Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 5/23/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
  I was just wondering if my experience was enough to act in one movie, not necessarily a big role. I was in the school news show for two years. The first year I was in fourth grade and I was a camera person, then in fifth grade I was the current news person. The current news person told what was currently going on at the school. The current news was the second biggest part of the show. Also in elementary my friend and I were the MC's for the school talent show in 5th grade(that was loads of fun, we came up with our own scripts). In 2nd-4th grade I played the piano for the talent show.I was in the school chorus for 4th and 5th grade. We had 2 big shows each year for the parents, two shows each year for the students, we went to retiremant homes, and in fifth grade we went to Universal Studios and performed there. In fifth grade I was the back up speaker for the opening part.
   Since I was about 8 years old my siblings, my cousins, and I have made up plays and performed them in front of our uncles, aunts, parents, grandparents, and friends. But about two years ago instead of doing plays we would film them and make them into movies (my sister wants to be a movie director so she films, edits and directs the movies). So far we have made alot of movies I have been in all except one.
    So I have sort of had experince in front of cameras and people befor. So based on what I told you there do you think I have what it takes to be in a movie? I am in 7th grade now, just so you know.
         Ashlyn  


ANSWER: Hi Ashlyn,

From what you have said, you have a good bit of experience with the camera, which is going to be great when you start acting classes to add the education you need to get where you want to go. Even though you have those credits, I promise you that there is much more to learn, and going to acting lessons will only make your chances better for doing professional films which are another level than working with your sister.

You have a great start. Please invest in yourself by getting a good teacher. You will have a good chance that way of getting to the movies!

Best, Taylor

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your advice. So you are saying that I need to take acting classes first, right?

Answer
Hi Ashlyn,

Yes, should take classes! Specifically, acting for the camera. Other classes are important as well, but acting for the camera professionally takes knowing how to deal with the camera and at the same time, ignore it!

There are times you will be told that they are doing an "ECU" with you. That means the camera is going to just be focused on your face ONLY. (Extreme Close Up). You may be told they will be doing a "Two Shot" (two actors isolated from the background) Or a "Medium Shot" -that's where you are being shot from the waist up. Why is that a big deal? Because in a "Full Shot" your whole body is being seen. You can move around a lot physically. In a "Medium Shot" you have to restrict your movements a bit, because you may start to move too much and go off camera. If you are doing a "Close Up" or an ECU, if you move much at all, you WILL find yourself moving off screen. You have to find as an actor a way to move enough in the Full Shot to not be a statue, but not too much so that when they cut to your face, it doesn't look weird between what the audience saw when you were full body verses when they're right in your face!

You will also learn the terms used on the set for stuff. Like when they say "This one will be "M.O.S." -and why it's M.O.S. instead of W.O.S.
(M.O.S. is "without sound" -a famous German-born director started that one. He would say: "Dis one vill be Mitt out zound" and it stuck!

You will learn how to block your movements and how to hit your mark when you "Go back to one". You'll learn how to "cheat" to the camera so your performance can be seen better.

All these and more are there for you and will impress the people who will make or break your career. If you learn to be a professional and what that is, and why you know how to be a pro, you will set yourself up to have the best chances.

Being a pro means you show up early to auditions, you are on time. You don't show up without knowing your lines and role, you behave as an adult at all times...you show up even if you are a little sick or hurt your leg or...whatever. You need to know the showbiz saying: "The show MUST go on". That means that no matter what, you perform. That's unless you are told not to.

Other acting classes will teach you more important things, but just get started and try hard!

Best,

Taylor