Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 8/18/2011

Question
I'm fifteen years old and I've been wanting to be an actress for a while. I've joined a drama group and am trying to get hold of a few books to help me out. Are there any tips you can give me and do you know of any agencies in Perth, Western Australia?

Answer
Hi Emma,

I can't say that I know of any agencies in your area, but it sounds like you are doing the things you should be doing. Taking classes in and outside school is very important -like anything, practice, practice, practice makes you better. Also, reading as you are doing can expose you to the various approaches coaches and actors have used to work their craft. I, myself, have borrowed different bits from each to find my way. If I had to pinpoint my favorite discipline, it would be "The Method" while also giving a nod to Sanford Meisner's teachings. Have you researched the actors from Australia and NZ to find out where they went to train and how they succeeded? I am a very big fan of Hugh Jackman, and what little I do know, is that he became an accomplished song and dance man doing live theatre in addition to his film work. Amazing talent! One word on stage and screen: very different forms of acting. If you gesture and speak as big and loud when you get on camera as you must on stage, it will be frightening to watch. While you are playing to the back row on stage, you don't need to or want to do ANYTHING for camera but "act naturally". I put that in quotes because acting on camera isn't really acting, but just burying yourself inside the mind and heart of the character and just being the way they would be, which in most cases would be universal to anyone in the situation (with the exception of flawed or seriously "broken" personalities). When you are studying the character it is important to take note of how they differ in how they would react and handle things compared to you.

The temptation with acting on film is to "do something" when its better not to. Sounds easy, but that is really hard to do! Work on concentration and focus so you can be unaware of anything on the set (camera, crew, whatever) but the person you are acting with.

Best to you!

Taylor