AboutTaylor 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).
Question I'm 13 years old and my dream is to be on Disney Channel, too. I've read over what you told Hannah about it, but I don't fully understand. I don't have very much experience with acting besides being in a school play and drama class, but I love it. I read the part about finding an agent and such. After I look into acting classes and get the pictures (what were they again?), I'm going to want to find an agent, right? I live in PA... where can i find a good agent? And how much do you think all of this will cost? Because I want this more than anything and I really need help getting started.
Thanks!
-clarissa
Answer Hi Clarissa,
Loving it is key to succeeding in it. It will carry you through times when you want to give up. There will be many of those times!
When you don't give up on something, you get rewards others miss because they weren't willing to stick with it after the initial excitement fades...
Headshots are photos done to show what you look like on your best day.
They are taken by photographers who know how to do them. Portrait photographers at the mall or old school studios take those stiff, unattractive photos that lack soul. A good headshot photog can talk to you and bring out your personality in the picture. You shouldn't find yourself holding your breath and "freezing" to take the shot.
That's how portraits were done. Always breath when taking pictures!
You want two headshots: one, smiling and happy like a Crest commercial. The other should be a serious shot, where you're eyes are doing the talking....just intense, with energy, not smiling, not looking bitchy like an angry supermodel.
You can look into an agent once you put together a good resume on resume paper. Look on the web for examples. DO NOT put your age, your height, weight, any description. Make them WAIT TO SEE YOU!
DO PUT: your name, your schooling, your plays and your abilities: ie, skating, horseback riding, swimming, dancing, languages, baton, weird tricks you can do, sports, singing -anything! You'd be surprised how a little off-beat talent can catch the eye and win you a part.
I got bumped up from an extra to a featured just because I was wearing a pair of snakeskin cowboy boots and the director was interested in them.
Mail the resume and headshots to agents in the nearest big city (within traveling distance) along with a note saying you are looking for representation and would like to meet to see if it would be mutually agreeable to sign with them. That's it. No stories about how bad you want to be an actor, no desperation, just the facts. Don't forget your phone and address!
Headshots can cost around $300. depending on your local market. Maybe a birthday present? You can say that your parents will get to have pics of you to help them decide to go for it. If that's not an option, babysit, work at a fast food place, whatever it takes to raise the money.
It is standard to get a couple prints, a cd of the shots and the session. Digital has made it all different. I used to have to get film shots done and wait for a contact sheet and then the photographer would hold onto the prints to prevent getting copies made without him! Then I'd have to send them off to get copies made and they were mailed by my agent to the casting directors. Now, they just email them to casting! A lot cheaper! The copies were $150. and that was a lot of money 15 years ago!
Best to you....PS...there's a big world beyond Disney, so keep your goals open. There will be shows out there not existing yet that you may want to try for.
