the business is essential when starting out, as is scouting and scoring mentors and practicing grounding self-care rituals. She said she reflects on her school experience fondly, which later came to serve her.
[Related: Q&A: Inside alumnus Terry Hu’s journey from STEM to Hollywood as a queer Asian American]
Looking toward the future, Shamoun said she envisions herself playing diverse characters and hopefully working alongside creative directors such as Ari Aster and Yorgos Lanthimos. She added that she is excited to explore her role in “The Z-Suite” and gauge audience reactions upon its release. Fulfilled with her present work, Shamoun said she is eagerly awaiting an extensive career in the entertainment industry.
“I only ever wanted to be a working actor my whole life, … and then you become a working actor, and you’re like, ‘Oh, OK, the ceiling of ambition just keeps raising,'” Shamoun said. “I’m at this stage in my life now where I just want to collaborate with creative people who love this craft and get to do a diversity of projects. I want to do Pixar animation, and I would love to do A24, and then I would love to try a rom-com. I just want to do it all.”
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