Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 12/10/2009

Question
Hi Taylor,
I have a question in regards to Aussies attempting to pursue the acting industry in American. I recently studied a summer course over in NY this year, I love the American culture and there is by far more opportunities in the States then there is in Australia. What advice do you have for someone like me who wants to come from abroad to pursue the industry? I feel there are a few things working in my favour, I'm young, I'll be a free face in LA, I do have several acting credits, I have completed several notable acting courses, some at university level and I can also perform a standard American accent. One of my main reasons for choosing America over Australia is that I don't really look Australia (therefore work for me here is extremely limited, it's just the way our industry works), I'm over Italian hertiage so I'm hoping that I have a face that will stand out. How do you get your assents to work for you? Any advice in regards to my situation and beginning a career, especially approaching agents once in LA would really be helpful. Thanks Bernadette

Answer
Hi Bernadette,

I must confess, I have a special spot in my heart for Aussies. I have a few pen-pals over there and I have learned a lot about the similarities between our two countries! Italian genes with an Aussie accent? You sound pretty exotic. I met a waitress here in Austin a few years back and she appeared to be amerasian when she walked up, but then she opened her mouth and out came the most interesting Australian accent! It turned out she was Vietnamese and French and born and raised there! I learned that half of the Saigon refugees had come to America, the other half to Australia. She was a beauty! A lot of people make the mistake of trying to conform too much. As an actor, you want to be able to do other accents and looks if you can, because that opens up more roles to you, but hang on to, if not celebrate, who you are! Because, if you are a Nordic looking blond, or Irish-looking, guess what? that's pretty much you and you are what you are!

It sounds like you have good things going for you, and we seem to be in a really good time for Aussie imports here. The industry IS in a bit of a slump, but the time to get established or to practice or take classes or work on your body isn't when things get going, it's when there is down-time! That way you are good to go when it starts.

Through another actor friend, I have re-discovered that you CAN get into doing extra roles in LA to get your SAG card, (although there are LOTS of people vying for the spots) through SEG (Screen Extras Guild) which merged with SAG (Screen Actors Guild) a few years back. Doing that could get you a SAG card, which would help you get an agent. It's hard to get an agent without it. It used to be that you had to get your SAG card, then go. Now the pitfalls are: you have to pay union dues and you are barred from working non-union jobs. In Texas, where I am based, we are a "Right to Work" state, meaning that unions are allowed, but they cannot exclude non-union people from working. What that means, is that some films come here especially to AVOID having to use higher-paid union people. In states like California and New York, however, SAG requires every film and TV show to have a minimum number of extras who are union members. Since union extras have a higher base rate of pay and receive more benefits, a production will usually only hire the minimum number of union extras and give all the rest of the jobs to non-union extras. This is why there is more work for non-union extras. SAG extras are always treated better, they get the best jobs and they get hired first, but there are fewer jobs to go around.

The first way to join a union is to work on three union vouchers. Whenever an extra is cast, whether union or non-union, a voucher is issued with necessary information, which is signed at the end of the day and submitted back to the casting company so that the extra can get paid. Union extras get union vouchers, and non-union extras get non-union vouchers. If a union extra is cast and the voucher is issued but then that union rascal doesn't show up, the voucher still has to be filled in order to meet the SAG minimum number. Therefore, they'll take one of the non-union extras and get him or her to work on the union voucher. Do that three times and you can join the union.

The second way to join the union is to be a non-union extra who is required to speak a line for some reason. Non-union extras are not allowed to say lines, but under certain circumstances it can become necessary for them to do so (though it's very rare). They then automatically can join SAG.

Now, a situation where THAT happens isn't all the time. But it CAN happen. The other very important thing to know is that if you spend too much time working as an extra, and the casting folks get to know you as one, they will tend to think of you that way permanently.

You also need to know that it takes a while, like a couple years of being in LA usually to get networked and known. Sometimes you will get a break and get places sooner, but this is a game of persistence and attrition. Harrison Ford talked about his odyssey to where he is now. (He almost quit) He said said he flipped a coin over New York or LA. He said it came out California and he was just as happy not to deal with the snow. (It's easier to be poorer in warmer climates too!) He said he watched as the people he knew left after a short while. Then he watched as more people left. He kept watching them leave and he stayed on. He was lucky to be a carpenter, so he was not out of work and completely broke. He kept meeting people and seeing them go. Eventually, because he stayed and was patient, he made it. The old statistic is that a million people arrive each year in the spring to act, then half are gone by end of the summer. Half of the remaining half are gone by spring, and so on. You will need to have side work (one call center specializes in using actors and is flexible with schedules) and you will want to be involved in classes and plays or whatever you can find to network and meet people. The more you know, the better chances you have of finding your break.

Best to you,

Taylor