You are here:
- Home
- Arts/Humanities
- Performing Arts
- Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing
- Is 23 with no experience too late?
Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Is 23 with no experience too late?
Advertisement
Question
I very much would like to embark on an acting career and while I understand it will not be an easy ride, it would be great to know if I have a chance.
So is 23 leaving it a bit too late to try and learn this craft?
Hi Kurtis,
No, I do not think 23 is too late. In fact, there has been actors who started as senior citizens.
The thing is, you must buckle down and immerse yourself in the craft.Devote your existence in it, take all the classes you can, and go for it! You CANNOT be afraid of making an ass out of yourself and failing. An actor who doesn't go "balls out" won't make it. You have to be believable. You have to find the honesty and resist the urge to act. Actig is NOT acting -it is BEING.
Please don't seek shortcuts, do the work!
Best, Taylor
Related Articles
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).
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.