Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/completely unexperienced

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Expert: - 8/19/2008


Question
i have absolutely no experience in the acting or modeling field but ever since i was a kid ive always wanted to start. i am now 18 turning 19 and i am motivated. i am shy, an extremely fast learner, and very dedicated when i find something i wanna do. i feel like acting is something i really really could be great at. so my question is how do i get over my shyness and what should i do to start my career in acting?

Answer
Hi Nico,

Shyness is something that you just have to get over by facing your fears. That means putting yourself out in front of people again and again until even when you feel nervous, sick in your stomach, shaking, whatever. You fight through it and keep doing it until one day, it just snaps and you aren't feeling quite that way any more.

You may never completely lose the butterflies, most people do not, but I promise, it gets better once you become used to it.

A good way to start is to enroll in a beginning acting course and start getting up in class and saying your lines. You will be among a group of other people who are just as nervous as you! That's different than performing for strangers, who can sit comfortably in their chairs, risking nothing. Really and truly, people don't want to see you make a fool of yourself, they want to see you do well.

Best,

Taylor

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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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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