Sometimes, a fresh face on screen carries with it the presence of a seasoned soul. On today’s episode, we welcome Shae Smolik, a young actress whose journey from Iowa’s quiet plains to the charged energy of a Los Angeles soundstage is not just a tale of ambition—it’s a study in raw talent meeting unwavering intention.
Shae Smolik, a ten-year-old performer with a natural grasp of storytelling through character, began her acting path with local modeling gigs in Iowa, gradually stepping into commercial work, then television, and ultimately landing the lead in a feature-length horror film. Her ascent wasn’t mapped out by Hollywood handlers but by an innate pull toward performance and a supportive network that recognized her gift. “I just come up with something right on the spot,” she said, explaining her approach to auditions. In an industry often bloated with over-rehearsed reads, her spontaneity feels like a directorial dream.
For filmmakers, Shae’s trajectory offers something valuable: a reminder that casting is not just about experience—it’s about presence. When she walked into the audition for The Hatred, she didn’t bring years of résumé padding; she brought soul. Reading the script, she said, “I need to book this… it’s just awesome. I’m the lead role.” That kind of conviction, when paired with emotional flexibility, is what elevates a performance beyond the page. And that’s exactly what she delivered on set.
In discussing the production of The Hatred, Shae recalled how overwhelming it was to see the rig—big cameras, lights, and a bustling crew—all for the first time. But that awe quickly turned into fuel. Her performance in the now-viral trailer (which clocked over 15 million views) is a masterclass in micro-expressions and atmospheric tension. “I was actually kind of scared,” she admitted about filming a pivotal bed scene. “But then you remember, the scary monster is your friend. He’s talking about his kids off-camera.”
That line, while endearing, is also a potent reminder of the strange alchemy we engage in as filmmakers. We invite children to confront shadows under stage lights, to summon emotion on cue, to find play in peril. And Shae Smolik does it with grace. She doesn’t treat set life as a mechanical job but as an immersive playground: “It’s not just being on set. It’s having fun.” The best directors know—that joy is often the most honest performance note.
Emotionally, she’s ahead of her years. “Getting emotional is something I’m really good at,” she shared, referring to the tear-stained moments she’s learned to summon with ease. Her coaches in L.A. helped hone this ability, but what can’t be taught is her refusal to fear mistakes. “If I mess up, it’s not the end of the world… there’s always another audition.” For creatives, that’s a mantra worth adopting in every failed take, scrapped scene, or hard note in post.
In one particularly haunting moment from The Hatred, Shae yells “No!” as her character watches a caretaker get dragged away. “It’s really emotional because she probably isn’t going to make it out alive,” she reflected. Whether you’re directing, scoring, or cutting that scene, you know it only lands if the performance does. And Shae lands it.
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Alex Ferrari 1:49
Enjoy today's episode with guest host Dave Bullis.
Dave Bullis 1:53
Hey, Shae, thank you so much for coming on the show.
Shae Smolik 1:55
Thank you for having me.
Dave Bullis 1:57
You know, Shae, I usually ask everybody if they've ever went to film school, but you're, you're 10 years old, and you're not at that college level yet. So I want to not yet. So I'm going to change the question just a little bit and ask, you know what, what got you into the film industry? Have you always had a love for acting? You know, as you were growing up.
Shae Smolik 2:20
Well, actually, I am from Iowa, and I started this here in Iowa, called the peak agency, and with them. And then you said, I think he'd be few commercial. I got a few commercials.
Dave Bullis 2:34
Hey Shae. I'm sorry. I think the call just dropped a little bit.
Shae Smolik 2:37
We said, go to LA, so now we're going back and forth from LA, and that's how I got started.
Dave Bullis 2:42
Hey, Shae. I'm sorry. I think the call just dropped there for a second. It just, it seems, can you hear me okay?
Shae Smolik 2:49
Yes,
Dave Bullis 2:50
Okay, excellent. I'm sorry for it seemed to be it just dipped there for a second. I'm very sorry. Would you mind just answering that question again? I apologize.
Shae Smolik 3:00
Yeah, of course. So I here in Iowa called the peak dating scene, and I and then he said you should get in started with a few so you should go to a market. So then he said you should go to Chicago, a couple commercials and a couple of little we go back and he says you should go to a much lesser market. So then he says you need to go to LA if you want to run. So now we're in LA, going back and forth where
Dave Bullis 3:37
Shae, I'm sorry to interrupt. I think the call just cut out again. I'm very sorry. If you could hear me, I'm gonna go do one quick thing, and I'm gonna try to establish a better connection. I'm not sure if it's just maybe the call reception, but I will be right back. Okay. Hey, Shae back. Sorry about that. I actually just changed a setting really quickly, and I also connected to my router directly. So hopefully that'll, that'll be a little bit better.
Shae Smolik 4:05
Okay,
Dave Bullis 4:05
Okay, cool. So I'm sorry, can we try that one more time? I'm just, I'll feed you the same it's like being on a film set, right? I'm doing multiple takes. So, so Shay, you know, you know, obviously I always ask everyone how they got started, and since you're not old enough, not old enough to be in college yet, you know, could, could I? Could I So, so were you always interested in acting, even from an early age?
Shae Smolik 4:29
I was. So I started here in Iowa, because that's, this is where I was born and from. And I started with a little agency here in Iowa. I started modeling with them, and then I started to get more into acting. I did a couple commercials here. And then he says, If you want to go to a bigger market, you can go to Chicago. So now that's like a five hour away trip from Iowa. So then sometimes we drive out there to do some commercial auditions and TV auditions. And then he said, If you want to really pursue your dream. Team, you need to go to a much bigger market. So then we went out to LA, and I got a couple commercials, and then some TV shows, and then online things. And then he says, yeah, now we go back and forth from LA to Iowa nine months out of the year we're in LA.
Dave Bullis 5:17
So what was it like when your first time going out to LA at such like a young age, you know, what were your impressions of the whole city?
Shae Smolik 5:25
My impressions were, you know, it's such a big city that it's so busy and there's a lot of trash there, and it's not like Iowa at all, not one single bit. So I was really, I was kind of nervous, because I had never been to that big of a state before. And, yeah, so he so I was very nervous, and but then I got into it more, and now I like it there.
Dave Bullis 5:52
So when you go around, yeah, I mean, because it is, I mean, you know, I, you know, LA is, you know, I had a friend who went out there one time, and she actually went out there for business, and she said David was so smoggy out there.
Shae Smolik 6:09
Yes, it gets very smoggy out there.
Dave Bullis 6:12
So as you're going to all these auditions, Shae, you know, what are some of the things that you're noticing? Like, do you do, sort of, like, have a game plan, like I've, for instance, you mentioned these commercials. You know, do you sort of know exactly, you know what you want to do before you get in there? Or do you spontaneously, you just want to come, come up with something right on the spot.
Shae Smolik 6:34
I just come up with something right on the spot. So if I'm thinking of an emotion in my head, that's what I would do in your audition.
Dave Bullis 6:41
Oh, so, you know that that's actually pretty cool. I it's interesting to hear that, because, you know, I sometimes hear actors, they have, they think about all this stuff so much, and then they sort of overthink this, if you know what I mean, and then they get into the audition and they're and they're nervous and they, you know what I mean. So it's always good, you know, being able to come off the cuff like that. It's just, you know, it's a great skill to have.
Shae Smolik 7:02
Yes. So yes, thank you.
Dave Bullis 7:06
Oh, my pleasure, Shay. So when you're going the length of these auditions and stuff like that, do you do you ever get nervous at all, Shay? Because honestly, be talking to you. I don't think you do, but I'm just going to ask anyway.
Shae Smolik 7:19
I don't, because I know if I mess up, I can always go back line, and it's not the end of the world. If I mess up or anything, it's just I won't book that. And if I mess up, that's okay. There's always another audition that I can do. And yeah, so I never, ever get nervous.
Dave Bullis 7:37
So Shae you study with some acting coaches out in LA and, you know, what were some of the things that you've worked on with them? Like, what were some of the things that that really, you know, when you're going through all these, you know, different, you know, sort of courses or workshops or classes, you know, what are some of the things that stand out, that you've taken away, that you've really added to your acting career?
Shae Smolik 8:01
Getting emotional is something that I'm really good at. So crying on set and really getting into that emotional state is what I'm pretty good at it, and that's what my coaches helped me with.
Dave Bullis 8:16
So and honestly, it's good, you know, having these coaches in your life, you know, you see the importance of having the people who've actually done it and coming out and and sort of, you know, guiding you through this. So, Shay, as you started to get these commercials and different parts, were you ever when you got on set? Were you maybe even the first time? Were you ever just a little bit nervous or maybe just even a little bit taken aback by just maybe the scale of some of these productions.
Shae Smolik 8:43
Yeah, just seeing all those big cameras, I was nervous for the first ever time I did Bucha commercial. Just seeing all the people around and seeing all the big lights and the cameras and the whole set was very nerve wracking for me because, you know, with my first ever time seeing those things
Dave Bullis 9:01
So on your IMDB, you know, one of the first things that you have is Flow and Evelyn, which is a web series. So, you know, just, just doing a web series like that, you know, what were some of the memories that you took away, you know, being that, I guess it was your first web series at the time.
Shae Smolik 9:16
Yeah, I really it's just meeting new friends and doing what you love is just taken away by the memories. Because it's amazing to meet new friends, to be on set with everyone, and it's awesome.
Dave Bullis 9:31
So when you're on set, Shae, did you I mean, because I don't know if there maybe is a lot of other, you know, people like, you know, kids your age, so maybe there's just a lot of different, maybe adults or something like that. So when you're on set, and I'm asking this question because of a lot of you know, maybe parents who want to get their kids into acting, or maybe even, you know, kids your age who are going to listen to this episode, you know, what is it like on set? You know, maybe if there isn't someone your age on set with you.
Shae Smolik 10:10
Well, you just kind of act like the other person is a kid. It's not that big of a deal, even though you have a set teacher there, and she is kind of like the kid to you. She plays games with you. She teaches you school. So our set teacher is kind of like a kid to us, but all of the other actors who just kind of roll with it, and you don't really get fazed by it, because, you know, it may not be a kid, but it's still a teenager or grown up, and you still talk to them and act with them, so you still have to get in the character with them.
Dave Bullis 10:43
That is an excellent answer, by the way. Shae never thought of it like that. So Shae, as we, as we go along with your, with your acting career, you know, you said you spent, you were going back and forth between Iowa and LA, you know, was there ever a point where you started to maybe even say to yourself, like, Wow, all I'm doing is, you know, spending so much time in LA because you you've had a lot of roles over the past couple of years. So was ever, was there ever a time where you're like, you know, maybe, you know, saying, Wow, I'm spending so much time out here in LA, it's like time just flying by.
Shae Smolik 11:17
Yes, my past, like two years have flown by so fast because I've been filming, and it's just so amazing that time can fly that fast when you're having fun,
Dave Bullis 11:31
Yeah, and that's good. You're having fun. You know that that's that's one of the things, right? You know, filmmaking and acting and doing all this wonderful creative stuff, it's supposed to be fun. At the end of the day,
Shae Smolik 11:41
It is, and you have to think of that at as it as not just being on set, it's having fun. And not just being on set, you aren't just filming. You're having fun.
Dave Bullis 11:53
So when you finally got the audition for for the hatred, I mean, and again, I want to talk about the movie, the hatred, obviously, because we're, you know, this whole, this movie is coming out September the 12th, yeah, and I don't know, by the way, shape, before I ask you this question, I want to ask you another question. Do you know that the trailer is over like, 12 million views, or something like, something ridiculous, have you,
Shae Smolik 12:15
My gosh, it's like, awesome. It's like, gone viral. So cool.
Dave Bullis 12:22
Million views. It's unbelievable. I and, I mean, because you're in the trailer front and center, and I was like, I was showing people the trailer, and I'm like, my gosh, these guys have gotten, you know, 15 million views already.
Shae Smolik 12:37
I know it's so awesome.
Dave Bullis 12:40
Yeah, it's, it's unbelievable. And I'm so, so happy for you guys, and I'm so happy for everyone on production. And I wanted to ask about, you know, the hatred and and so when you're auditioning for something like that, it's, it's, it's obviously a horror movie. Was there ever any maybe, you know, maybe you had second thoughts or anything about auditioning because, I mean, it's, it is a horror movie, and maybe it would just be, you know, a little, I mean, I don't it's a little bit different than maybe they need to do commercials and web series. So did you just want to try something different? Or were you, were you just basically thinking to yourself, maybe I should just go for this because it's different, is what I'm trying to say.
Shae Smolik 13:20
I was just thinking, I need to go for this one. I know it's going to be a good one, and I know that this will be the big so I need this lead role.
Dave Bullis 13:31
So when you had the audition for The Hatred, you know, again, you know, you, as you just told me, you come up with things on the spot, but what was your audition like, you know, for the hatred in in front of the casting director and in front of Mike.
Shae Smolik 13:46
Oh, well, first I read the script, and I was like, wow, the script awesome. I need to book this. It's just awesome. I'm the lead role. So I went in and I met Michael, and I was like, Whoa, if he's a director, he is so nice. He's like, the nicest person in the world. Then I did it, and then he's like, Hey, we could go out to lunch. It was so fun. He's such a nice guy. And I loved it. It was a great audition.
Dave Bullis 14:11
And I'm glad you had a blast, because, yeah, Mike is a really, really cool guy, really cool guy, because he and I met with Malik. Oh, cool. You met Malik too. That's awesome.
Shae Smolik 14:22
I did.
Dave Bullis 14:24
So because I'm actually gonna have Mike has already been on the show before, and I'm gonna have Malik on soon enough, I'm I, I'm interviewing pretty much everybody from the hatred. So if you name something, yeah, so I'm gonna put this all together in separate interview. You're gonna love it when it's done, it's going to be this really, really cool insight into a into a movie about from beginning to end. So I wanted to ask to Shay, how did you hear about the audition for The Hatred?
Shae Smolik 14:52
Well, my mom called me and said, Hey, Shae, you have an audition for a horror film. And this is when I was just my day. Visitor at the time because my mom was working, and she goes, Shae, you have a audition for a horror film. And I'm like, I've never been on a horror film before, and it was my first ever feature film. So I was really excited. I went into the audition very happy and energetic, and then I got into that character, and then I heard I got a call back. I was I was like, Oh my gosh, maybe this is my big film. And then I got pinned for it, which means it's between me and probably two or three other girls. And then they called me, and they said, You booked it. And me and my mom were like, yay. We were just so excited.
Dave Bullis 15:44
So, I mean, and you obviously, you know, you got the part, and you know you're front and center in the trailer. So I wanted to ask you when you're actually on set the first day and you're filming. And again, this is a horror movie, and this is a really, really interesting, really cool horror movie. You know, was there ever a time where, where you were on set and you were like, wow, this is, this is getting, like, you know, pretty intense,
Shae Smolik 16:09
Yeah, when, um, we were filming that scene where I was on top of the bed, and yet, you look under there and it was stormy outside, and then you look up and there's the monster. I was actually kind of scared to that, because it's like, that person's gonna get me, but decide that I was not scared, because your friends, that the people who are on set, your friends with the scary monster, they're talking about their kids, you know, they're just a normal person, and yet they are very creepy.
Dave Bullis 16:42
Yeah. Well, it is good that they did talk to you too, and, you know, they got to know you So, but, but, yeah, I mean, because I saw that and that that was, but that was the part of the trailer that I see a lot of people talking about, too, was, was that one that that scene where, you know, they show you on top of the bed, and then you're the parent goes, and they look under the bed, and then there's you, and you say, well, that's not me. And they look up and and the other you on top of the bed is now a monster, yeah. I mean, I that is, I've noticed that too, with the number of some of the comments like, oh my gosh, you know, look at that. It's so cool. And so with you being, you know, front and center in the trailer. Have you been getting noticed? Because, I mean, we just mentioned the trailer going viral, like 15 million views. So are people noticing? You know, Shay, like, Are you walking down the street? And people were like, Hey, isn't that, that little girl from the from The Hatred?
Shae Smolik 17:34
They don't really say anything. They just kind of look at me, like, like, stunned. And I'm like, Hi. And, yeah, people have been noticing me a lot more.
Dave Bullis 17:44
It's one of those things they probably know where you're from. Like, is that, that girl from The Hatred? I think it's that girl turns into a monster. Yeah. So, so Shae, when you were filming the hatred, I want to ask you know, what were one of your favorite moments from from filming The Hatred,
Shae Smolik 18:03
Hmm, filming it. Well, I like the bed scene where I'm on top of the bed, and then, or the hide and seek scene where the monster is like behind me, yet I don't know it. And then I turn around, and then I kind of see her with my sad eye. But that was pretty cool.
Dave Bullis 18:22
So, so have you gotten a chance yet? Shay, have you seen a final cut of the film yet?
Shae Smolik 18:28
I have at the premiere, and this movie is very scary. I was like closing my eyes halfway through the film. Yet I was in it. So, yeah, it was very scary.
Dave Bullis 18:44
Yeah, you took the words right out of my mouth. That's exactly what I was going to say. I was like, You're, you're in the film, and, and you're, you're, you're feeling the same as the audience, which is so key, you know, you're, you're feeling that experience that the audience is going to feel. And you know, and you know. So, you know, I wanted to ask Touche, as we talk about the hatred, you know, what are some of the things that you hope people take away from it, whether in terms of, you know, something that you've done in there, like you're acting, or maybe even something with the movie? Is there anything that you hope that audiences walk away from the film with?
Shae Smolik 19:14
Yes, I hope they walk away with the doggie door scene where I screen, no. And I feel like that was a really heart part of the movie, because, you know, I'm my best friend, not my best friend, but you know, she's becoming my best friend, my babysitter, the person who is taking care of me now is getting drug away by the scary person, and which is like horrifying, because you know that she probably isn't going to make it out alive. Luckily, she did, but ice cream, no, and that is a really emotional part of the movie, so I hope they take that away with them.
Dave Bullis 19:53
So so Shae and that, and that's going to be awesome. I can't wait to actually check out this movie, by the way. And I wanted to, you know, also ask as a follow up to that, you know, we've talked a lot about, you know, you acting and moving from Iowa to LA. So wanted to ask touche is, what advice would you have for, you know, maybe a child actor, maybe your age, or maybe even a little older. What would you ask, or, I'm sorry, what would you tell them if they were to ask you? You know, do you have any advice for child actors that just want to that want to get started?
Shae Smolik 20:32
I would say, be yourself. Don't go into the audition being someone else that you aren't. Be yourself. Be your fun self. Don't be someone else. Just be yourself.
Dave Bullis 20:46
And you know that that is awesome advice, Shea. And like you said before, how you were, you know, just, just calling the audition and and you can do it right then and there. And it's true, though, you have to have that good personality. You have to, you know, have the ability to do the character and like, like you said, too, Shay, you had a good piece of advice. You know, there's always another audition, right? If you do, if you do happen to mess up, there's always another audition, right?
Shae Smolik 21:10
Yes, there's always another audition out there for you. It's not the end of the world. If you mess up on one line, you just start back at the beginning of the line and just go on with it and act like he never messed up. And if you do mess up, there's always another audition.
Dave Bullis 21:27
So, so Shae, when the when the hatred comes out into on September the 12th, you know, how are you going to celebrate? Are you going to watch the movie on Blu ray? Are you going to call your friends over and have them watch it with you, or something like that?
Shae Smolik 21:39
We're probably gonna have a little viewing party.
Dave Bullis 21:39
That's awesome. I'm probably gonna have a viewing party to at my house. I'm in here. I'm in here in Philadelphia, by the way. So, yeah, so Philadelphia, it's, it's a, I mean, do you have a perception of Philadelphia? Shea, so, because sometimes I sometimes people find out I'm from Philly, and they start asking me questions, like, did you guys really do this or that? You know, it's just, you know the city, you know how sports teams are, and you know all that, all that stuff, but, but just to get back to acting, I just want to ask Jay, you know, in closing, is there anything that we didn't get it to discuss, or anything that you wanted to discuss, or even just to say, just to sort of put a period at the end this whole conversation.
Shae Smolik 22:28
No, not much, not, not anything
Speaker 1 22:32
Cool, you know, Shae, it's been an absolute pleasure talking with you. And I just want to ask, I have one final question, and that is, where can people find you out on social media?
Shae Smolik 22:47
At Shae Smolik on musically, and Instagram,
Dave Bullis 22:58
And I will link to all of that everyone in the show notes at davebullis.com Twitter, it's at dave_bullis, Shae, I want to say thank you so much. You. You.
Shae Smolik 22:59
Thank you for having me.
Dave Bullis 23:00
Oh, my pleasure. Shea, you know I am just, just, you know, you, you, you're such a great interview, by the way. I just want to mention that, thank you. My pleasure so much. Oh, my pleasure. Shae have a great night. And again, I want to be talking to you soon, because you're going to see me tagging your your social media all over the place, on so stuff, so, so when I'm promoting the hatred and stuff like this. So so we'll be talking again on social media.
Shae Smolik 23:24
Alrighty, perfect. Thank you have for having me, and have a great day.
Dave Bullis 23:27
Thank you so much you do the same.
Shae Smolik 23:30
Bye!
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