Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 3/16/2008

Question
Greetings Taylor!  I am an African-American male over 40 who was bitten by
the acting bug as a teen. I graduated college with an BFA and dreamed of
moving to LA, but got cold feet and spent a couple of decades in television,
highlighted by a 10 year stint in sports reporting and anchoring.  I am no
longer on the air, but still working in tv.  I recently got an interest in acting
again, due to involving myself in a local improv company and taking some
private voice lessons in florida.  I live near the theme parks in the orlando
area, so I've just started looking into that as well.
    What are my chances of making a second career out of acting in LA
eventually, and what is my first step?  Thank you in advance for your advice!

Answer
Hi Eric,

Not to be philosophical, but I will be because it's late Sunday night and I feel it. That's kind of the point, isn't it? What do you feel like doing? It sounds like you have had success in your career, so this is yet another chapter to write.

One of the things I have learned is not to look at acting as what I will get, but the enjoyment of doing it. I have tried to tell the kids that have written me here about that. I'm sure that they let it go right out the other ear! A casting director recently advised our agent that: "It would be really nice for the talent to be smiling when they come in" (to see her.) Everyone was sooooo serious and grim faced, and she really wanted everyone to lighten up! It's easy to think about the rent or the car repair bill or what it could mean if you do well. Truth is, that removes your focus and ability to improvise and be good. I have watched movies (I'm sure you have too) and you could tell the actors were overwrought in their performance because they were thinking of Oscar. Also, seeing the crew and directors and producers being serious can send the cues that this is SERIOUS stuff, just block it out: that's social cues you should ignore.

I have been on happy sets and unhappy sets and maybe there is more to it, and I am simplifying it, but the happy set movies did well, the unhappy, not so well. Maybe the budget dictated the tone...don't know.
I'm just saying, don't worry about your chances, if your having fun and it is meant to be, it will come to you. Worst case, you had fun and have stories. But I will bet you will do pretty well if you love it.
I don't think you will have an overly hard time getting an agent in LA with your resume, but be prepared to give it some effort anyway.
In LA, it usually takes a couple of years to get known to casting people, so don't stick it out for 3 months and give up. That's what the losers do who run home at the end of the summer, tail between their legs.

Make sure you have your resume polished up and good to go. Also make sure you spend the money for good headshots and copies before you start. Two year old shots don't cut it. Also, make sure you and the photog knows what the current standard is for the photos. It can change. from there, just start mailing your submission letter and headshots and be tenacious!

Break a leg!

Taylor

That should get you on your way.