Expert: Taylor Sheppard - 6/10/2007

Question
I don't know if I have this in the right spot but it seemed closer to what I am looking for. I have started acting classes her in FL and I have been told of I want to really further my career in acting I should move to NY for Broadway and LA for movies. Where in LA would be best to move and how can I further my Career once I get there?

Answer
Hi Cassondra,

Hmmm. Do you have eligibility for SAG or AFTRA? If you do not, it may be tough going in L.A. If you don't, it will be REALLY hard, but not impossible. You will need plenty of money to survive in L.A. -rent, food, gas...etc. You may try to get on with an agency that supplies extras to the studios. I was just talking to a fellow actor this morning -an acquaintance for years- about old times and the things we found ourselves doing to live. There was a time that I would leave my temp job and race to the plasma center to make the last donation slot, just so I could collect the $15. to buy food. Many times, with rent and other bills, dinner would be the 67 cent bean burrito at Taco Bell! Bad Times, but good in some ways. I had no clue if I would make it, but I just kept plowing on toward the unknown. When I took this web page on, I promised to be truthful and not sugar-coat my answers. Well, here goes:
some actors and would-be actors find themselves doing things for money that they never intended to do. Some have made adult movies (Sylvester Stallone), some have become dancers in strip clubs (Texas Actress, [name withheld here]), some have dressed in chicken suits (Brad Pitt) and danced around on a sidewalk in front of a fast food joint.
Some have been carpenters (Harrison Ford) and valets (Jean Claude Van Damm), and working in bars (Sandra Bullock in NY) and of course, a million waiters (literally!). Thing is, if you aren't prepared, you can have your butt handed to you out there, or in NY! The more prepared you are, the less hard times you have to deal with. I make no judgements on what people do, because I haven't walked in their shoes.  If you don't have a SAG card in L.A. it will be very hard to get an agent...which you will need! It took me years to get my eligibility, I am not a SAG member as I live in Texas, but should I move out to L.A. permanently, I would. Here in Texas, we can have non-union movies, and if you are in SAG you are not allowed to do non-union projects, which are over half the films here!

As to places to live there, West Hollywood or Cerritos are lower cost areas, but also can be a little sketchy, so you have to watch yourself.

Hope this helps, Best,
Taylor