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Question
I'm currently 17 years old and have had many people tell me I should act and it is something I'm extreamly intrested in, and i would like to know just how to go about starting out.
Thank you much,
Cameron.
Hi Cameron,
I reccommend starting out with a good beginning acting course to get your feet wet. That way you can an idea what acting is like and decide whether it is for you. There is a lot to be learned to get to be a professional, although it looks easy and natural on camera, acting really is deceiving. It can be really hard to do the simplest thing: just "being". The first inclination an actor has starting out is to try to be something special and interesting and letting go and just speaking and acting as you would just doesn't seem "right". I don't know if it is the insecurity or fear that strangely drives people to try acting that causes this, but it's real...and really hard to understand. If you take a little kid, they have an ability we lose as we get older to immerse themselves in the moment and not be distracted and just live in the fantasy world playing. Granted, you have to train to get used to the camera so that you simultaneously know where it is and work with it, yet ignore it. It becomes second nature after a lot of practice. One day you're trying to avoid looking at it, yet feeling yourself drawn to looking toward the camera, then suddenly, one day you step up to your first position, hear "action" and you just go about your business, not even aware of the crew, the equipment or anything! You just do it!
But that is after the classes...so start on square one and get going, soon you will not be a beginner and will have a lot behind you, but you gotta start the process.
Best, 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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