Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/consent and approval

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Expert: - 6/8/2009


Question
i have an audition however i am 17 and a half and i need my parents consent to play this role as i m not 18.however they refuse to sign as they dissaprove of my acting and think of it as a destructing career full of vulgarity what should i do..

Answer
Hi Kathleen,

Well, you are pretty much stuck. If your parents are like that, I'm afraid there's not much you can do for about...6 months. When you are 18 they can't stop you, but then you still have to consider your relationship with them and go from there. (do they have anything to hold over your head then? College? living quarters?)

They feel they are protecting you, which IS their job. However, most parents don't understand their children and fear the worst. The upside is, it isn't that long until you are 18 and if acting is meant to be for you, then you'll likely have another chance. This isn't a porno, right? While I feel you should be ready to do anything in a legit film, you probably don't want to get mixed up in anything that leads that way, as it tends to keep you from having a real career in anything else later. A topless shot or something like that is about as far as you want to go, unless you are doing a love scene, which should come a bit later anyway. As I don't know of any re-make of "Lolita" I don't think the subject matter has to be that edgy.

Sorry to down your dream here, but the law is the law. Hopefully you can keep going and down the line, prove that films aren't the road to hell. Lol!

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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