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Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Next step in career
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Question
Hi, I have a question on what my next step should be now that I know I want to make acting a career. I discovered my acting passion freshman year in college. Since then I have been in several plays and a sitcom for the university's TV station. I have been taking acting classes all four years and will have a drama minor when i graduate. I know that I need a solid resume and an agent to continue, but I currently reside in the midwest and the acting and agent opportunities around where I live are severely limited. I know I will move out to New York or Los Angeles eventually to pursue my dreams of becoming a professional actor, but I was wondering if I should continue to build my resume locally when I graduate and search for an agent near me, or if moving right after I graduate would benefit me more?
Dear Nathan,
Yes.
Anything you can add, including private classes through a local live theater or studio will help!
You could also do some traveling to places like Canada, New Mexico and Louisiana and maybe Texas very soon, to get in with a "farm league" agent before the big time. Your schooling counts for experience on your resume and it doesn't make sense NOT to keep up training (casting people look at what you have done lately to see you are honing your craft and staying the course).
That's my best advice: when you live in the desert, move to where the FOOD is! (thanks Sam K)
Best,
Taylor
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Answers by Expert:
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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