Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/how to begin acting

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Expert: - 3/8/2009


Question
I really want to be an actor/screenwriter but I don't know where to begin? What should I do? Move to LA? And if I did move to LA what would I do first after I find a place to rent/live? Can i just randomly approach an agency? What exactly should I do? thanks very much

Answer
Hi Carl,

Do you have training? Have you been writing screenplays already?
If not, do NOT go to L.A.! It will be a very painful experience and futile. You must know what you are doing first. People go to LA after they have built decent careers where they live, and THAT does not guarantee you won't get your ass kicked! The cream of the crop (and a lot of slag) shows up in LA, and then it's the luck of the draw. Even talent takes time to be noticed there. I would recommend getting into classes for bot and getting Final Draft software to start. It would also be helpful to volunteer at film fests as a reader to get used to seeing real, completed scripts so you will eventually get a feel for what is good or crap and how to write it. There is a specific form for writing and if you don't know it, they will smell it immediately and out you go!
Hit the books and sign up for classes and SAVE your pennies for LA. Be prepared! It's expensive!

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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