Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Agents and Auditions

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Expert: - 11/14/2007


Question
Dear Taylor Shepard,
                   I want ot ask you a question on how to get an agent and get auditions.You see because you need a headshot picture and they can be very excpensive.I would like to know how to get an agent and audition since my dream is to be a actress on disney channel no matter how big or small the part is but I'm hopeing on big parts as I get older.I have a lot of interests and I have been in lot's of plays before.I've been in 4 nativitys even though I didn't have any lines but in year 4 I was in a play called Pinnochio and I had some lines.In year 5 I didn't have any lines but i had a song with other people.I'm 11 now and I'm going to be 12 in april.At Christmas my school is doing Bugsy malone and I have got a sort of main part since I'm one of Tallulahs friends called Tillie so I have 2 songs(Bugsy Malone and Good Guys song). I also hae a few lines.Also I have had a main part in a made up play which was shown at our local theatre.I was also in the wizard of oz.

Answer
Talia,

Thanks for writing. You're doing all the right things. The more you appear in productions, the more chances you have of an agent seeing your work and taking you on. Whenever you appear in something, send your headshot and resume to the agents whom you are interested in and invite them to see your show. If they see it and they like your work, maybe they'll sign you. That's how it's done.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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