Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/acting for Disney Channel.

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Expert: - 3/27/2009


Question
Hi, My name is Sima. i live in New Braunfels, TX. but i REALLY want to work for Disney channel as an actress. This is something I've wanted for about my whole life. I took theater in middle school, but now I'm in High School as a freshman, but i am homeschooled. me and my brother would always make videos and i would always be the actress. this is the one thing that i want and something that I'm actually good at. my friends and family are here to support me threw anything that will happen along the way, and I'm ready to face anything to make it to the top. all i need is just help on where and how to get started, what things i should be ready for, and mainly things like that. so please help me with this. Thank You !:]

Answer
Hi Sima,

It's too bad you are home schooled, New Braunfels High has an acting class that has been pretty good.

I would see about classes in San Antonio, or Austin if you can get there.
They will expand your scope of knowledge. Working on videos can help you see your mistakes if you can sit back and see them. As far as Disney, unless you can stay in Los Angeles for long periods of time and have a good resume with lots of experience and dancing/singing/acting classes, I'm afraid it's not looking good at all. But there are lots of roles out there that you can look forward to if you try.

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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