Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Where to start

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Expert: - 9/3/2008


Question
QUESTION: hi i'm James, I live in England and i'm 16. For a few years I have been thinking about becoming an actor. I love the idea of acting and was inspired by programmes like 'Friends' and other sitcoms but I don't know where to start. Any advice would be great.
Thanks,
James

ANSWER: Hi James,

Well it's really simple. You just need to get started with acting classes and go from there!

Some schools have drama programs, and there are also private schools who you can enroll with to get going on your career.

Look in your local phone directories and check the internet to find classes near you. I will leave you with that, because you will need to attend classes for a good while before moving forward. Later on, you will need to take other steps, but right now, you need to concentrate on the "craft" first!

Best,

Taylor

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

QUESTION: Thanks man, one last thing. Should i stay on at 6th form in my school or not? does it make a difference to my acting 'career' if i have amazing grades or not?


Answer
Hi James,

Do grades make a difference?

I'd say they do, because the teacher should be grading on your growth and your desire to learn. If they are grading on mere talent, some would get great grades from the "get go" and some would only get them once they were there a while, or never. I would look to see if the student had done the work or was just going through the motions to "get to the good part" -money, fame....etc. Getting good grades means you care. I'm not sure what the term 6th Form means, but I'd just do my best and live/eat/breathe acting as I go along. Full commitment to learning everything I can, and ignore the grades.

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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