Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Begining Career in Acting

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Expert: - 12/24/2008


Question
I started out at first taking Career test online and they all seem to say that I would be good at Acting and/or Modeling.
So I told my uncle that I wanted to become an Actor and he agreed to help me but we have NO! Idea how to get started.
What should I do? What Agency should I go with?
How do I get Noticed? But  most of all How do I get Started?

Answer
Hi Jay,

I cannot imagine a test you can take that would tell you whether you WOULD be a good actor, but I imagine it would say your INTEREST would be. (just thought I would address that).

Secondly, acting isn't something you just "sign up for"...classes yes, being an actor, no. Same for an agency. You need to have classes to know how to act to get an agent as well. Not a deal you can just sign up for. If there's an agent that would take you without any training, I'm not sure I'd want that agent. Although acting looks easy on T.V. that is only because the actors have a lot of knowledge to pull it off. Also, there are a lot of scams out there that do "talent searches" and have you pay lots of money to get pictures, etc.
There are no agents that will ask you to pay them before you get a job...be wary.

Get started in acting by finding beginning acting classes and see how you do. If you stink at it, realize you will have to work even harder to make it, or whether it's what you want. I can guarantee that it will be hard, no matter what, otherwise everyone would or could do it!
Even with all advantages, you have to stick to it, no matter what, if you want it.

Once you make it past the beginning part, then there's intermediate classes and advanced...and so on. There are many different classes to take, and related classes about how to audition, how to work with casting directors and how to understand film sets and what goes on to make a show.

Look for classes in your area and go for there.

Good Luck!

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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