Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 7/8/2010

Question
Hi my name is Rose and i am almost 18 and i have been interested in acting for years i have been in a few school plays when i was in primery school but lost my conferdence thorough high school but now im getting my conferdence back and would like to know how i can get into acting if there courses or schools that would help me get into acting id like to learn and get better at acting and some day maybe profesinal acting???? can you help or give me a some advice to get me in the right step forward???
i look forward from hearing back from hour
From Rose

Answer
Hi Rose,

Confidence isn't something you come out of the womb with. It develops from early on, throughout your life. As a baby, if your mom held you a lot, was careful to nurture you so that you BELIEVE you can do anything, and didn't run into too many bullies, you have a head start in life. Unfortunately, siblings, work, or distracted moms can chip away at that. Not that they meant to put you off, or wanted to drop you with a caregiver while they tried to work and pay the bills, then came home tired and wanting to sleep, but she had to make dinner and get everyone to bed. I was watching the news a few minutes ago and they said a study shows that the more kids you have, the less happy you are. The newspeople debated this, because there are some parents who are happy with lots of kids, but I can kind of understand. Beyond other reasons, I would want to do things right and give as much attention as my child needed. Some kids need more, some less, but it is important.

What creates confidence is success! (Huh?) Little victories add up to bigger ones, and confidence.
What I mean by little victories, is putting yourself out there in smaller challenges, then moving up to bigger ones, until you are used to facing them! In the US, schools have "fund raisers" for the band programs, cheerleading, athletics, etc. The kids go out and sell products or do car washes and other things to make money for special trips and other things. What I think is great about it is that people (customers) tend to be nicer to the kids, even when saying "no". What a wonderful world we'd have if people were always nice when saying that! But by not getting yelled at or worse, when young, you learn that walking up to the door and knocking isn't that bad. So later on, you have built on those experiences and aren't so afraid to do it!

Same with acting. You get nervous going onstage or to auditions or the film set, but by doing it, you get used to it, and hopefully have successes that make you realize you are worthy.

On the other hand, you will also get rejections. THAT'S GOOD TOO! Why? because you get used to those too! You will get just as many of those -or more. The rejections aren't usually about you. Usually they just picture someone else in the role. Like if the girl is a skinny as a bone redhead, yet you walk in and are healthier looking, maybe more developed for your age, they would say "She isn't Pippy Longstockings. She looks more like a young woman". Not you, just the role is wrong.

Look around and check for live theatres near you. Chances are they can tell you if they know any teachers to get you started. Depending on which city or territory you live in, there may be acting classes for film available. I think there are some around Melbourne, but I'm sure there are other cities. I'm not sure where the most production is done in Oz, I must admit. The internet is also a good resource. Start taking the classes and you will find that the farther along you get, the more confident you will be. By starting now, you will have a head start on your career. Especially if you go on to university and take classes. Many students have been working at it since the were in diapers!

Best,

Taylor