About 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).
I was just wondering what people do to have the miniature rolls on tv shows. Such as the dead bodies on CSI and such. I'd love to do something like that, but I live in the DC area and I don't fancy moving to California just to partake. Any ideas?
:) Thanks a million.
Answer Hi Amelia,
You'd have to find one of the rare TV shows or maybe a movie shooting in your area that puts an "open call" for extras notice in the local paper. Not hen's teeth, but pretty hard to find these days. In LA they have extras casting agencies that use decicated "background performers" who know the dos and donts of being background artists. Things like not trying to show off to be noticed, how to exactly repeat movements from take to take, how to get out of the way, but be where you are supposed to be...etc. The hours are long (12 a day) nd the pay isn't super-duper, but it can be a great way to see how it all works and is a great intro to acting for the camera -like a lab class.
