Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 2/18/2008

Question
Hi,
My name is Amanda. I'm fifteen years old. I have really been into acting since I was little and going on stage for the first time. I've been in a couple Drama classes and a choir class, at school. I've also been in school and church plays and a couple at our local theatre house. I've been trying to join in any type of acting workshop, just to put something on my resume, but they've all told me that I need to be 18. I would really like to get in to Films. Acting is my life, my passion, but it seems that since I am novice in experience that it's harder to get into auditions or getting an agent. I am also financially strained at the moment, and don't have a lot of spare cash to put towards my dream. I know that if you have the will, then a way will be found. I was wondering if you could give me some pointers and tips in order to succeed and become the best actress I can be.
thank you so much.
Amanda :]

Answer
Hi Amanda,

Sorry for the wait!

I am puzzled that an acting school would say that they wouldn't take someone under 18. ??? Anyway, there are other schools and teachers, just look a little harder. Try google and the yellow pages.

I will repeat this old saw that hits the nail on the head:

A man rushes up to a famous violinist outside Carnegie Hall after a brilliant performance. He gushes for a few moments about the musician's skill. The master listens to the man quietly. Finally the man says: "I'd give my life to play like you!" The Violinist replies:
"I did."

You need to eat, breathe and drink acting. This goes for whatever your passion is. If you don't fully commit to your craft, you will never be what you want. Same for a character: if you can't get over your embarrassment and inhibitions to play a certain character, you might as well put the poor thing out of it's misery! It is flopping around, half-formed, trying to exist! Pity this creature, because no one else will! The audience will want to kill it, because it is mal-functioning, unbelievable and pathetic! Tell yourself that you don't care how you look and just embrace the character, and the audience will feel for it and want it to win over it's adversities!

It's like crying on camera...don't you dare screw your face up and try to squeeze out tears! PEOPLE TRY NOT TO CRY IN REAL LIFE! What makes the scene is the character trying bravely and desperately to control her emotions and finally.....breaking down. The audience will love you for that! Drunk is another one! Never play "drunk" drunk people try to make themselves appear sober by over pronouncing their words, trying to straighten up their posture, and trying to sound...not drunk! Especially if dealing with certain types, like cops!

What has all this got to do with your question? STUDY STUDY STUDY!
Watch people while you wait for the bus or are cooling your heals at the mall. You can seldom be bored or waste time if you focus on watching how people "be". There are books to read on acting, films to watch on acting, watching movies to try to figure out what the actor did that made them stand out in a scene, but watching people is the cheapest, beneficial, and most entertaining thing you can do.

My acting teacher in college made us leave class, go sit on something and watch someone, then 20 minutes later return to class and give a "performance" of the person we picked to study. It was a great assignment! We learned that people tend to lead with some part of their body, be it their nose, chin, whole head, belly, breasts/chest, or even their crotch in rare cases!
An old rancher would be likely to have the belly. An overly egotistical or inwardly insecure girl might stick out her boobs to attract attention, MAYBE because she feels that her personality won't do the trick, or that she "needs" men to do things for her because she isn't capable to do them on her own. There are many possible "right" answers, but it all depends on the other cues that are mixed with it, plus dialog, that make up the characters being!

I really liked that you said there's will, there's a way....that will serve you best of everything!

Best,

Taylor