Reed Shannon Talks Starring in the San Francisco Crime Drama 'Splash City' - Interview

Reed Shannon opens up about stepping into Juju, embracing San Francisco’s underground culture and mastering the city’s distinct voice in Lionsgate’s 'Splash City.'

Reed Shannon is an emerging actor in film, television and animation known for grounded performances and a distinct onscreen presence. His work includes the Primetime Emmy Award winning Netflix series “Arcane” as well as Amazon’s “The Wilds,” introducing him to audiences worldwide and establishing him as a versatile performer with a strong instinct for character driven storytelling.

In “Splash City,” now available from Lionsgate, Reed stars as Julian “Juju” Johnson, a young man navigating the unforgiving streets of San Francisco while struggling to find his own identity. The film follows Juju and his brother Elijah “Slim” Johnson (Zach Sowers), two siblings raised by a single mother in a low income neighborhood who take very different paths in their pursuit of a better life.

While Slim sees basketball as an opportunity to uplift his family and community, Juju searches for recognition and independence on the streets. He becomes immersed in bipping, the Bay Area’s fast paced smash and grab culture, where quick money and instant validation come with serious consequences.

In our interview, Reed discusses what drew him to Juju and the experience of taking on a character shaped by anger, ambition and the need to be seen. He also shares what he learned about San Francisco’s underground culture and what he enjoyed about immersing himself in the city while preparing for the role.

Reed also addresses one of the film’s most distinctive details, the San Francisco accent. He reveals who he believes learned to capture it better, himself or North Philadelphia native Francisco Garcia, who plays TJ Atoms, and discusses the effort that went into making their performances feel authentic to the Bay Area.

The conversation offers insight into Reed’s approach to Juju, “Splash City,” love letter to San Francisco’s subculture and the experience of stepping into a story centered on brotherhood, survival, identity and the choices that shape a person’s future.

“Splash City,” now available from Lionsgate.