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Question
Hey, my name is Adrieanna,I'm 15 years old and I think...no I know that I have what it takes to become a famous actress,(If you would call doing monologues of different tv show scenes=))I was just wondering how am I supposed to get noticed and get agents because I live in Mobile and there's nobody here!!!
Hi Adrieanna,
Thing is, you live in a difficult area to act on your dream (no pun intended).
What you have to do (and need to do) is work on your craft while waiting for a time when you can move to a better area to use it. Just because you work on monologues and can copy what you see on tv, doesn't mean you are trained to be an actor. Everyone quotes lines from movies for fun with their friends, but it's a lot deeper work than that. This business doesnt come to you -it doesn't have to. Occasionally, you can get lucky and have a film come to town and get an extra gig (that's where you walk around in the background behind the actors), but in many places it's rare. It's also doubtful that you can get anywhere from doing that.
What you need to do is seek out acting classes in your area and keep working out as an actor. Then when you are 18, perhaps you could go to college and study theater there. If college isn't in the cards, then just moving to a city where acting is hot. That doesn't necessarily mean LA, it could be Louisiana or Michigan. I would say Texas where I am at, but at this time we have very little going on, unless you count independent stuff (meaning not Hollywood, not paid stuff).
Anyway, that's my best advice: take advantage and make lemonade out of lemons. You can be super=ready to start your career so you won't blow your first chance to get an agent and a part because you have no training or experience!
Best,
Taylor
PS: start reading books on acting. Any you can get your hands on!
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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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