Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/What are the chances...

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Expert: - 10/8/2008


Question
Hi Taylor I was wondering what are the chances of being on Disney Channel if you don't live in LA?

Answer
Hi Alexandra,

To be honest...slim to none.

UNLESS...your father is an airline pilot or airline company worker with free flight vouchers AND you have an agent who can tell you when the auditions are taking place. (which would be hard, unless they contacted Disney, because Disney isn't likely to put out "breakdowns" to agencies outside the area because of travel time...often, they want to see talent again within a day's notice).AND you have a parent who doesn't have to work to drive the rented car around L.A. from the airport to your hotel and auditions. If you were to get hired, you would need to have a place to stay for a month or more to film the shows as well, which might be covered by the production company or not. Often, productions only hire locally based actors so they do not have to pay any "per diem" which is meals, lodging, etc.

As you can see, there's a lot to think about.

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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