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Question
How was it making the production "teeth"? Did you enjoy it? Many of my friends have been talking about it, and how strange the story is behind the movie, what do you think about it?
Hi Brittany,
Making "Teeth" was a great experience. Mitchell Lichtenstein, our director, is the best kind: an actor's director. He has been an actor, so he was sensitive to the needs of the actors. Some directors who aren't kind of expect us to sit up and bark spontaneously like a trained seal. Sometimes it takes a moment or two to get "there" to be where you should be emotionally in a scene. Mitchell was the writer as well, so there was a clear vision from start to finish of what the film was. I have listened to many people talk about the film (not knowing I was in it) and some of them totally missed that we were making light of so many subjects. I think some of them might have been angry if they realized what was going on. During the shoot, there was at least one confrontation in a neighborhood where filming was going on, because (as usual) someone ignorant of the facts, had heard we were filming an "adult" movie (a porno) and was going to put a stop to it! (he showed Mitchell he had a gun). The local TV news teaser line was "Is The Texas Film Commission Helping Film Crews Make Adult MOVIES?" Much ado about nothing...
Unfortunately, there was a setup for a sequel in the script, but it was dropped. Originally, at the end, Dawn was going to be seen as a museum guide in early stages of pregnancy, and we would have seen an X-Ray view into her womb of a female fetus with...TEETH...in the same place as mommy. I had heard talk of a sequel, but I don't think it will happen. Right now Mitchell and Ms. Pierpoline (the producer) are beginning production on a different feature. I had fun...
Thanks for asking...!
Taylor
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Answers by Expert:
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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