Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 11/26/2007

Question
Hey Taylor, first I wanted to say thanks for taking my question.

         My question is: I really want to make a career out of acting in movies TV and stuff like that. Basically I love to act. Now my problem is that I live in Utah and I am not sure about how I would start doing this. I'm a junior in high school and haven't been in any school plays. the closest thing that I have done would be a comedy movie that me and some friends made for a class. since then I have been wanting to act but I don't know what to do, how to get there, or where I'm going. If you could help.

Answer
Hi Eric,

Geography is a b*tch! I wish I had a transporter like "Startrek" so I could pop to and from destinations without flying or driving. But that's fantasy, we live (mostly) in reality, that's why acting is so fun.

There's lots you can do to get started even in Utah. You definitely need to take acting classes to start. You need to learn how to get the character figured out and how to get into character (feel what the character is feeling) and the technical aspects of working with cameras. Some lucky ones can pick all that up in a few months, others may take a couples years or more. I have said before that I really didn't completely master getting into character for 20 years...true. I have a slight case of ADHD which gets in the way of focus and blocking out distractions, which is crucial to acting. Focusing, listening and reacting. If you are just standing there, waiting for the other actor to finish so you can blah, blah, blah...you will not do well. You have to listen -really listen to what they mean, just like it's the first time you heard it. If you are just waiting to deliver your lines and worried about forgetting your lines because you didn't learn them and what is behind them, you will not be "present" in the moment and the audience will see it in your eyes. This and more is why I stress classes to actors, not because I want to support acting teachers. Very few "natural actors" exist, if you are one, someone will tell you, if they don't you can assume otherwise...but don't despair, you can learn to be a good or maybe even great actor!

The last BIG thing: If you want to act, once you have some training under your belt, you will need to....MOVE. Sorry,
but there isn't that many places that you can live and do acting...other than stage acting or community theatre.
Everyone wants to stay rooted to home, but you can't get anywhere if you aren't near the work. I don't necessarily mean Hollywood, there are other places, but you need to go where the auditions are. I was lucky enough to live within 45 minutes of Austin when I was in college, so it was easy to move, and at that time, movies and commercials were booming here. Things have inevitably slowed down, but will pick up again. It tends to be in cycles most places. New Mexico seems to get quite a few shows lately and Louisiana too, as well as New York. Canada's incentive program is still attracting the lions's share of jobs, from what I see in the SAG production list.

Get started with the classes Eric, and then go to the next step, and be patient and prepared!

Best,

Taylor