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Question
Hey how are you,
My question is with no real acting expirence how do I begin a career in acting? Where would I start? What type of tools do I need? Would it be expensive?
Hi Brittany,
With no real experience, you only need to concern yourself with getting started with the learning process itself, which can take a short while or longer depending on your talent, intelligence and whether you have any emotional issues that might stand in the way of you relaxing and accessing your emotions to act.
Some people, like in several recent letters here, have expressed that they have problems showing emotion or concentrating with all the distractions around them and it keeps them from fully getting into the roles. If that is the case, you might find you need to work on it with a therapist or a great acting coach who can get you to forget about anything but the scene at hand. Nothing worse than seeing a pitiful character limping along, half-formed and limping about because the actor is half-in, half-out of the character.
It's interesting to note that people don't start out that way. As kids we were able to sit in a sand box and pretend very well to be different charactors before we grew up and lost the ability to "play" and not worry what people watching might think.
Find a good acting teacher and get started! It shouldn't be too expensive at first, just check around!
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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