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Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Am I eligable to apply for an agent??

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Expert: - 4/21/2009


Question
Hello, I'm 16 and am based in Cheshire, England very close to Manchester. Last year I moved school so I could study Theatre Studies as an option and I have recently been taking a Advanced Screen Acting course with a casting director. I have been in school plays and sketches at local concerts however I do not have any professional experience because it was only last year that I began acting and was 'bitten by the acting bug'. I have had some headshots done but don't know whether I have enough experience to apply for an agent? Also, all the very good agents are based in London which is a few hours train ride away from me, should I still apply for these although they are so far away?

Thank you!

Answer
Hi Gerogia,

With the experience you have if you were in America where I live, you could definitely have a chance at an agent. Not knowing your area, it's hard to say what they expect and more important, how much competition you would have. I imagine London is a lot like the Los Angeles of England in that it is the hub for acting and attracts a lot of hopeful actors. But you can't look at that. You just have to give it a go and hope for the best. That's a lot like life: if you think about things too much, you will talk yourself out of many things you would try...There's a saying: "Oh the great things we would achieve if we knew we would not fail!"

If there are no agents where you live, it's simple: you have to go where you must to do what you seek to do.

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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