Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 1/17/2009

Question
Hello Taylor,

My name is Julian and I've always had an interest in pursuing an acting career.
I got the acting bug at age 7 after watching films and Broadway shows with
the hope of becoming a star. However, my dad didn't think I had what it took
to be an actor because he found me to be shy. As I understand it, a lot of
actors are shy, but that was not the case for me. The truth is, it's taken me
years to finally realize that it was my dad who was shy and he was convinced
that I was just like him, but I was the complete opposite. On the other hand,
my mom was more supportive of me because she is an artist herself.
Nonetheless, I went to college and majored in something else that was
completely unrelated, but in the meantime, I attended a youth center where I
took acting lessons for two semesters and fell in love with it. Then, I pursued
a career working as a temp because I was trying to make a difference in the
world, forcing me to stop taking acting lessons, my plate was too full.

Now, at age 36 I still have the desire to pursue an acting career. But my 7
year old dream of becoming a star has now changed to wanting to become a
serious and good character actor. I would imagine that when someone is 7
years old, it's quite common (and normal) for any child wishing to be a star
because they are at that age where they want all the attention to focus on
them, but since that time, I've matured, I have found myself, my place, I know
who I am and what I want to do. And that is to learn the true art of acting. My
family and friends have told me to go for it but that I should pursue
becoming a star because they said I was very handsome, but I never saw
myself that way, I just consider myself to be average looking. Besides, I think
my chances of becoming a professional actor will be significantly increased if
I become a character actor because I will have more options to play a diverse
set of intriguing and fascinating characters as opposed to a star. You're
probably wondering why I want to become an actor? Well, that's a good
question! One that deserves a good answer.

My reason for becoming an actor is because acting is my life. I enjoy being
with people, I'm fascinated by how they think, tick and behave. I don't see
actors as "stars" or people who flew from the sky or people who pass from a
membrane into another reality, they are people just like us with flaws, warts
and all. They are more like amateur psychologists who study people and the
human condition. It's about playing characters, especially villains to see how
and why they do the things that you and I would never do in real life, ever. It's
eventually deciding what kind of person you want to be and what kind of
person you don't want to be. My goal is to become a professional character
actor, to understand people and in the long run, to better understand myself
as well in the process, thus, evolving into a better human being. Also, I
understand that the acting profession is a very difficult industry to break into
but I have my own successful internet business so I won't have to worry about
going hungry when there is no work.

Anyway, my question is, am I too old to start? I understand that actor Danny
Aiello started at age 43 and Morgan Freeman didn't get his big break until
age 52. Is this true that you can start at any age?


Best regards,

Julian  

Answer
Hi Julian,

I'm sorry for taking so long to reply, I've been sick for a few days.

I read your story with great interest as you seem to have a very good grasp of what it takes to be a truly good actor.

Many people who want to act look at it as something you just sign up for, or that you just memorize some words and go up and belt them out.
It's true that an actor should be a social scientist -having a curiosity of what makes people tick, and an understanding that people do things from motivation: anger, passion, sadness, joy, jealousy, attraction, revenge, boredom, and even in insanity. Even insane people have a reason, although it comes from incredibly broken wiring.

My late acting teacher, James Nelson Harrell, had us watch people and then come back to class to portray them as we saw them. He pointed out that people tend to "lead" with some part of their anatomy. Sometimes the nose, the girl who pushes up and out with her big breasts, the old rancher with his pot belly (as if to say, "I've had lean times, but now I'm eatin' pretty good!") the studs who walk crotch first...you get the picture.

Jimmy also talked about the character actors and how they tended to work steady and keep their homes situated between the director's and producer's houses and the star's temporary digs that would last about as long as there careers did. He said they would rule for a hot five years or so, then have to downgrade as their fame faded. Of course, that was once true and may still be for many, but a lot are wiser now and invest so they aren't broke after the fall.
I was always attracted to being a character actor because I didn't want to "carry" a film. I'd rather be an ensemble player: I'd like that "Best Supporting" Oscar.

Of course, many character actors tend to be unusual in look. Someone not easily confused with others. John Hawks (former Austin actor), Luis Guzman, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, B.D. Wong and Dylan Baker come to mind. Want to see a stretch? Check out Dylan in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" as "Owen" and then his other movies Like "Love Potion #9". Yeah, he can pull off lots of characters, but his bread and butter is his usual roles.

A big curse as an actor is to look too common. Luckily, you don't have to pick what you will be as an actor, it kind of picks you. Just be careful not to go to huge lengths to try to change yourself to be something you're not, because a lot of what you bring is who you are.
If Matthew McConoughey tried to become accent neutral, he would have removed a lot of what makes him unique. Margaret Cho tried to lose weight to appease producers of her short lived TV show "American Girl" -and damn near destroyed her kidneys. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with getting language tapes and learning accents or practicing being different types of people, just don't kick yourself because you don't get certain roles. If you aren't a bodybuilder, those parts are a waste to set your heart on. Go to any audition you can, but just know your type.

Anyway, NO! you aren't too old to start your career. Richard Farnsworth tried to be an actor as a young man, gave up after a disastrous first try and wasted years being a stuntman before trying it again in his last years. He was good, but quit too easy because he thought he was a total failure after one bad try. If I had done that, I would have missed all I have done, and I have messed up many times.

Enjoy the ride, you will never know if you don't try. Just enjoy it for the joy of acting.

Break a Leg!

Taylor