Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/moving to new york

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Expert: - 1/14/2008


Question
We're moving to New York in Feb.1 .My daughter has been picked up by an agency (not signed).Is this usually how they start you before signing you? She met them at an expo event in Dallas TX.They told to come up for 3 months and then and try it first .She will be doing commercial print work (age 12)and TV comercials.What should we expect for the first few weeks.Hope lots of auditions!Have not spoke to the NY agent her mother agent is handling it all.Think this is the right move for her.She is very pretty girl. At expo she had 23 call backs.

Answer
Hi Andy,

Sorry for the delay, I have been going 5 directions here with movie auditions, spring commercials and my *sigh* day job!

I am wondering what expo you refer to in Dallas. I wasn't aware of that. It is possible that an agency in New York would want to give her a go before signing her. I am not as savvy to New York dealings as LA. Thing is, most agency contracts have a mutual clause for canceling the contract within 30 days in writing. Also, they could just starve out a talent to get them to leave if they wanted. Just not send out their headshots. Hmmm. No money was handed over, was it? No agent "charges" for representation...not a legit one. Their are groups like John Robert Powers that do that, then they set up a contrived "job" to fulfill their promise and that's it. Hope this isn't the case.

Just make sure she is chaperoned well with a smart adult and have a lawyer look over any contracts before signing...but you already know that, so, good luck to her!

Best,

Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Taylor Sheppard

Expertise

I can answer questions: on starting a career in acting, mistakes in acting, etiquette when dealing with industry contacts, finer points on how to act, and things to avoid in the field.

Experience

I have been a professional actor 21 years, with appearances in TV, Film and commercials. I have made good decisions and potentially damaging mistakes. I believe anyone who has a dream deserves to explore it, and I take their aspirations seriously. That being said, I do not pull punches. I try to be tactful, but I will not lie to someone, honesty is more effective. My last film role was in "Teeth" which was picked for Sundance in January 2007. It was sold to Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. for somewhere over 2.5 million. The role was "Mr. Griffith", a sex-ed teacher.

Organizations
Ciao Agency-Austin/Georgetown, Texas. (Formerly known as Donna Adams Agency. Matthew McConaughey was a good friend and fellow member. I also have belonged to agencies in three other Texas cities, but they have since closed.) TXMPA -Texas Motion Picture Alliance. Various other internet networking web rings as well as Actors Access. I was instrumental in advising actress Krista Allen on getting her career in acting started in Austin,Texas (we worked at the same Health Club in the early '90's).

Publications
Previously wrote on a now defunct website such as this one. I enjoyed helping new actors.

Education/Credentials
I have acted for 21 years. I studied under James Nelson Harrell as well as other talented actors at Southwest Texas State University. After college, I have taken classes with Julliard graduate Mona Lee, Bill Johnson, Van Brookes, Marco Perella and others in Austin Texas. I am constantly attending classes to maintain my edge and explore new directions. In addition to attending strictly acting classes, I have also taken business workshops with respected casting directors, such as Shari Rhodes ("Jaws","Close Encounters", "Raggedy Man".) Barbara Brinkley, Jo Edna Bolden and Donise Hardy, (Castingworks LA).

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