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Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Actress, must decide on working name: Vera Williams or Vera Michèle?

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Expert: - 5/9/2007


Question
Which name would people like, remember, find interesting, etc, and would be more likely to stick with and intrigue a casting director?
I haven't made them up, those are my given names. Also, should i keep or drop the accent on Michèle?"

Answer
Hi Vera,

"The NAME, the NAME...the pressure of a NAME." ("Kit DeLuca" -Laura San Giacomo, "Pretty Woman")

The very first thing you will need to do when choosing a stage name, is to check the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) website to see if your name is already taken. That is why we have Michael J. Fox instead of Michael Fox or Julia Roberts instead of Julie Roberts. If the name is taken, you'll have to go back to the drawing board. BTW, I'm not sure the reason, but Topher Grace is really Christopher Grace...
I do not see a reason to drop the accent from your name.
as long as your name isn't too hard to roll off the tongue, you should be fine. Unique names do stick with minds.
Good luck to you!

Taylor  

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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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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